The International Adoption Process

A lot of people have asked me to explain the process we have to go through for this adoption. I don't really understand every step but I'll try to explain it the best I can.

Our first step was to get an international home study done. We met with a social worker 2 times. She talked to us and the kids. She then wrote a report that detailed our housing arrangements, financial situation and our parenting style. It also talked about our upbringing and current relationship with our extended family.

While we were waiting on the home study we were gathering lots of paperwork. We had to get certified copies of our birth certificates and marriage certificate. We had to get a letter from our bank saying we have accounts in good standing, a letter from the police department showing we had no criminal history. We had to get physicals, complete blood work-ups and meet with a Psychiatrist. We had to get 3 reference letters. We also have to provide 3 months of bank statements and 3 years tax records. A lot of the stuff had to be notarized and most of it must be translated into French!!

We are currently waiting on our translations. When we get them back 3 of the documents must be sent to the Haitian Consulate in Chicago for "legalization". These same documents also had to be authenticated by the Sec. Of State. All this means is the state certifies that the notary we used is licensed in California and the license is current. We drove the documents to Sacramento last Friday so we didn't have to wait 10-14 days to get them back. When we get the documents back from the Haitian Consulate then our Dossier is ready to send to Haiti.

Unfortunately, this is not the end of it!!! Now we have to go through the Haitian courts for 1st legalization (making sure all the documents are legit and in order). Our Haitian Attorney has to submit a ton of stuff with our Dossier, ie. Birth mother's birth certificate, proof that the baby is legally available for adoption and several other things that I don't understand.

After 1st legalization then we go into IBESR (Haitian Social Services). The director of IBESR must approve every family that wishes to adopt. This step has been taking 3-6 months!!! It's a big waiting game. So many countries have been complaining about the delays that the Haitian government may replace the director. Which could be good if they quickly pick a new one or a bigger delay because the new director may take even longer since they are new and want to review everything that's been done recently before approving any new adoptions!!!!

Once released from IBESR then we go into 2nd legalization (checking again to be sure everything is legit). After that things can go pretty quickly if everything is in order, the big "IF". The baby's passport must be obtained, we have to meet with the INS (American Consulate in Haiti), and if DNA is ordered we wait on that. If all goes well then the baby's VISA is issued and she comes home!!

The process is very long and nothing makes sense!! The steps are confusing and some people get through really fast and others excruciatingly slow! We are praying ours goes quickly but are expecting it to take months!! We don't expect her home until this time next year. If it's earlier then we will feel blessed!