THE PAPER CHASE

Once you've made the decision to adopt from China, you'll undertake a challenge that may at times seem impossibly complicated – the dossier. China, like every country that allows international adoption, has its own requirements. When we traveled in 1997 and 2000, they included the following:

• The Home Study
• USCIS Approval
• Fingerprints
• Background Check
• Birth Certificate
• Marriage Certificate
• Employment Letter
• Reference Letters
• Doctor's Statement
• Making It Official

The Home Study

Virtually every adoption, both domestic and international, requires a home study. This involves hiring a state-licensed social worker to evaluate you, your home, and your fitness (mentally and physically) to be a parent. Once the home study has been conducted, your social worker will generate a typed report. This report is one of the most important documents in the dossier. Without it, the dossier will not be accepted.

The USCIS Approval

In this post-9/11 environment, I won't attempt to stay current with the latest USCIS (US Citizenship and Immigration Services (formally known as the INS)) requirements. You will need to fill out and submit the I-600 form to petition the U.S. government for permission to adopt a foreign-born orphan and bring them to the United States. This form requires the completion of the home study report. Once your I-600 has been approved, the clock starts ticking on your dossier. You have 18 months from the time the I-600 is approved to complete the adoption. If you don't, you'll have to re-submit to the USCIS for permission. For more information on requirements, visit www.uscis.gov.

Fingerprints

Anyone wanting to adopt internationally must submit fingerprints to the FBI to verify that you are not a felon, nor on any of the governments watch lists. The fingerprints are taken at the nearest USCIS office to your home. Keep in touch with your adoption agency on this one. The INS managed to lose our prints during our last dossier preparation, resulting in several week's delay.

Background Check

The background check is obtained from your local law enforcement authority. You must request this in person. Usually the officer will check your I.D., scan their system, and verify that you have no criminal background or outstanding warrants. For the dossier, you'll need a letter, typed on the agency's letterhead, that states that the background check has been performed, and you are not a criminal.

Birth Certificates

The birth certificate required for a Chinese adoption must be from your state's vital statistics agency. A certificate from your county, or from the hospital, will not be accepted. Once you return, you will again go to the state's vital statistics office to obtain an American birth certificate for your child.

Marriage Certificate

Your marriage certificate must be obtained from the county clerk where you were married.

Employment Letter

You must obtain a letter from your employer stating that you are a dependable employee, and are likely to remain employed for the foreseeable future.

Reference Letters

You will usually be required to obtain at least three personal letters of reference. These can be from friends, relatives, or clergy. Generally, these folks should give their honest opinion of what kind of parent you'll be. Obviously, you'll want to ask people who think rather highly of you.

Doctor's Statement

Your doctor may be required to perform an HIV test on you, as well as other tests. He or she should then provide a letter, on their practice's letterhead, that says you are reasonably fit to be a parent.

Making It Official

Each of the documents in the dossier must undergo a verification process. This process can be different, depending on the state the document originated. China requires that documents be notarized, that the notary's seal be verified by the Secretary of State, and then be authenticated by the appropriate Chinese consulate or embassy. Other states require that the document also be verified by the county clerk and the U.S. State Department. Make sure you check with your agency to find out exactly what's required.
After you return from China, your child (as long as they enter on an IR-3 visa) will automatically become a U.S. citizen, and will soon receive a Certificate of Citizenship. Some states (such as Indiana) require that you register the adoption with the state, via your county court. Others, such as Kentucky, may require that you actually re-adopt your child. Check with your agency to see what's involved. It is during these legal proceedings that you can legally change your child's name. In our case, we gave our daughters our surname, and an American first name, but retained their Chinese names as their middle names. You will also be required to provide the Chinese government with proof of your child's new American citizenship by sending a photocopy of her passport or Certificate of Citizenship, via the adoption agency. And you will be required to provide at least two follow-up home studies, at six months and twelve months post-placement. By the time the entire paper chase is complete, you will be a consummate professional at dealing with paperwork and government bureaucracy.

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