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What does it cost to adopt from Ghana?

Kentucky Adoption Services, Inc. Agency Fees: $4,150.00

• $50 Preliminary Application Fee
• $100 Formal Application Fee
• $2,000 First Half Agency Fee due with submission of Agency Agreement
• $2,000 Second Half Agency Fee due at time of referral.

This fee covers the cost of agency personnel in the US, administrative overhead, operational costs, communications and publications and other costs related to providing services in the US. These fees may be paid with a personal check. No part of this fee is refundable!

International Fees: $7,000.00 - $10,000

• $2000 is due with submission of the Agency Agreement
• $2000 is due upon referral acceptance
• The remaining International Fee is due immediately following court approval of the adoption in Ghana

The International fee can vary based on the age of child being adopted (younger children require additional caregivers and additional costs, which could potentially include formula, diapers, etc.)  Fee Reductions are offered for children with special needs, particularly HIV+ children.  Each additional sibling adopted will also incur a fee, for the costs associated with caring for an additional child, additional document preparation, etc.

This fee includes all legal fees such as registration fees, attorney's fees and the cost of obtaining necessary documents such as birth certificates, death certificates (as applicable) and a new passport for the child. The International fee also covers personnel, administrative overhead, operational costs, transportation, training, education and communications on the part of the KAS overseas counterparts, as well as care for the adopted child.  The International Fee is forwarded as shown above to our foreign counterparts for overseas services to facilitate an adoption. A portion of the fee will go directly toward Humanitarian Aid Projects.  At this time KAS plans to assist in supporting a vocational training facility for children rescued from slavery, a home for teen mothers  (both implemented an funded by Vision of Life, a non-profit organization based in Missouri) and a children’s home in Ghana.  Please note: No part of these fees is refundable. These fees should be paid with a cashier’s check.  A personal check may be utilized upon approval by the agency Office Manager.

Estimated Travel Costs: $4,700.00 - $8,900.00

Several travel possibilities are available - estimates of fees are provided below.  Families may choose to make two short trips, the first to file their I-600 in person in Ghana and the second to pick up their child or families may choose to make one longer trip of approximately two weeks (estimated).  Families may also choose to utilize an escort or to file their I-600 paperwork in the US and then make only one short trip for pick-up (subject to USCIS approval).  The latter two options will typically add time to the adoption process. It is not required that both parents travel, although we highly recommend it.

Two Parents Traveling Twice  $8000 - $8900

• $5600 Airfare (round trip - two people, traveling twice / estimate is based on $1400 per person per trip roundtrip)
• $700 - 1400 Airfare (one way - child)
•  $1000 Lodging and food for 10 days total (accommodations will typically be a modestly priced guest house.  The budget of $100 per day is generous)   
• $200 - 400+  Guides and transportation or excursions (if applicable or requested) 
• $400 Visa Fee (per child)
• $100 Child's Medical Exam Fee
• Subtract $2800+ (airfare and accommodations) if only one parent will travel

Two Parents Traveling for one longer Trip $5,600 - $6,500

• $2800 Airfare (round trip - estimate is based on $1400 per person per roundtrip) 
• $700 - 1400 Airfare (one way - child)
• $1400 Lodging and food for 14 days total (accommodations will typically be a modestly priced guest house.  The budget of $100 per day is generous)   
• $200 - 400+  Guides and transportation or excursions (if applicable or requested) 
• $400 Visa Fee (per child)
• $100 Child's Medical Exam Fee
• Subtract $1400+ (airfare and accommodations) if only one parent will travel

Two Parents Traveling after filing I-600 in the US $4,700 - $5,500

• $2800 Airfare (round trip - two people - estimate is based on $1400 per person per trip roundtrip) 
• $700 - 1400 Airfare (one way - child) 
• $500 Lodging and food for 5 days total (accommodations will typically be a modestly priced guest house.  The budget of $100 per day is generous)   
• $200 - 400+  Guides and transportation or excursions (if applicable or requested) 
• $400 Visa Fee (per child)
• $100 Child's Medical Exam Fee
• Subtract $1400+ (airfare and accommodations) if only one parent will travel

Escort $6,700 - $7,500

• $2800 Airfare (round trip - escort and a helper - estimate is based on $1400 per person per trip roundtrip) 
• $700 - 1400 Airfare (one way - child) 
• $500 Lodging and food for 5 days total (accommodations will typically be a modestly priced guest house.  The budget of $100 per day is generous)   
• $200 - 400+  Guides and transportation or excursions (if applicable)
• $2000 Escort Fee 
• $400 Visa Fee (per child)
• $100 Child's Medical Exam Fee
  

Home Study & Post Placement Fees: $1,550.00 - $4,000.00

Home study fees are determined by the agency you choose and are paid directly to that provider. KAS can provide home study services to families across Kentucky. KAS charges $1,550 Home Study fee, along with $200 per post-placement. Seven post-placement reports are required after the child is place for adoption. Please call or eMail us to request a Guide to Services, which will provide more detailed information about the services and fees for KAS.

Adoption Education: $100.00

This fee is paid to Adoption Education LLC, as 10 hours of education are required.

USCIS Fees & Fingerprinting: $670.00 Form Fee

Citizenship and Immigration Services charges $670 to process the I-600A. This check is made payable to the USCIS and sent with the I-600A application. Please note: CIS charges an additional $670 for a second, unrelated child. This is payable to the US Embassy in Guatemala.

Fingerprinting Per Person: $80.00

Citizenship and Immigration Services charges $80 per person for fingerprinting.  This check is made payable to USCIS and sent with the I-600A application.

Dossier Legalization Expenses: $50.00 - 400.00

After securing the notarized documents to be included in your dossier, it is necessary to obtain state appostille seals In our experience the Secretary of State fees range from $0 - $20, with the majority of states charging $5 - $10. KAS offers an Optional Dossier Legalization Service for $250. All fees charged for express mailings, all authentication fees and all courier fees remain the responsibility of the adoptive family.

Adoption in the United States: $500 - $2500.00

Families adopting from The Gambia must finalize their adoption in a US state court as the child will enter the US on an IR-4 Visa. This process varies greatly among states. In Kentucky the fees total approximately $1200, broken out as follows: $500-$650 attorney fee, $150 court filing fee, $200 court report fee and a guardian ad litem fee of approximately $200. This fee can vary greatly from state to state and from attorney to attorney.

Miscellaneous Fees: $500 - 1,000.00

We advise families to include an additional $500 minimum toward miscellaneous and unexpected expenses when planning for any adoption.

All fees are subject to change and any fees not paid to KAS are not under the control or discretion of KAS.

On occasion KAS may be able to offer a slight fee reduction based on a child's special needs and a family's financial situation.

KAS contributes a small portion of the fees collected for Home Studies and for Agency Placement Fees to humanitarian aid. KAS donates significantly to humanitarian aid through a ministry in El Salvador, donations to orphanages and ministries in Guatemala, donations to an orphanage in China,donations to the Hope for Children Project in The Gambia, to donations to orphanages and ministries in Haiti, the orphanage KAS built in Haiti, as well as various projects worldwide