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The Steps to an Adoption from The Gambia

The adoption process from The Gambia can appear overwhelming initially. However, it is a step-by-step process that is not all that difficult to accomplish.

The Home Study

The first step in adopting from The Gambia is to have a home study conducted by an agency licensed in your state of residence. The home study agency you choose should be familiar with International adoptions. Kentucky Adoption Services, Inc. will contact the agency that you have chosen to give them the specifics on what the home study should include and the number of pages that are recommended. KAS can provide home studies for Kentucky residents.

Immigration and Naturalization Paperwork

The second step, that can be done concurrently, is to file your Immigration and Naturalization Paperwork: the I-600A. Kentucky Adoption Services or your home study agency can tell you how to fill this out. It is important that one of these two entities be either with you in person while you are filling it out or be on the phone with you.

The Dossier

The next step is to prepare your Dossier. The Dossier is a compilation of documents that require various seals at different levels of government.  These documents will be notarized (or certified from an appropriate state court or agency), and appostilled (by the Secretary of State from the state the document originated). KAS, Inc. will provide adopting families with exact direction about how to prepare their Dossier and an up-to-date Dossier document list when they have chosen to adopt from The Gambia. 

Don't be overwhelmed - we'll help you with this, and KAS, Inc. can even manage dossier preparation and domestic and international mailing if you choose to utilize the optional KAS Dossier Authentication Service! Families should begin collecting these documents early in the homestudy process so that when the 171-H arrives they are ready to submit the documents to the appropriate entities for the seals. Once your dossier is properly authenticated and ready to submit, your documents will be reviewed and your family will be registered in The Gambia.

The Referral

Because this is a new program it is difficult to predict the wait time for a referral.  We would expect that a referral will be provided within 4 months of dossier submission to The Gambia and we would anticipate a family traveling within 5 months of receiving a referral.  Referral information includes as much detail as we receive from our overseas counterparts, including a photograph with medical and social history.  At minimum, families will receive test results for HIV, Hep. B and sickle cell.

Travel

Travel for both parents is required.  Length of stay in country is anticipated to be approximately 3 weeks.  The Gambia is a frequent tourist destination for Europeans, is an English speaking country with a progressive government and strong infra-structure.  Families will feel safe and will have the option of staying at a luxury resort or at more modestly priced (but secure) guest houses.  Visa processing will occur at the US Embassy in Dakar, Senegal.

Post Placement Visits

A child from the Gambia will enter the US under the guardianship of KAS.  KAS will issue a consent to adopt after 6 months so that the family can finalize the adoption in the US.  Post-placement visits are required for a total of 36 months after placement, to occur at 1, 6, 12, 18, 24, 30 and 36 months following placement with the adoptive family so that The Gambia can also issue a final adoption decree.