What's next?
Many people have asked me "So, your home study is almost complete..what's next?". Well the paper chase isn't over yet folks, in fact it's just getting started.
So, friends, family, adoptive parents to be who don't know...this is what happens next. Ya better go get a diet coke, beer, or whatever and giddy up to the computer because it's an explanation for sure.
This information is provided to you by the Families with Children from China website which is now conveniently linked on my sidebar under Adoption Links.
The I-600A
The I-600A is an INS form that starts the process of your international adoption with the INS. Specifically it is a petition for advanced processing. Before the INS can issue a visa to allow an adopted foreign child to enter the U.S. they are legally required to perform an investigation to ensure that the parents meet certain requirements.
In addition, the child must also meet certain requirements. To avoid long delays with new families waiting in foreign countries, the INS will conduct their investigation of the parents before the parents travel to China, this is the 'advanced processing' part. The process starts when you send in the I-600A form along with your birth (and marriage, and divorce) certificates. You will be notified to show up at a specific office to have your fingerprints taken. These are sent to the FBI for a check to see if you have a criminal record. You or your agency sends a copy of your completed home study as well. The investigation consists of going through the home study, checking the other documents and waiting for the FBI clearance. When the investigation is complete, they send you INS form I-171H which states that you are cleared to adopt a child.
Then comes the authentication. From what I understand (and I could be wrong) I do this at the same time as the above process...
Authentication
The official in CCAA will be matching you up with a child solely on the basis of a stack of documents from a large country 1/2 way around the planet. They cannot possibly keep track of what is an authentic document from thousands of state and county government bodies in the U.S.
To resolve this problem, they have adopted a set of requirements called authentication. The best way to explain the authentication process is by example.
One of the required documents in the dossier is a basic medical examination to ensure that the parents are healthy enough to raise a child. The medical exam form is filled out by the examining physician (Dr. Jones), and signed in the presence of a notary. The notary (Bill Smith) places his seal on the document and signs a certification that Martha Jones M.D. is the person signing the document. The document then is taken to the county government (Essex County), which issues an official county document certifying that Bill Smith is a registered notary in Essex County. These two documents now are taken to the State government (Vermont) which issues a third document which states that the certification issued by Essex County is an official Essex County document. The three documents now go to the U.S. State Department which issues a fourth piece of paper which states that the Certification issued by the State of Vermont is in fact an official document. Finally, these four documents go to the Chinese Embassy or Consulate which provides a fifth and final document stating that the U.S. State Department document is an official State Department document.
At the end of this process, a paper trail exists that provides official assurance to the examiners at CCAA that the medical form was in fact filled out and signed by Dr. Jones and that the information on the form is correct and can be used by CCAA to determine that the prospective parents meet the criteria set by the Chinese authorities. This process must be done for all components of the dossier that are sent to China.
Is your head spinning yet? Mine is.
So, friends, family, adoptive parents to be who don't know...this is what happens next. Ya better go get a diet coke, beer, or whatever and giddy up to the computer because it's an explanation for sure.
This information is provided to you by the Families with Children from China website which is now conveniently linked on my sidebar under Adoption Links.
The I-600A
The I-600A is an INS form that starts the process of your international adoption with the INS. Specifically it is a petition for advanced processing. Before the INS can issue a visa to allow an adopted foreign child to enter the U.S. they are legally required to perform an investigation to ensure that the parents meet certain requirements.
In addition, the child must also meet certain requirements. To avoid long delays with new families waiting in foreign countries, the INS will conduct their investigation of the parents before the parents travel to China, this is the 'advanced processing' part. The process starts when you send in the I-600A form along with your birth (and marriage, and divorce) certificates. You will be notified to show up at a specific office to have your fingerprints taken. These are sent to the FBI for a check to see if you have a criminal record. You or your agency sends a copy of your completed home study as well. The investigation consists of going through the home study, checking the other documents and waiting for the FBI clearance. When the investigation is complete, they send you INS form I-171H which states that you are cleared to adopt a child.
Then comes the authentication. From what I understand (and I could be wrong) I do this at the same time as the above process...
Authentication
The official in CCAA will be matching you up with a child solely on the basis of a stack of documents from a large country 1/2 way around the planet. They cannot possibly keep track of what is an authentic document from thousands of state and county government bodies in the U.S.
To resolve this problem, they have adopted a set of requirements called authentication. The best way to explain the authentication process is by example.
One of the required documents in the dossier is a basic medical examination to ensure that the parents are healthy enough to raise a child. The medical exam form is filled out by the examining physician (Dr. Jones), and signed in the presence of a notary. The notary (Bill Smith) places his seal on the document and signs a certification that Martha Jones M.D. is the person signing the document. The document then is taken to the county government (Essex County), which issues an official county document certifying that Bill Smith is a registered notary in Essex County. These two documents now are taken to the State government (Vermont) which issues a third document which states that the certification issued by Essex County is an official Essex County document. The three documents now go to the U.S. State Department which issues a fourth piece of paper which states that the Certification issued by the State of Vermont is in fact an official document. Finally, these four documents go to the Chinese Embassy or Consulate which provides a fifth and final document stating that the U.S. State Department document is an official State Department document.
At the end of this process, a paper trail exists that provides official assurance to the examiners at CCAA that the medical form was in fact filled out and signed by Dr. Jones and that the information on the form is correct and can be used by CCAA to determine that the prospective parents meet the criteria set by the Chinese authorities. This process must be done for all components of the dossier that are sent to China.
Is your head spinning yet? Mine is.
posted by Sara at 8/16/2006
4 Comments:
This too shall pass! It's amazing how the bundle of confusing papers do fall into place. Hang in :0)
Oh, so you're who's been reading my blog in Idaho! Right? I found you through Connie's blog. Congratulations on your adoption journey. I'll add you to my blogliines and follow along as you inch towards your Munchkin with the rest of us!
Sara...the paperchase is a little overwhelming at first, but remember, you're a woman on a mission! You'll be done in no time...
We were able to get our whole paperchase done in 8 weeks. I told our social worker our intentions and she really helped us by following through quickly.
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