STEP 1 - SIGN UP WITH THE AGENCY!

Adoptions International, Inc. will get you started on your paper requirements as soon as you sign the contract with us.  Some people feel that selecting an agency should be your last step - we have found that if you do that - you will delay your adoption by a few weeks or months.  You should be collecting your dossier documents while you are waiting on your INS approval. Contact us by clicking HERE.

• We work with U.S. Citizens living in the U.S. and abroad, as well as families from some foreign countries.
• Must be between 23-55 years of age at the time of the application.
• Couples must have been married for at least two year before travel.
• Single persons can adopt.
• Must be in good physical health, and have normal life expectancy.
• Must have health insurance for the child.
• Must not have been turned down by another agency for the adoption of a child within the last 10 years.
• Must not have been convicted of a crime against a person or family, or of public indecency, and must not have been convicted of a felony relating to any Controlled Substance Act in any state or the United States.
• Must provide information necessary to conduct an abuse/neglect registry check in your state, and the results of the check much produce no history of abuse/neglect perpetration.
• Must be able to show financial responsibility to care for the child/ren which you are adopting (above national poverty guidelines).

STEP 2 - BCIS (Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services)
             formerly the Immigration and Naturalization Service

Call the BCIS Form Line - 1-800-870-FORM and order the I-600 packet (which includes I-600, I-600a and I-864 forms) by mail.  Or you can download and print the BCIS Forms online at their website - www.bcis.gov/forms.htm

Fill out the I-600A (peach colored) form and send it to your regional BCIS office along with the $460 application fee and $50 per person living in your home over 18 years old.  In a few weeks, you will receive a letter from the BCIS stating when and where to go to get your fingerprints taken.  You probably won't hear from the BCIS again until they receive your home study from your social worker.  At the end of the process, you will receive an 'Approval' form letter (Form I-171H) from the BCIS stating that you will be allowed to adopt a child from a foreign country and bring them back into the US to live with you.

If you have trouble answering any of the questions on the form, feel free to contact us for help.

We at Adoptions International, Inc. have qualified social workers on staff that can prepare your home study for you if you live in the Texas, or we can help you find a qualified social worker/agency who can prepare one for you in your area.  The home study process takes 2-4 months to complete, so it should be started early in the process. To contact us about preparing your home study, click HERE.
Three easy steps and you are on your way to finding and adopting your child!

  If you are looking for other families who are also starting the adoption process, you could join one of the many e-mail support groups on international adoptions.  Check out "Support Groups" on the Other links page.
 
 

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