2. Look into your financial situation. There is a wide range in country costs that may be a deciding factor in the country you choose. I know it was for us! Please do not "write off" adoption based on the cost. In addition to the $10,000 tax credit, there are various ways that you can raise funds for your adoption. Our agency, America World, has an Eternal Family Fund that allows family and friends to make tax deductible donations to our adoption. We also have a foundation through the National Heritage Foundation that has been a blessing as well. For other financial assistance options, please visit this website that will present other ways to help with adoption costs.
3. Once you have chosen an agency and a country, you'll start your paperchase. This is the timeline of our paperchase. We've finished in the average amount of time.
Our PaperChase Timeline
5/5/04 Application sent into AWAA and accepted into their China program.
May-June Collecting documents so that we can start of home study. There are certain things, like birth certificates, marriage certificates, etc, that must be on file before your home study can start.
7/15 Home Study Started
8/18 Home Study Finished
8/22 Home Study and I-600A sent to Arlington BCIS
9/16 Fingerprinted
10/21 I-171 received
11/ 17 Dossier completed
11/19 Dossier sent to China
11/26 Our dossier is logged into the CCAA
6/24/05 Our referral is here!
8/18 Tentative date of departure for China.
The hardest part of the paperchase is the wait! You will send things here and there and then have to wait for the government to complete the steps required by the Chinese government. This was frustrating for me as I was ready to get it done NOW!
Welcome Baby Martin!
Referral 11/8/04
March 2005