The
Process
I should back up a minute and explain the major steps of the process
in an international adoption. They are: Application, Home Study,
Dossier, Referral, Trip, and the Follow Up. Here is a quick
rundown on the process, as I currently understand it.
Application
The application includes the contract and starts the whole
process. Like filling out a tax return or applying for a home
mortgage, it is paperwork about who you are. It is primarily for
the adoption agency to ascertain whether you fit the basic requirements
of adopting a child. It explains their role, your role, how much
things are going to cost, and requires you to provide data about your
life, your home, your assets, and makes you come to the realization that
this is no small decision. I was told to expect this to take two
weeks to put together.
Home Study
This is where a certified social worker comes to your home and checks
things out. We've been told that it is purely to make sure you
have a safe environment, and room, for a child to live in your
residence. Everyone speaks of being nervous of this part of the
process, and we are no exception. But just like going to give
blood, everyone says it's no big deal, and that the worry is
unfounded.
Some adoption agencies have a local representative who is certified
to do the home study, as is our case. Others rely on referrals.
The Dossier
This is all the official stuff that gets translated into Chinese and
sent overseas as well as the INS documents you need to bring the foreign
child into the US. It describes who you are and contains all the
notarized, signed, and sealed documents necessary for the Chinese
government to let this small bundle of joy be handed off to a couple
from halfway around the globe. This is the major work of the
adoption agency. They put this together, although you have to do
the legwork of putting the beginning documents together.
Once it is sent to China, it goes through all the bureaucracy until
they finally match up a child to you! They then send you a
referral, which is a little dossier about the adoptive child.
Referral
This is what every couple sits on pins and needles waiting for.
The Dossier can take so long (10 -11 months) that it can be very
maddening. When it arrives the adoptive parents must make a final
decision. Yes, this is the child, or no, this isn't (however, the
no requires some serious reasons... you can't just turn them away for no
valid reason). The referral includes a small photo, a medical
report, and some general information on the child. Usually, not
much to go on. Once the couple accepts, then an acceptance form is
sent back to China. Once approved, the couple is ready to travel.
The Trip
For China, at least one parent must travel there and take the child in
person. Typically, the process while in China takes two
weeks. The parent, or parents, pick up the child fairly early on,
and then paperwork is sent down to the main out-processing center.
One spends a week with the child while the wheels of government turn,
and then you sign the final paperwork and fly back to the US.
Now, happily, an adopted child of a US citizen automatically becomes
an American upon reaching U.S. soil. This was just enacted by
Congress and signed into law on Feb. 27, 2001. Woo-hoo! One
thing less to worry about. (Read about it here.)
The Follow Up
Lastly, the social worker pays a visit to make sure all is going
well, and that the parents are truly taking good care of the child.
As Lise and I go through this mammoth process this journal will spell
out all the fun details of each step.
