Adoption process

	Step 1 Submit adoption application
	Step 2 Start your home study
	Step 3 Submit USCIS petition and fingerprints
	Step 4 Assemble the dossier
	Step 5 Identify a child
	Step 6 Travel to finalize adoption

Step 6 — Travel to finalize adoption

Travel requirements vary by program, and may entail either one or two short trips. Regardless of the specific country requirements for your adoption, AMI recommends that both parents (if at all possible) travel to finalize the adoption. Traveling to meet and pick up your new child will be the most thrilling and rewarding aspect of the entire adoption process, and is a step that you will truly not want to miss out on.

AMI will help with booking your travel arrangements, and will make sure an AMI representative and interpreter are available to meet and accompany you throughout your time overseas. They are extremely knowledgable about the local adoption procedures, and will "hold your hand" throughout the entire trip. They will accompany you to the orphanage to meet your child, make sure that all your paperwork is in order, assist with any additional forms that need to be filed with local government offices, and ensure that you appear at all scheduled appointments.

To make the most of your trip, we strongly recommend that you learn as much as possible about the local culture in advance. We have provided a number of cultural links and travel guides on our web site for your convenience. Knowing something about your child's native culture will also help ease their transition to the United States, and help you to remind your child of his or her roots as the years go by.