Steps In The Process
An Overview Of The Steps In The International Adoption Process
Fill out a no obligation pre-application
Beginning The Process
To help us better determine the program best suited for you, consider submitting a Pre-Application. It is available online. You are also welcome to call us at 516-747-2204, and we are available for an orientation at our main office.
Once you are ready to begin, fill out and submit the Adoptive Family Profile (a more detailed application) or the Kafala Family Profile for Morocco. If you have an identifed child, you will use AFP-IC.
Once the AFP or KFP is approved, we will receive the Adoption Service Agreement. The fee disclosures can be seen on our website here. If you would like a Sample Agreement for review, check out our disclosures page or call or e-mail us.
Assignment
Now that the Dossier (the home study, USCIS approval, and all the supporting documents required by the county) has been sent and approved, the foreign agency can consider you for a match. Usually, there are months between sending the Dossier and the referral.
New Beginnings presents the child’s background study for consideration when a referral is available. It includes pictures, medical reports, developmental information, and available social history. The assignment is an exciting time, and our staff will be there to answer any questions.
We urge our families to contact an independent medical specialist to evaluate the information at the assignment. If there are any concerns, New Beginnings will request additional information
Post Adoption/Placement Supervision
After you come home, you will need to have post-adoption or post-placement services. There is a difference. In Korea and China, you adopt the child while in the country. Then, you have post-adoption services. In Morocco and Thailand, you have guardianship. You will finalize the adoption in your county court. In this situation, it is post-placement services that are needed.
The length of the supervision can be as short as six months in Morocco and Thailand. In Korea, post adoption extends over a year.
Home Study
The home study evaluates a family’s strengths for adoption. To prepare for the home study, we will need supporting documents: clearances, medical reports, financial statements, references, etc. We will provide the proper forms and instructions.
Parent Training is also required. Workshops are done online with Adoption Learning Partners.
Once these are complete, a Social Worker will schedule the home visits and write the home study report. We send the home study to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for their approval. Then, the home study, the USCIS approval, and supporting documents are your Dossier. We send this to the foreign country for their consideration.
Bringing Your Child Home
After the excitement of accepting the assignment, you will have the anticipation of traveling and bringing your child home. In country, there will be a formal proceeding, often with the court. After which, you will take custody of your child. New Beginnings or our foreign partners will submit the child’s legal information to USCIS for immigration approval. Once approved, you can return home.
Once home, anticipate some period for the child’s adjustment—there is a different routine, diet, and sleep; there are new faces, smells, and everything. Of course, there will also be changes to your routine, diet, and sleep. With a bit of empathy and patience, you will be enjoying the first weeks and months of your new lives together.
Estimating Length Of Time
The below estimates are from Home Study approval to the placement of the child for adoption.
- Morocco, 15 to 20 months
- Thailand, 20 to 30 months.
- Korea, 17 to 24 months.
Travel and Placement. In Morocco, travel will be required in a week to ten days from the referral. The length of time in Morocco is six to eight weeks. For Korea, Two trips are required, both 7 to 10 days. The trips are 4 to 5 weeks apart. The length of time in Thailand is seventeen to twenty days.
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