Paperwork for an international adoption initially seems overwhelming, however, it is straightforward and really not that complicated. It’s not rocket science!!   We have forged positive relationships with excellent Guatemalan attorneys and with the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala, which helps expedite the process.  In Bulgaria we have partnered with a non-profit organization licensed by the Bulgarian Ministry of Justice to serve as an intermediary in international adoptions.

Our goal is to personally help each parent through every step of the process.  In as much as we are able, we will do as much of the filing as we can. We will maintain regular contact from beginning to end. Naturally we can’t do the fingerprints!

1. Mail completed application to us at Adoptions Forever; 509 Strathmore Road, Havertown, Pa. 19083, fax it to 610-853-4576, or send it to Adoptionsforever@yahoo.com. Upon receipt of your application, we will review it and let you know within 1 business day of your eligibility. A 100.00 non-refundable fee will be due at this time; you are not committed to any further services. Once you have identified Adoptions Forever as the agency of choice, we will send you an information package, which will get you started.

2. Complete an application to INS. Adoptions Forever will send you this form and file it for you, if you wish. If you would prefer you could download it at www.bcis.gov. This is the I-600A, which is the orphan petition. The form must be accompanied by several documents (birth, marriage and divorce decrees). After this is filed, INS will contact you for an appointment to get finger printed. Fingerprints must be taken on form FD-258.

The results could take 6-10weeks. Anyone over the age of 18 years living in your house for any part of the year must be fingerprinted. The fingerprinting fee for each member of the household must be submitted with the advance processing application, all payable to INS. 

In the interest of timing, we recommend that you file the I-600A before the Home Study is completed. Make INS aware that the Home Study will follow.

3. Schedule to have a Home Study, which is a requirement of INS, your home state and country from which you adopt. Adoptions Forever can complete this if you reside within 3 hours of our office in Pa. or contact a licensed adoption agency in your state. Submit to us your approved Home Study along with a copy of the agency’s license. The adoption agency might forward the completed Home Study to INS directly or send it to you to mail. Please mail any and all information to INS either registered or certified. It is also a good idea to make copies prior to mailing. The I-600A will be approved and INS will notify the country you have chosen once they receive the fingerprint clearances and the completed Home Study. You will then receive an I171H, which is the approval by INS allowing you to adopt internationally. Please forward this I171H to our office when you receive it.

4.  Collect the documents required by the country from which you are adopting. This is what foreign governments refer to as the dossier (pronounced da-see-a). All dossier forms with step-by-step instructions will be sent to you. We will help you every step of the way. We will make sure all the forms are complete and accurate.

5. Make sure your current passport is valid for the duration of travel or apply for a new one.

6. A child is identified for you. You will receive medicals, photos and a video, when available. We provide as much information as we can about each child.  We will tell you everything we have been told about your child however we cannot guarantee the accuracy or the scope of the information provided.

7. There are different fee schedules for Guatemala and Bulgaria, which will be in your country specific packet. Your dossier will be translated into Spanish in Guatemala and submitted to the Guatemalan family Court, INS at the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala and lastly to the (PGN) Procuraduria General de la Nacion for approval. All documents in Bulgaria will be submitted to the Minister of Justice who must give explicit consent for the adoption. Sofia City Court will authorize the adoption if it’s in the best interest of the child.

8.  Once the adoption is approved, a new birth certificate will be issued to your child with your last name.   You will be given advance notice when to travel. All final fees will now be due. You will be helped with travel arrangements, hotels, what to bring, etc. There will be an escort at the airport and throughout your stay in Guatemala and in Bulgaria.

9. When you obtain your child’s U.S. Visa to travel to the U.S., you will then be able to return home.

10.Your Home Study agency can provide post-placement services, which are required by INS, and the host country.  It includes several visits over a time frame specified by your child’s country, usually 1-3 years. . This is to ensure placement is going well and assures adoption officials in your child’s country that your child is being well cared for and loved.  If Adoptions Forever does the Home Study, we will do the post-placement reports as well.

BON VOYAGE!!!