Frequently Asked Questions

Topics Covered: (click on blue link to be taken directly to the topic)

Components of International Adoptions

Explanation of "homestudy"

Adoption Tax Credit

Military Families and Adoption

Immigration Forms

Financial Assistance for Adoptions

Q. What does an international adoption include?

A. All international adoptions have three basic components:

1.  The homestudy. Adoption Guides does the homestudy for families in North Carolina. For families outside North Carolina, Adoption Guides will assist in helping you begin with a social worker to prepare this homestudy.

2.  U.S. immigration approval. Adoption Guides gives you the simple application and directions on where to send it.

3. The dossier ("doss ee ay") is your file that Adoption Guides helps you prepare to be sent to the country of adoption. Adoption Guides gives you guidance with every part of the dossier.

Q. What is a "homestudy"?

A. Not to be feared or dreaded, a homestudy is simply the process by which a social worker ascertains that you are a safe family to raise an adopted child.  The social worker will meet with you on a few occasions, will have you complete some paperwork about yourselves, and will request state police clearances for each family member in your home over age 18.  The social worker then writes a report that is submitted to the immigration in your state and to the country where you are adopting.

Q. I have heard about the Adoption Tax Credit. What does this mean?

A. The Adoption Tax Credit is the best financial news in adoptions!  For families whose combined annual household income is $180,000 or less, you will benefit from the IRS tax credit of over $11,000 per child adopted. This is not a deduction, but an actual credit against the taxes you ordinarily would have paid (or had withheld throughout the year.)  Click here to read information about the tax credit.  Legislation is currently on Capitol Hill in Washington DC to raise this credit to $15,000 per child. This tax credit has made it financially possible for countless families to adopt who might not have otherwise. For families with income over $170,000 the tax credit eventually phases out.

Q. We are in the military.  How can we learn about the military adoption reimbursement, and can we adopt from abroad?

You can adopt internationally while you are in the military, whether or not you are currently based in the U.S.
For information on adopting while in the military, click here.
For information on the military adoption reimbursement, click here.
To download and print the form to use for the reimbursement, click here.

Q.  Where do I find required immigration forms?

A. The following forms are used for various purposes during the adoption. These forms are for your convenience to download and print if your adoption coordinator tells you you need one. Most families only use one or two of these forms. Adobe Acrobat is needed to view these forms.

Forms marked with C are needed for a China adoption.
Forms marked with G are needed for Guatemala.
Forms marked with H are needed for Haiti.

C,G,H i600a This form is the initial application to the U.S. Immigration to receive approval for you to adopt from overseas. The current fee to file form i600a, is $670, plus $90 for each person in the home over age 18, for fingerprints. Instructions for the form, click here.  Send the completed form and a money order to your state immigration office. Find the state address here. If you are an American residing overseas, look here to find the U.S. immigration office with jurisdiction over your current country of residence.

C,G,H i600 This form is used when you have completed an adoption of a child. It is either filed in your state, if you are not traveling to the foreign country for the adoption, or taken abroad with you.

Poverty Guidelines for 2007 To adopt from overseas, your annual income must be 125% or above current U.S. poverty guidelines. Find the allowed income level by clicking on the above link.

i824 This form is used if you change countries of adoption after filing your i600a. The fee that accompanies this form is $340.

H g 28 This form is sometimes used, according to your agency's instruction, for the immigration process; most generally in Haiti. Click here to see a sample of how this form is to be filled out. It must be notarized and since there is not a place at the bottom for this, have the notary use the back or a separate paper.

C,G,H i864 Affidavit of Support; used when both parents do not travel to the country for the adoption

Q. Is there Financial Assistance for adoptions?

A.  Financial assistance is largely available only by loans unless a family is adopting a child with major special medical needs.  Our recommendation is that you investigate a home equity loan with a line of credit. A "line" means that you only borrow the funds you need at that moment. This way you are not paying interest on money not yet needed. Most adoption costs are spread out over the course of the adoption process, so upfront costs only amount to 1/3 or so of the total amount.  Below are some lists of suggestions for loans and grants. We suggest you start by first calling the bank you already use.

CREDIT CARDS:  https://applications.usbank.com/oad/begin?locationCode=9472&preparerType=customer This credit card company gives you bonus cash for your adoption as you use their card!

LOANS:

MBNA: MBNA offers unsecured loans for adoptive applicants. For loan information through MBNA please call 1-800-448-7061. They also offer a limited number of grants. For this information and an application packet call 203-791-3811.

WACHOVIA BANK: To apply for a loan, please call: 800-275-3862.

HEBREW FREE LOAN ASSOCIATION: HFLA offers interest free adoption loans to Jewish families who demonstrate financial need and strong desire to adopt a child. Please visit the website at www.hflasf.org  or call 415-546-9902.

A CHILD WAITS FOUNDATION: A Child Waits Foundation provides low interest loans for families who do not have any other option than to request a loan in order to proceed with international adoption. You can visit www.achildwaits.org  to learn more.

FUNDS 4 FAMILIES: Please visit www.funds4families.com or call (800) 451-372 to find out more about home loans such as home equity plans, debt consolidation plans and refinancing plans. Also you can consult your bank or other current mortgage lender and a tax person regarding some tax benefits of the loans.

Several local and national banks offer adoption loans with a low interest rate. Check with your bank.

GRANTS:

THE NATIONAL ADOPTION FOUNDATION: Grants up to $4000 are available to prospective adoptive parents 4 times a year. You can access to the National Adoption Foundation’s website at www.nafadopt.org/NafGrants  or call (203) 791-3811. For unsecured loans, please call (800) 626-2760 and for secured loans (800) 841-1982.

SHAOHANNAH’S HOPE: Dedicated to helping prospective adoptive parents overcome the financial barriers associated with adoption. They award financial grants to qualified families in the process of adopting. The size of the grant is determined by several factors, the most important being need. www.shaohannahshope.org

BRIGHT FUTURES ADOPTION ASSISTANCE FOUNDATION: The Bright Futures foundation helps orphans to find forever families by providing small grants to prospective adoptive parents. You can visit the website at www.homestead.com/brightfutures/

OURS BY GRACE: Christian families can be helped by Ours by Grace. You can access their website and apply for a grant at www.oursbygrace.com

UNITED WAY INTERNATIONAL: www.national.unitedway.org/myuw/  can help with travel costs for adopted children who are suffering from serious medical problems that need urgent medical attention. You can call for more information at (703) 519-0092.

STATE NON-RECURRING EXPENSE SUBSIDY: Call (800) 470-6665 or visit www.nacac.org  to learn if your state of residence provides subsidy to a special needs child adopted from abroad. You can also ask your home study agency or social worker about possible credits given by your state.

FUNDRAISING:

A MOTHERS LOVE FUNDRAISING: An adoptive mother is helping to plan fundraising events for prospective adoptive parents. To learn more, visit www.amotherslovefundraising.com

COMMUNITY FUNDRAISERS: Prospective Adoptive Families can address their need for help to their churches and other civic community organizations in their local area. www.fund-raising.com