Adoption Process

Step 1 – Preparing Your Initial Paperwork (the dossier) pronounced “doss-ee-aye” and doing the training (2 web based classes)… check (except, procrastination is alive and well in this house for one of us, at least when it comes to online training)

Step 2 – Child Referral; a child is accepted by us… check

Step 3 – Our Dossier Goes to India, FedEx usually takes 2-3 days to get to India… check

Step 4 – NOC Clearance; the Indian Adoption Agenc reviews all the papers and may request other documents.  Then the attach info about our child and everything gets sent to the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA).  CARA only meets twice a month and issues Non-Objection Certificates clearances (NOC clearances).  Many clearances are granted within 6-12 weeks.  But one case took 9 months, so we get to wait and not know anything!  Yay *sense the deep sarcasm*…. waiting, ooo ya… and more waiting… CHECK! (7/30/08)

After this the process becomes more a formality.

Step 5 - Court date; the NOC clearance goes to the orphanage. An attorney picks it up and files more forms. A social worker will do a final evaluation of our child before the case file can be officially submitted to the High Court of the State.  From NOC to court date is usually around 6-8 weeks (and yet again, it could take less/more time)… CHECK!!

Step 6 - PREPARE For Our Trip;  IFS (International Family Services, our agency) receives the paperwork around 4 weeks after the case is heard in court.  The IFS sends the paperwork to the main office in Dallas, TX…check

Step 7 – Interstate Compact (ICPC); an ICPC officer in TX contacts the ICPC officer here in OR to see if we have completed the state’s pre-adoption requirements. Can take days or WEEKS…check

Step 8 – Travel to India; we will be there about a week. Home again, home again, jiggity jig.  Pheeewww. Dasch….CHECK (11/26/08)

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