International adoption is extremely rewarding and merits the additional effort. 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.
Starting the Adoption Process
1. Contact Our Office
If you are interested in receiving additional information on the adoption process or need help choosing the country, please contact us by e-mail or by phone (800) 748-5169. We can explain the programs to you in detail, and you can decide whether the program suits your family and if you qualify. 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 and 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 parents living in Illinois with thier 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. This amount is due at the time of the second homestudy interview.
(Application included, as well as the one month and six month post placement fee—one year, two year, and three year post placement is not included)
- $3,580 for families who use the home study department for their home studies, but do not follow up with international adoption using Adoption ARK. This amount is due at the time of the second homestudy interview. (This fee does not include any post placement fees.)
- Each post placement fee for families using Adoption ARK as a placing agency is $250. 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.
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.
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
For some countries, you will be required to obtain a letter of invitation and an entry visa. Please contact us for specific instructions.