Frequently Asked Questions about Adoption

Call us first! We can help you decide which country best meets your adoption needs. We will also help you with the paperwork for Citizen and Immigration Services, if you choose an International Adoption.

It is possible to adopt children as newborns, as well as older children and every age in between. Sibling groups, unrelated children, and children with special needs are also available for adoption.

No. Many single people adopt each year.

USCIS regulations permit international adoptions if only one spouse is a citizen.

Adoptive families do not have to own their homes – renting is fine.

Many families adopt already have children.

This depends greatly on the country chosen and the agency chosen. Adoptions from Guatemala through KAS are taking on average 5 - 8 months from the time all documents are prepared and are submitted to KAS. China is taking approximately 9 - 11 months from the time all documents are completed and submitted to the CCAA in China. Korea is taking approximately 5 - 8 months. Information specific to other countries can be obtained by calling KAS. Much of the speed of an adoption rests in how quickly a family completes their paperwork and the accuracy of this paperwork. It is essential that all documents be reviewed by KAS before they are authenticated to prevent unnecessary delays. Please note: These are estimated time frames and in no way meant to guarantee the length of time for an adoption process. In addition, many agencies carry long waiting lists that can significantly effect the time it takes to receive a referral. This factor should be considered when deciding on an agency.

When most families make the decision to proceed with an adoption, they would like to have the home study completed yesterday! We try to accommodate your desire to have the home study done as quickly as possible, and we can typically complete the interviews necessary for a home study within two weeks. Or, we're happy to move at a slower, more relaxed pace if that's comfortable for you.  We can typically complete the interviews necessary for a home study within two weeks. It does take awhile for our agency to receive the criminal record checks that are necessary for the completion of a home study. We have generally completed our portion of the home study before we have received all of the supporting documents from the family and/or the entities conducting the criminal record investigation. We never keep a waiting list for families and take great pride in our expedient and efficient home study services.

Depending on the state, USCIS approval can be obtained within 3 weeks to 3 months from the time a family is fingerprinted and USCIS has received the family's home study, whichever is last.

This form may be downloaded free of charge from www.uscis.gov. It may also be obtained by calling 1-800-870-FORM.

Immigration clearance or approval is necessary for a family to bring an internationally adopted child into the United States. Immigration Clearance ensures that a child adopted abroad is legally eligible for adoption and offers an assurance to foreign governments that the adoptive family will provide a stable and loving home.

This varies from country to country. Some countries, such as Korea and Guatemala, will allow an “escort” to bring the child into the United States. China requires at least one parent to travel. Most Eastern European countries require that both parents travel twice.