Adoption FAQCommon questions about adoption
When considering a toddler (2 and up) or older child (6 and up) adoption, which countries are best?China (for both healthy and special needs children), Vietnam, Kazakhstan, and Nepal are the best countries for older child adoptions. Guatemala is primarily an infant program so, although older adoptions are possible, the wait is upwards of a year and a half. When considering sibling adoptions, which countries are best?Currently, sibling adoptions take much longer in most countries, and are not possible in China or Nepal. In Vietnam, AGCI is going through the first batch of families who are adopting siblings, so there will soon be updates regarding the speed and ease of this process. Guatemala can do sibling adoptions, but the current wait is around two years. In Kazakhstan it is also difficult to adopt biological siblings. Oftentimes, an easier and faster option is for families to adopt two non-related children at once. The process requires a family to essentially prepare two dossiers at once, completing two adoptions at the same time. Although it may sound difficult and confusing, we will walk you through this process to help you provide a home to more than one child. In adoption what does the term "Special Needs" mean?The term "special needs" almost always refers to two different categories of children. First, there are older children; ranging anywhere from five to 13 years old. The China Center views these children as harder to place; and therefore, although they are healthy, these older children are categorized as special needs. Secondly, there are children that have a range of physical abnormalities. These can be as minor as a cleft lip or palate (oftentimes already corrected) or as major as blindness or deafness. Special needs never refers to any mental or behavioral problems. We will ask a family interested in special needs, what level of special needs they are willing to consider, and use that information to find a match for the family. Adopting special needs children is also faster and there is oftentimes more financial assistance available. AGCI's Kazakhstan program also has a "waiting children" program. Oftentimes these children are also mostly healthy, but looking for homes. This is a fast process due to the referrals already being in the office. Please contact our staff in the Eastern European Department with questions on these children. Is there financial assistance available to adoptive families?AGCI recognizes that this is one of the largest needs and common obstacles that impacts families considering adoption. For this reason we want to provide as much information as we can for families. If you are interested in these different resources, please contact our agency. We will go over the different options with you and send you a list of resources that current families are taking advantage of. How does the Federal Adoption Tax Credit work?The tax credit is a benefit to families who are adopting. A family can file for this credit once the adoption is complete, and then apply credit to the amount owed to the Federal government at the time of taxes. This credit is good for the three years following the adoption. The current amount for the credit is $10,360 (per adopted child) for adoptions completed in the year 2007. Specific questions on how families can benefit from this credit should be directed to a Tax Preparer or Certified Public Accountant. Can we contact current or past AGCI families?Yes! One of the best ways to learn about working with AGCI is to contact our families. The perspective that these families offer with regards to adoption and travel is very helpful to prospective families. Please contact our office if you are interested, and we will send you the appropriate list. What is involved in the home study process?The home study is a document that is included in the dossier that is sent to the country where you are adopting from. In order to get this document, the family must first fill out an in-depth questionnaire about their childhood, their employment, parenting style, etc. Once the family has completed the questionnaire, they will set up a meeting with a social worker for an individual and joint interviews. The social worker will also ask for verification of financial stability, guardianship for the child, insurance coverage, reference letters, etc. The home study could take up to two months, and is one of the first things that the family will start working on. Although this can be long, it can also be a very informative time for the family'there are sometimes supplemental classes or books that the social worker will encourage the family to look into. Home study costs can range from $1,500–3,500, depending on the location of the family. Our director of social services has put together a list of home study agencies in every state, as well as an in-depth explanation of this process and helpful hints to keep in mind when inquiring with home study agencies. If you are interested in this, please call our office. What sets AGCI apart from other agencies?AGCI has a strong dedication to communication with families, and will partner with you throughout the entire process of the adoption. Although exciting, this process can also be difficult'AGCI promises not to abandon you or make you feel like you are going through this alone. During the period of putting the dossier together, we will be in weekly contact with you. We will also be supporting you through the period of waiting for a referral and travel. AGCI also realizes that, in this technology-driven world, it means so much to talk to a person. For this reason it is our first choice to verbally communicate with families, with email as a second option. We also prefer verbal communication because it is the best way for our staff to get to know the families we work with. As you inquire with our staff and families who have worked with AGCI, it will be very apparent that our mission is firmly planted in our calling to help these children find their forever families. We work hard for this, and recognize that, although there will always be children to help, it means so much to just help one at a time. We love talking to families about our mission and work, so please contact us with questions. What questions are good to ask when inquiring with different adoption agencies?Due to the fact there are so many adoption agencies, it is good to ask a few key questions to help decipher which agency is a good fit for your family.
