Steps In The Process
An Overview Of The Steps In The International Adoption Process
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The International Adoption Process
To begin the international adoption processs, we encourage you to complete our Pre-Application. It is available online and is a free and simple way to get started. You are also welcome to call us at 516-747-2204, and we are available for an orientation at our main office or online
Once you’re ready to proceed, complete and submit the Adoptive Family Profile (AFP) or the Kafala Family Profile (KFP) for Morocco and Pakistan. If you are pursuing the adoption of a known child, you will use the AFP-IC form.
After your profile is approved, you will receive the Adoption Service Agreement. Our current fee disclosures are available online for your review.
Assignment
Once your dossier is approved, the foreign agency can consider you for a referral. This process may take several months.
When a match is identified, New Beginnings will present the child’s background study. This includes photographs, medical reports, developmental assessments, and any available social history. We encourage families to consult with an independent physician for review. If concerns arise, we will request additional information on your behalf.
Post Adoption/Placement Supervision
Once home, you’ll begin post-adoption or post-placement supervision, depending on the country.
- Post-adoption supervision applies when the adoption is finalized abroad (e.g., Korea).
- Post-placement supervision applies when you have guardianship and will finalize the adoption in the U.S. (e.g., Morocco, Thailand, Pakistan, Jamaica).
Post-placement supervision typically lasts six months. In Korea, post-adoption supervision usually continues for over a year.
Home Study
The home study is an essential step in the International Adoption Process to evaluate a family’s readiness for adoption. You’ll submit required documents, including background clearances, medical reports, financial statements, and references. Parents must also complete training. There are several online training courses available. New Beginnings will provide detailed instructions and forms.
Once your documents and training are complete, a social worker will conduct your home visits and prepare the home study report. The report is submitted to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for pre-adoption approval, I-600A or I-800A. The home study report, USCIS approval, and supporting documents are your dossier, which is submitted to the child’s country of origin for review.
Bringing Your Child Home
After accepting the referral, you will travel to complete the legal process and bring your child home. Depending on the country, the legal process may involve guardianship of the child (e.g., Morocco, Thailand, Pakistan, Jamaica) or adoption (e.g., Korea).
New Beginnings or our partners will assist in submitting the child’s legal documents to USCIS for immigration approval (I-600 or I-800). Once approved, you may return home.
Families should anticipate an adjustment period as the child and parents settle into new routines. Empathy and patience make the transition a meaningful beginning to family life together.
Estimating Length Of Time
Timelines: From Home Study to Placement
Estimated timeframes from home study approval to placement:
- Morocco: 9–15 months (families must be open to children over 18 months old)
- Thailand: 15–24 months
- Korea: Timeline currently unknown due to program changes
- Pakistan: Typically under 12 months, but variable
- Jamaica: 12–18 months
Travel durations:
- Morocco: 6–8 weeks
- Korea: Two trips, 7–10 days each, spaced 4–5 weeks apart
- Thailand: 17–20 days
- Pakistan: one or two trips; time in-country is 4–6 months
- Jamaica: Two trips, 1–2 weeks each
If you have questions on the Steps in the International Adoption Process, please call us at 516-747-2204.
Adoption Tips
Four Tips for a Faster Adoption Home Study Process
We appreciate families who move through the paperwork quickly, but partial and incomplete forms will only delay the process. Take the time to answer every question clearly and concisely. Use N/A and none when appropriate.
Five Ways to Cope with the Holidays While Waiting to Adopt.
You are not alone. I have spoken to many adoptive parents who find the holidays to be very difficult, triggering feelings of sadness and emptiness because they are still waiting for their child.
Adoption Home Study: Seven Tips to Make the Process Easier
The home study is one of the most important documents generated during the adoption process and is required for every domestic and international adoption.