Though the international adoption takes time and effort on behalf of adoptive families, it can be extremely rewarding. Adoption ARK has many programs to choose from that fit the needs of single mom's, older parents, large families, childless couples, and families that wish to grow through adoption. Throughout the entire process, Adoption ARK is with you to help make your dreams of adoption come true.
Adoption ARK can also work with Illinois families to complete both international and domestic home study reports.
Starting the Adoption Process
1. Contact Our Office
If you are interested in receiving additional information on the adoption process or need help choosing a country, please contact us by phone at (847) 215-2755. We can explain the programs to you in detail, and you can decide whether you qualify and the program suits your family. There are no fees associated with contacting us for information, and the application to join Adoption ARK is free. Adoption ARK's team of adoption professionals is here to answer all your questions.
2. Submit a Registration Form
If you have an idea of what are you looking for, please fill out our free Registration Form and let us know which program(s) you are interested in and the description of the child(ren) you are considering adopting. The Registration Form is a no-commitment form.
3. Apply for a Home Study
Families who are adopting internationally must have an approved adoption study (home study) completed by a licensed agency or agent in their state of residence. If you desire, we are ready and willing to help you find a fast and affordable home study agency in your state.
Adoption ARK can assist prospective adoptive families living in Illinois with their adoption home study and post adoption reports.
Fees are:
- $2,580 for clients who are working with Adoption ARK for home studies and international adoption.
- $3,580 for families who use the home study department for their home studies, but do not use Adoption ARK as the placement agency.
- An additional $200 home study application fee is due with submission of the home study application.
- Each post placement fee for families using Adoption ARK as a placing agency is $300. For families not using Adoption ARK as their placing agency the post placement fee is $350.
Each country has its own requirements for the home study; please put us in contact with your home study agency so that we can explain these requirements. Families can benefit from staying open to the possibility of adopting a child of either sex or a broader age range and listing several countries of adoption.
If you have a previous domestic home study, or a previous international home study, it will need to be updated.
For additional information, click here for the Adoption ARK Home Study Information Packet
Adoption ARK Home Study Agreement – Sample
Download Application for Adoption ARK Home Study Services
4. Sign Up for a Foreign Program
If you already have a home study and wish to sign up with one of our foreign programs, we will get you started right away.
5. Start Immigration Processing
File your I-600A or I-800A with the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Service (BCIS), formerly the Immigration and Naturalization Service. In order to bring a child from another country into the United States for the purpose of adoption, you must comply with the laws, requirements, and regulations of the BCIS and those of the child's country, such as meeting certain financial requirements.
Call Adoption ARK for specific instructions on how to fill out forms. The I-600A or I-800A form must be filed at your local BCIS office. This petition must be approved before any child can enter the US for immigration purposes.
In addition to these papers, you will be required to be fingerprinted and processed by the FBI, as well as any adult living in your home over the age of 18. Only BCIS fingerprinting locations can be used. You will be notified of your fingerprint appointment shortly after you submit your I-600A or I-800A.
When you get your BCIS approval in the mail, please read it to make sure the American Embassy visa section in the correct country has been cabled to notify them of your approval. If your approval has been over two months in coming, please contact our office for instructions.
If you have BCIS approval but wish to file a change of a country, feel free to contact us for help.
Once approved, a home study will need to be updated annually to keep your BCIS application active. Home study update fees will apply. Please contact your home study agency nine months following the completion of your home study to expedite a home study update, if needed.
6. Apply for a U.S. Passport
If you do not already have a passport, apply now! Instructions for application can be found at any US Post Office. Passports generally take six to eight weeks to process. You will need an original certified birth certificate to apply.
7. Gather Dossier Documents
Once you sign and send your Adoption Agreement, we will send you a checklist of documents you need to obtain for your dossier.
8. Accept a Referral or Country Assignment
Our adoption policy is very flexible and is designed to accommodate our adoptive families’ needs. We will allow you to stay open and change the country of adoption if your personal plans or the country's laws have changed. If you change the country, your fee will be adjusted to match that country's fee but U.S. Assistance fees that have been paid may be transferred to your new country choice. This flexible policy will protect you from losing money if a country closes its adoption program or puts it on hold. Once you have accepted your referral or country assignment, you will receive a travel itinerary and instructions on how to get ready for your trip.
9. Obtain an Entry Visa
Some countries require families to obtain a letter of invitation and an entry visa. Please contact us for specific instructions.