What is the Hague Convention?The Hague Convention is an international treaty that will standardize the way international adoptions are done throughout the world. The Hague will hopefully cut down on the corruption that can sometimes exist in international adoption. Both agencies and national governments will need to be re-accredited under the Hague treaty, which will take a very long time to accomplish. Therefore, there has not been a date set for when agencies need to be under these new regulations. The treaty itself was ratified in 1993, and the regulations for agencies have just come out in recent months. Obviously, this next step towards accreditation will take some time to accomplish. AGCI is actively working on this accreditation, and due to the fact that we already follow so many of these requirements, we expect the transition to be smooth. We are hoping to be one of the first agencies to fall under this new accreditation. What is a Dossier?The term "dossier" refers to the packet of information which is sent to the country a family is adopting from. The gathering of this information is an in depth process, and can take families an average of three to four months to complete. Although there is potential for this to be overwhelming, AGCI is dedicated to making this as client-friendly as possible. Our staff call and email to ensure that clients feel very well supported throughout this entire process. Although the specific documents for the dossier vary from country to country, there are a few things which will be included in every dossier. These include: a home study report, medical information, financial information, criminal background checks, employment verification, pictures, and the I-171H form issued by the Citizen Immigration Services. The I-171H is the last document put in the dossier, and it will state that the family is approved by the U.S. to adopt and bring a child home. Once completed, these documents will be notarized, certified, and mailed into AGCI for authentication, translation and submission to the country. What is CIS?The Citizen and Immigration Services (once called Immigration and Naturalization Services) is an office under Homeland Security responsible for approving U.S. families to adopt. CIS approval must be obtained in order for a family's adoption to be completed. The I-171 H form is the letter stating how long approval is good for, and what age, gender and, number of children the family is approved for. In order to obtain approval, the family must send in a completed home study, CIS fees, copies of birth and marriage certificates (divorce decree if applicable) and the I-600 A application. The CIS will then appoint an FBI fingerprint date. Once the family is fingerprinted, the entire file will be reviewed and the approval form will be sent out. The entire process can take between two to three months, but our staff will be with you every step of the way to make sure it is as fast as possible. What if my family lives outside of the states where AGCI has offices (Oregon, Michigan and Ohio)?Even if you do not live in one of these three states, it is still fine to adopt through AGCI. In fact, this is the situation with most AGCI families. The family will need to contact a home study agency (we have referral lists for every state), complete a home study, and send it into AGCI to complete the rest of the adoption. The same social worker can also do the post-placement reports for the family. If you have any questions, please call our office. We can even send you a list of referrals for current and past families who possibly live in your state. They will give honest feedback on working with AGCI. Can Non-U.S. or dual citizens adopt through AGCI?Unfortunately, due to immigration laws, families need to have at least one parent who is a U.S. citizen to receive approval from CIS. U.S. citizens living in other countries may still adopt, although it may be hard to have a home study done. Please give our director of social services a call to talk more about this. What is the average length for adoption?The timeline for adopting can vary depending on the different countries. An average amount of time for an adoption is approximately a year and a half. What is a post-placement Report? What support does AGCI offer with these?Once the adoption has been completed, reports need to be done on the family. The number of reports that a family must send to the country varies with the different programs although every country requires at least three official reports. The reports are done at three, six and 12 months following an adoption. post-placement reports are official reports done by a licensed social worker. Some countries will require more than three reports, but these others are done by the parents and are simply to mark development and overall health of the child. AGCI will assist families in planning these meetings and inform the families of when these reports will need to be done. We have a post-placement supervisor whose primary focus is to support families once their adoption is completed. These reports are crucial in keeping these country programs open, and therefore we want to help as much as we can in getting these reports done on time. What is a home study?A home study is a report that is written by a licensed social worker in your home state. You will meet with a social worker for an office visit to complete the interview process so that the worker can begin to get to know you better. They will also verify personal documentation (i.e., health insurance, criminal checks, income, employment verification, and references). Your social worker will then conduct a home visit. This process is designed to engage you in a thorough discussion of the issues and challenges of international adoption. Once all the necessary information has been gathered, your social worker will write an 8-10 page report on your family. This report will then be sent to the CIS and to AGCI for submission to the foreign country as part of your adoption dossier. What is Re-adoption?Many states do not require this step upon your arrival to the U.S. with your child. These states recognize the finalization of the adoption in the country of origin. Re-adoption is also characterized as re-finalization in some states. If re-adoption is not required, then one may ask, "What is the benefit of re-adoption?" The main benefit is that your child will be issued a U.S. birth certificate. Unfortunately, some local officials will not recognize your child's original birth certificate from the country of origin. This could make it difficult for your child to be a part of activities in their youth, as well as adulthood (i.e., marriage or military service). We always recommend that you take this step. What is naturalization?Naturalization is the process in which your child is given their U.S. citizenship once he or she arrives home. The Adopted Orphans Citizenship Act now makes naturalization automatic for a foreign born child of U.S. citizens. This eliminates the need to file with CIS to obtain your child's citizenship. Citizenship is now proved through application and receipt of your child's U.S. Passport. If you would still prefer to have an actual citizenship certificate you may file an additional form with your local CIS office. Your child will then be invited to participate in a U.S. Citizenship ceremony where they will be granted U.S. Citizenship. CIS offices vary in how long it takes to complete this process. You should anticipate a nine month to two-year process from the time of filing. AGCI requires that all parents ensure their children are given the gift of U.S. Citizenship. |
Who is All God's Children?
All God's Children is an orphan care ministry dedicated to rescuing and caring for children around the world by providing the shelter, care, and love that every child deserves.
