The Adoption Homestudy

By Roberta Rosenberg

Put your fear aside and warm up your photocopier.. you're in for an interesting, sometimes frustrating ride.

Some people call it hell. (Perhaps that's an exaggeration. Perhaps not.) But you're now in the thick of the adoption process. With a little work, persistence, and a sense of humor, this can actually be a time of thoughtful exploration between you and your spouse, if married, and your desires and expectations as adoptive parents.

What is a Homestudy Anyway? | Paperwork! | Documentation List: What you'll need to pull together | The INS I-600A Form | New INS Fingerprint Regulations | The Homestudy Interviews | Writing Your Autobiographies | Choosing Your Personal References

What is an Adoption Homestudy Anyway?

So you've selected your agency. You've filled out the initial application and paid the initial fee. At this point, you'll most likely have had your first post-introductory interview. Now the real work begins.

To adopt internationally, you must have an approved homestudy. Your agency will assign a social worker to you who will work with you during the process. The homestudy consists of gathering specific documents (see below)... interviews with you, your spouse, and any children living in the home... in-person or telephone interviews with your references... and a home visit or two.

The long and short of it? Your social worker, working on behalf of your agency and the children it represents, wants to know only one thing -- are you going to be good, capable parents? The good news is that most of us do pass the ultimate test. So hang in there and pace yourselves.

Let's talk PAPERWORK!

During your initial interview with the agency or at your first meeting with your social workers, you'll also receive a large, hefty packet of forms that need to be filled out: personal and financial information disclosures, fingerprint cards, INS forms, and lots more. Don't be alarmed. You can do it.

Your Documentation List

Every state has different document requirements so your actual list may look different than the one below. You may need originals or certified copies rather than simple photocopies. The number of copies per document required may also vary. But, for the most part, it will look something like this:

PERSONAL INFORMATION

• Adoption decree(s) on children already living in the home
• Birth certificates for spouses and children already living in the home
• Marriage license
• Divorce decree(s), if applicable

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

• Employment verification by letter and/or current paystub
• Income verification, usually W2s or income tax forms
• Proof of life insurance
• Proof of health insurance
• Statement of current assets, including savings accounts, money market funds, mutual funds, stocks, etc.
• Proof of mortgage or rent payment
• Proof of good health, usually a medical exam is required

MISCELLANEOUS

• State-mandated fingerprint clearances
• Written approval of public health inspection
• Written approval of fire safety inspection
• Photos of the couple, any children, and front of the home
• Copy of previous homestudy, if applicable
• Written personal references

FORMS YOU MAY RECEIVE AT YOUR FIRST POST-APPLICATION MEETING

• State-Mandated Criminal Clearances
• Police Clearance
• Child Abuse Clearance
• Motor Vehicle Driving Records

Many of these forms will require signature verification by a notary public. Your bank can usually provide this service at no charge to its customers. (You're going to get to know the notary really well!)

Are we having fun yet? Wait! There's more...

Meet the INS I-600A Form

At your initial meeting you're also most likely going to receive several forms required by the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). One is a blue I-600. Don't worry about that one right now. The other is far more important at this stage in the process:

I-600A - Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition

This salmon-colored form gets the ball rolling well in advance of completing your homestudy and receiving an assignment of a child. Decide on who will be the "Prospective Petitioner" and continue to use the same person on all INS documents. Can be husband or wife.

Want to save time? You can now download the I600A and I600 forms right from the INS website. No fuss, no muss, no waiting! (Roberta's note: some INS offices have been kicking back perfectly fine forms because they were printed on white paper. Save yourself a hassle - make sure you print the I600A on salmon pink paper and the I600 on light blue paper.)

Here are the documents you'll need to accompany your I-600A application:

• Two sets of fingerprints from each prospective adoptive parent and any adults over age 18 living in the household. See below for complete info.

• Proof of US citizenship of the Prospective Petitioner (I'd include a copy of the spouse's information, too) -- birth certificate, naturalization certificate or valid US passport. Photocopies okay.

• A marriage certificate. (Photocopy okay.)

• Divorce decree or death certificate if previously married (Photocopies okay.)

• Certified check (plus fingerprinting fees for each adult over 18 living in the household), payable to the Immigration and Naturalization Service.

