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How do I get started?
The adoption process can be extremely daunting, but our staff at IFI will be with you every step of the way to make the process easier.
Feel free to browse our FAQ's, request a copy of our adoption information packet, ask specific questions about your situations, or take any other steps that will allow us to help you decide to adopt through IFI.
To Begin
- Download our application or call us to request an application.
- After IFI approves your application, you will receive additional paperwork:
- Upon approval of your application, your dossier will be available for download immediately in the client log in section
- Parents fill out I 800 A for Conventional Countries, and I 600 A for non-Conventional Countries
- Simultaneously IFI will help you find a licensed social worker in your state to perform your Home Study
- IFI currently has contracts in place with the following supervised providers who may provide home study services:
- Datz Foundation
- Island Coast International
- South Floriday Adoption Services
- All God's Children International
- Complete ten hours of approved adoption preparation and training during the homestudy process
Referral
- IFI will mail your referral as soon as we receive it
- It takes approx. 6-9 months to receive a referral from India
- Unfortunately the wait time for a referral for China is a longer. It can take anywhere between 2-4 years
- Each referral contains a small picture of a child and their brief medical history
- Parents will have at least two weeks to consider whether or not to accept the referral. During those two weeks, IFI will be happy to provide referrals to medical doctors specializing in adoption if parents wish to have the medical history reviewed.
- When approved, we send the referral back to the orphanage for a court date.
Travel
- Families file for I 800 (also referred to as Provisional approval)
- Along with the I800, families submit:
- Article 16
- I 864 A (also known as Affidavit of Support)
- I0800
- After the approval of I 800 for India cases:
- The families paper's will be sent to the Embassy in New Delhi
- Families file DS 230 form
- Embassy approves all forms and will issue Article 5; this Article 5 is a guarantee for the child to get the visa.
- CARA then issues the NOC for the child to file the case in the court
- The foreign courts clear the case in approx. 9-12 months
- China Families have to travel to escort their child
- India Families can have IFI escort their child
Arrival
- IR3 visa-both parents have seen their child prior to adoption
- IR4 visa-one or none parents have seen their child prior to adoption
- IFI will assist you to find a lawyer in your state specializing in international adoption to finalize your adoption
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