After receiving the initial "nod" from all parties involved, I started researching countries. Jason and I decided that we wanted to adopt from Azerbaijan. I didn't even know how to spell it until we decided this would be our country. Naturally, we have good taste and unknowingly picked out the most expensive country to adopt from, but we were committed. We researched adoption agencies and found one not too far from us located in Chicago. I sent the generic email through their website and was immediately contacted by a representative in New York. A couple of weeks later, we signed with them and began what is referred to as the "Paper Chase".
One of the first requirements for any adoption is a Home Study. I would like to say that this is when a state-licensed social worker checks you out and makes sure your family is ok. That is the gist, but it is much more than that! We had to produce everything from our dogs shot records, reference letters from friends, family, co-workers and teachers, medicals exams that expire every six months, certified copies of birth certificates that expire every six months, Child Abuse and Neglect Tracking System (CANTS) clearances for ever state Jason and I have lived in since we were 18 (13 states), FBI fingerprints that expire every six months, state fingerprints that expire every six months, psychological evaluations, tax returns, a letter from our bank, evidence that our hot water heater was set at a certain temperature (I can't make this stuff up), 14 hours of online classes, seminars, CPR and first aid certifications, and so on. Let me just say that the home study took longer than any other process has taken. Our social worker has been amazing, and I look forward to working with her on our post-placement visits.
Once the home study is complete and a report is written, it must then be approved by your state. After your state approves it, it must go to U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services (USCIS), formerly the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service. You send them an application, which is called an I-800a along with your Home Study and other supporting documents. This is telling us the U.S., "Hey, we would like to adopt from [insert country here] and our state has approved. Would you please be willing to issue a visa for a child from this country and allow them to be classified as an immediate relative when we bring them home?" A couple of months later, you get sent a letter telling you the location, date and time to report for FBI fingerprinting. Oh, but wait. We've already done this? It doesn't matter. No one communicates and you gave to do it again. The appointment was one month later in Chicago. I didn't know at the time that once you receive your appointment letter, most FBI fingerprint location will let you walk in for your fingerprints and not make you wait the full month. We waited the month.
After your fingerprinting, you wait for an official letter from USCIS called the I-797. This is an approval that they will issue a visa for a child from the country you chose.
Meanwhile, while we were waiting on our approval letter to come, I received an email from our adoption agency.
February 4, 2013
On January 1, 2013,
the Russian government put into effect a law that prohibits the adoption of
Russian children by US citizens. This ban is a result of the Magnitsky Act, a
bill passed by the US Congress as a response to what Congressional leaders felt
were human rights violations in Russia.
The passage of law by
both the US and Russia is heartbreaking for the families who were in the process
of adopting from Russia and, especially, the children who will remain in
orphanages across the country, unable to grow up in the loving arms of a
family.
As Adoption ARK’s
largest program, Russia was over half of the agency’s
annual income. The Board of Directors and agency management, after carefully
reviewing all of our programs, projected income and expenses, and trends in
intercountry adoption, made the difficult decision to close the
agency.
Adoption ARK is working with agencies both in and outside of
Illinois to
take on its clients. The first clients to be transferred will be those with
referrals and those traveling soon. We will send notification later this week,
via e-mail, to all families currently in process, providing notification of the
agency which has expressed willingness to work with families to move their cases
forward. Adoption ARK staff will work with the new agencies to
make the transition as smooth as possible. In order for this process to proceed
as smoothly and efficiently as possible, please review the contact information
on file at Adoption ARK and reply to this email:
Well. This sucks. Now what? I already have 5 months invested in this! I called my adoption agency and didn't get much information. Only that my file was being transferred to a new adoption agency in Washington state called Children's House International. I've heard of them before. Let me call them and figure out what is going on.
Below is an adoption flow chart that I swiped from another mom's blog (Thanks, Amanda). It doesn't a pretty good job of explaining the process if what needs to happen.
