In my last post, I wrote about the paperwork that is involved in a typical domestic adoption. In this post I will outline the paperwork that is required for a typical international adoption. While some of the info and steps are the same, there is more involved in international adoptions.

It is important to note that in international adoptions many of the paperwork steps overlap each other in their time frames, and that the order of things can vary slightly. Always verify all information with your agency.

The usual first step in your adoption is the homestudy. You can read in detail about what a homestudy is here, but basically it is a book report on your life and family, that approves you to adopt a child or children.

Some of the paperwork typically involved with a homestudy is:

- application to homestudy agency
- writing your autobiography
- medical form and/or doctor letter
- police clearance
- child abuse registry clearance
- employment letter
- reference letters
- birth certificates
- marriage and/or divorce certificates (if applicable)
- fingerprints (in some states)

Depending on the way things are handled in your state, around the time you are starting your homestudy or once your homestudy is complete, you can start your immigration paperwork. Your first step will be to file your I600A at your local USCIS office, and once your I600A application is received, you will have an appointment to be fingerprinted.

The I600A is the form that will lead to the USCIS approving you, as an adoptive parent or couple, to adopt an orphan. You can read lots of details on the I600A in this post.

If you choose to use a different agency to handle your actual adoption than the one that did your homestudy, you will have to fill out another agency application. Typically there is also paperwork to apply for a particular adoption program/country, and forms asking questions about what race of child you are open to, what special needs you are open to, and what age child you hope to adopt.

After you have a completed homestudy, you have filed your I600A and you have applied to a specific adoption agency and program, the usual next step is to start your dossier.

Your dossier is all of the paperwork required by the country you are adopting from. The amount of paperwork required varies greatly between countries and programs. Some countries require that the paperwork be authenticated, and typically the dossier needs to be translated into the language of the country you are adopting from, which is sometimes done in your country and sometimes done once the dossier arrives in the country of the child.

Often times many of the documents required for your dossier, such as police statements, medical letters, employment letters, etc. are the same or similar as the ones required for your homestudy, so if possible, get two originals of every document you gather. Also, always make sure you get specific directions on what is required in the dossier from your agency before you gather too many documents.

Requirements can vary between agencies and often specific wording is required. Redoing documents is time consuming and frustrating (and sometimes costly), so do them right the first time.

Here is a very detailed post on what is required for a dossier, and here is a post on how to get your dossier done in record speed (my record is 48 hours).

When your dossier is turned in to your agency, you are usually officially waiting for a referral. Some parents choose a waiting child, and others wait in line for a child of a specific age and/or gender. Once you get that magical referral call, you will overlook the referral information and then sign referral acceptance papers.

As you prepare for travel (or escort), there will be more paperwork. The I600, the second step to the immigration paperwork which you can read about in detail here,
will either be filed at your local USCIS office, or in the country of your child when you travel. This is the form that approves your child specifically to be given a visa to enter the United States. In some adoption programs, immigration forms I864 and I864A are also required at this time. Talk to your agency for specifics.

When you travel, you will want to bring a power of attorney letter if one spouse is staying home as well as photocopies of your passports and visas and any other paperwork your agency recommends.

See my next post for the paperwork that will need to be done once your child is home.