INS Fingerprint Rules
Get the latest information directly from the INS site. Read carefully and speak with your agency for any clarification. You will need Special Instructions for Form I-600 "Immigrant Petition for Orphan (Adoption)" and Form I-600A "Advance Processing; Immigrant Petition for Orphan (Adoption)."

INS now accepts walk-in traffic, but... each office is going to have its own rules about when and how. Call ahead (or ask your agency) the best days and times to go to your regional INS office for fingerprinting and in-person I600A application processing. Remember to bring a certified check or money order with you for the full fees amount, application and fingerprinting.

• Exception: Applicants and petitioners residing abroad who are fingerprinted at a United States consular or military installation abroad do not need to be fingerprinted by the INS and are exempt from the $25 fingerprint fee. These applicants and petitioners must file their completed card at the time their application or petition is filed.

The Homestudy Interviews

Your state and/or agency may have different requirements, but we had one joint interview, one individual interview each, and one home visit with our social worker. I found it to be a somewhat lengthy, but interesting experience. (If you like to talk about yourself, you'll probably have an easier time than someone who tends to be uncomfortable talking about personal matters.)

Generally, you'll be asked about your childhood, your relationship -- past and present -- with parents and siblings, your school days, and previous marriages (if any). You'll be asked about the health and status of your current marriage, your attitudes about parenting, and corporal punishment.

And if Korea is your program of choice, a lot of time will be spent exploring your attitudes and beliefs about parenting a child of another race (if you're not of Asian ancestry yourself) -- and the affects of becoming an interracial family on your extended families.

You'll also be asked about the kind of child you're willing to consider. Are you open to either boy or girl? Some agencies prefer you not have a choice, especially since the majority of families looking to adopt internationally prefer girls. Will you consider a baby born before 38 weeks gestation and/or low birth weight? What is your preferable age range? Will you consider a child with physical, emotional or developmental special needs? If so, what can you comfortably handle, what not?

Having preferences doesn't make you a bad person. Your agency wants you to be upfront and honest with them. But the more flexible you are, the faster you're more likely get a referral.

Writing Your Autobiographies

Scared yet? In keeping with the tone of your initial interviews, here's your chance to really express yourselves on a lot of personal topics. Your social worker will probably give you an outline to follow. Our outline read something like this:

Don't like to write? Get over it. Besides, you won't be judged on how you write, just what you have to say. My husband's was five typed pages. Mine was 10.

I'd say that if you can truthfully say what needs to be said in 3-5 pages, you'll be fine. Worse comes to worse? Dictate it into a tape recorder and have someone transcribe it for you later.

Choosing Your Personal References

So who is going to say, in print and in person, how wonderful you are, singly and together? For the most part, those you ask will be incredibly honored.

But do start thinking about it now. Your social worker will ask for a few references for each of you. (Generally a family member isn't eligible for this honor.) Have a few good friends who've known you a long time? Good. Your priest/rabbi/pastor is also a good choice.

Try to include at least one reference who knows you as a couple. And if you already have children, you might ask if one of their teachers might offer a reference, as well. (My husband and I did this. My feeling was the best way to gauge our effectiveness as parents was to ask someone who has gotten to know our child well for many years.)

All the references you choose will be asked for a written reference. One or two of these references may be called for a more in-depth interview, or your social worker may want to meet a reference in person. So think about who'd be willing to go that extra mile.

Here are some of my personal recommendations for the homestudy process:

Once your homestudy is approved, your agency will forward it to the INS to be included with your I-600A application. Upon completion of its review, the INS will then send you a notice stating your I-600A application has been approved. You can then fax or mail a copy of it to your agency to be added to your file. You keep the original.

Homestudy times vary widely. They can take as little as 30 days or as long as six months (our homestudy took three months from start to finish.) Remember, it's up to you to keep things moving along.

© 2001 R. Rosenberg. All rights reserved worldwide.

How to Adopt

Adoption Scams
Is International Adoption for You?
Hague Regulations/Agencies
How to Adopt Internationally
Make a Welcome Book
Domestic Adoption
Tears of Joy
Older Child Adoption
Parents by Choice
A Dream Come True
Interviewing An Agency
The Greatest Gift
Joy and Surprises - Assimilation
Rainbows from Heaven
Adopting on Your Own
The Adoption Homestudy
5 Top Hot Buttons - Insensitive Comments
Homestudy Humor
Preparing Families for International Adoption
Basic Requirements
Agency Intiated or Direct Adoption? Immigration/Orphans
Interview- ICC

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