Timeline of an International Adoption

Decide what countries you're interested in adoption from. Choose more than one in case there are a few you don't qualify for.

Call around to a few agencies and find which ones you're interested in working with. It can take a few weeks or months to find the right fit.

This entails a lot of the basic details about you and your family. It's long, but should be able to be finished in a day or two. Having all the documents ready moves things along faster.

Once you've been preliminarily approved for a country to adopt from, the homestudy paperwork begins. In some cases this comes after the interview, in our case before. It consists of copies of all your legal documents from birth certificates to a marriage license, questionnaires you'll both need to fill out, essays that are written on parenting styles, and financial paperwork. This part of the process can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months.

Your homestudy interview may be done all at once or divided up into parts. Ours was done in an evening but consisted of an interview with my husband, then just me, then us as a couple. After, your social worker needs time to write up what his findings and recommendations are. Plan for this to take a week to a couple of months.

After the homestudy is approved by everyone, the next step is to get the fingerprints and approval from the USCIS about the advance petition to adopt an orphan — which means more paperwork. The time frame varies, but plan on it taking a few weeks total.

Everything done? Now you wait. If you haven't already been matched with a child (a waiting child or one that was simply available asap) you'll be waiting by the phone for the day the agency calls to let you know they have a match. Depending on the agency and country, this could be as short as a few weeks to over a year.

After a referral, the agency will (in most cases) send pictures and all the medical records they have of the child. You'll have anywhere from a few days to a couple weeks to make a decision and contact some pediatricians who will be able to help guide you with special needs or what to expect when you come home medically.

After you receive a referral, it's time to make a decision. A good agency with a child's best interest at heart will not pressure you to make a quick decision or punish you for declining. After all, this child is already here, has experienced trauma, and needs a family who truly knows they are the best match. Take the time you need to make an informed, rational decision.

You've said yes! It's time for more waiting! During these months, you'll get your passport and visa ready while preparing to add a child to your home. Your child will also be preparing, his or her country will be working on EP (emigration permits) to allow them to leave the country with you. Again, this can take several weeks to over a year.

One day you'll get the call you've waited for — your child is ready to be brought back with you! Pack your bags, adhere to any rules your agency has set about gifts/money for foster parents and orphanage workers, and head out.

Once you arrive home, you'll need to formally adopt your child in the U.S. — sometimes even if they were adopted in their home country by you. Some countries ask that parents continue to receive checkups with their social worker on a 3, 6, and 9 month basis before they formally adopt.