What is the Process to Adopt Internationally?

We decided to pursue international adoption following a Resolve Conference (a non-profit organization that provides education, advocacy, and support for people facing infertility, multiple miscarriages or having a difficult time with conception) we attended in September, 2004. After listening to families who have adopted from China, Dave and I both felt in our hearts that we were being called to China! We started the adoption process in March, 2005. We met Living Hope Adoption Agency (LHAA) at the conference and they were so easy to talk to. They are a non-profit christian agency who has a love and passion for the children of China. I met a woman, Carol (came to my house to scrapbook with a friend and turns out Carol was my Spanish teacher in high school! We live in a very small world!), who also adopted from China and used LHAA. She had nothing but positive feedback regarding LHAA. We signed a contract with LHAA in March, 2005.

Here is what is required to prepare your dossier (packet of paperwork required to adopt internationally):

1. Physicals & Blood work (forms need to be completely very precisely)
2. Fingerprints done by the Immigration & Naturalization Services (INS)
3. Criminal Background Checks
4. Child Abuse Background Checks
5. Need 3 references (non-family members)
6. Homestudy (3 interviews - 2 done at LHAA & an interview at our house)
7. 12 pages of preliminary questions for Home Study
8. Employment Letters
9. Financial Statements
10. Apply for Passports
11. Adoption Letter to China
12. Petition to Adopt (I1600A Form) to get approval from the U.S.
13. Forms need to be notarized
14. Forms need to be "state sealed" (we drove to Harrisburg to have this done)
15. Forms need to be authenticated (done in New York - our agency handled this)
16. Dossier sent to China (DTC)
17. Receive a Log-in Date (LID - helps us keep track of where China is when referring their children
18. Wait for referral
19. Power of Attorney forms
20. Complete Visa applications

I'm sure I'm missing a few steps. Preparing for our dossier took about 8 months to complete. Everything needs to be done in a certain order and done in a certain way including how the physicians complete the physical form. They must use an "x" and not check marks when completing the form. I learned this the hard way! Unfortunately, a lot the these documents have expiration dates ranging from one year to 15 months. Because of the lengthened wait time to receive a referral from China, we have had to update our forms and fingerprints 3 times and they all come with a nice price tag!

Our wait has been 27 months since LID. We do expect to receive a phone call with referral news any day now. I am finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel!