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Request our Adoption Information Packet.
In it you’ll receive: Our Adoption Guide, an application, a brief 9 minute DVD and the latest issue of our newsletter. Best of all, it's free! Click here to request yours today.
We have international adoption programs in China, Colombia, Ethiopia, Kazakhstan, Russia and Vietnam. Each of these programs has their own requirements, fee schedules and wait times. Our adoption All Guide will assist you in finding the country that is right for your family.
Attend an informational meeting or online seminar.
These meetings are designed to give you a basic overview of the programs we have available and help answer any questions you may have about the adoption process. Visit our Meetings & Events page to find an upcoming meeting near you.
Contact us directly via email or phone.
You don’t have to wait; we are here to help you. Visit our Contact Us page for a state listing and find the person or office in your area.
Fill out the Children’s Hope application.
Applications are typically approved within two weeks of arrival in the Children’s Hope home office. Your own personal adoption consultant will then be assigned in the regional office nearest you. They are experienced with the adoption process specific to the country you have selected and will be able to answer any questions, as well as help you with all of the following:
Home Study
Children’s Hope will arrange for one of our offices to do your home study or discuss options.
- Preparation: Write an autobiography
- Copies of the following documents may be needed during the home study:
- Birth certificates for each family member
- Marriage certificate
- Letter from local police stating “no criminal record”
- Financial statement
- Medical letter/report from your family doctor on official letterhead stating positive condition of physical or mental health for adoptive parents and children in the home
- Reference letters
- Home Study/ Post-Adoption Agreement
Your country guide will supply more specific guidelines.
NOTE: It can take between 3 to 6 months to successfully complete a dossier. This includes completing the home study process, submitting the I-600A, fingerprinting, collecting all required dossier documents, receiving an I-171H, and getting all dossier documents state certified and authenticated, or apostilled.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Regional office online: http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis
Because you are adopting from abroad, you need to obtain approval for a visa for the child. After filling out the I-600A, you will need to send CIS:
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Photocopies of birth certificates or proof of citizenship.
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A copy of divorce decree if applicable.
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A photocopy of marriage certificate if applicable.
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A favorable notarized home study with agency license.
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A fee of $670 + $80 for each person over the age of 18 living in the home to be fingerprinted.
You will be notified by your local CIS office when and where the fingerprinting will take place.
Dossier
All documents must be originals. Documents must be notarized, state certified/apostilled, and in some countries may be authenticated. In addition to the documents listed below, each country has specific documents that are required. Country specific examples and instructions can be found in the country guide.
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A letter of application to adopt
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Home Study/Copy of Agency License/Post-Adoption Agreement
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CIS approval (I-171-H)
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Copies of passports
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Birth certificates for adoptive parents and possibly any children in the home
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Marriage certificate (if applicable)
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Divorce decree(s) (if applicable)
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Medical reports/Letters for each parent and possibly children in the home
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Employer letter(s)
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Financial statement(s)
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Police/FBI report(s)
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Reference letters (3-5)
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Photos
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Passport photo(s)
Parent Education
Because Children’s Hope is in full support of and in the process of seeking Hague Convention Accreditation, you will be more comfortable and prepared through education when you unite with your child. Ten hours of Hague compliant adoption education is required for all Children’s Hope families prior to submitting your dossiers. In order to help you comply with this requirement Children’s Hope provides the following:
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A DVD set entitled Because They Waited by Heart of the Matter Seminars. Included with this DVD set are online tests (one for each parent); results will be sent to Children’s Hope. This set will give you ten hours of Hague compliant education.
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“Adopting Parenting Creating a Toolbox, Building Connections”. Children’s Hope International is happy to present this book as an excellent resource for adoptive parents but may not agree with all articles included or all views expressed.
We also suggest that you take advantage of some of the following educational opportunities:
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Parenting classes at a local hospital
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Parenting and adoption books
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Adoption seminars
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Pre-Adoption workshops held at some Children’s Hope offices
All first time parents will be required to attend a basic parenting class, available through most local hospitals.
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