Nepal Dossier Checklist

If this list of documents drives you as crazy as it does me, I thought I would include a basic checklist that you can use when pulling together your dossier. Please note that this checklist was created by Gladney just days after Nepal re-opened for adoption so the requirements may change as time goes on.

 Letter of Intent to Adopt - notarize
 Home Study – notarize; copy of license
 Post-Adoption Agreement - notarize
 Birth Certificate(s) of Applicant(s) (provide an original certified within last two years)
 Marriage Certificate, if applicable
o Single Status Statement, if applicable (form provided in program guide)
o Divorce Decree, if applicable. Attach a notarized declaration stating that the copy is a true and accurate copy of the original document (use document name, such as “divorce decree”).
 Health Certificate
o Complete one form for each applicant (provided in program guide).
 Psychological Assessment
o Notarized statement from physician/counselor/psychologist (on professional’s letterhead)
 Financial Statement - notarize
o Complete the attached Financial Statement form (income must match what is reported in your home study and employment letter).
o Attach a copy of your most recent federal tax return.
 Employment Letter
o If you are self-employed, please have a certified public accountant prepare a letter that includes the above information.
 Bank Statement
 Property Details
o Provide copies of ownership documents and/or lease agreements
o Attach a notarized declaration stating that the copy is a true and accurate copy of the original (use document name, such as “deed” or “lease”).
 Family Description Letter
o Include birth certificates of any children living at home, if applicable.
 Certificate of Good Conduct
o Each parent must obtain a certificate of good conduct from your local police department. The certificate must be on police letterhead, signed by a police official and notarized.
 Guarantee Letter from the Nepalese Embassy
 Passport Copies
o Attach a notarized declaration stating that the copy is a true and accurate copy of your passport.
 Guardianship Designations - notarize
o Single parents must also complete and notarize a Guardianship Statement (see attached form).
 Pictures
o Submit at least 10 photographs that depict your family life.
 I-171H Immigration Approval (I-600A Approval)
o Attach a notarized declaration stating that the form is a “true and accurate copy” of the original I-171H.

Non-Hague Adoption Process

Adopting a child from a non-Convention country is different than adopting from a Convention country. Right now, about 75 countries have joined the Hague Adoption Convention. In Nepal, this is the general process (in their words; not mine).
1. Choosing a Licensed Adoption Service Provider
2. Applying to be Found Eligible to Adopt
3. Being Referred for a Child
4. Adopting the Child
5. Applying for the Child to be Found Eligible for Immigration to the United States
6. Obtaining an Immigrant Visa for the Child

Number 2 seems to be the most confusing so I thought it was worth taking the time to explain it.

To adopt a child from another country and bring that child to live in the United States, you must be found eligible to adopt under U.S. law. The infamous USCIS (or a quick way to say the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services)allows you to bring a child into the US. The trick is that they determine if you are able to provide a suitable and stable home.

So how do you do it? I call it the salmon paper, but its really known as the Form I-600A or the Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition. Dont these names just kill you? You have the file this salmon form with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). As I mentioned earlier, you must turn in the home study that includes information about your health, finances, home, background, and more. The following documents must be submitted with the I-600A:

1. Completed and signed I-600A;
2. Proof of your United States citizenship;
3. Proof of your marriage, if applicable;
4. Proof of divorce, if applicable;
5. A “home study” with a favorable recommendation;
6. Filing fee of $735.00.

But wait.. there is more. You, your spouse (if married), and each additional adult member of your household must be fingerprinted as part of the I-600A application. Once the I-600A is filed, you will be notified with instructions on how to get fingerprints at a local USCIS offices. When you file the I-600A, request that USCIS notify the U.S. embassy in Nepal as soon as the I-600A is approved.

Approved Agencies

Adoption Notice

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Office of Children’s Issues
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________


November 14, 2008



As of this update, the Government of Nepal has not yet resumed processing intercountry adoptions. It is expected that the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare (WCS) may begin accepting applications in January 2009; however, many procedures remain to be implemented at the Ministry and local levels before adoption processing can officially resume.



In preparation for the resumption of intercountry adoptions, on October 25, 2008, the WCS published a list of 58 international adoption agencies that it has accredited to work in Nepal. Among the list are 32 U.S.-based agencies. U.S. prospective adoptive parents who are considering an adoption from Nepal should work with one of these approved agencies. The agencies are listed below in alphabetical order.

We will update this notice as soon as there is additional information. For specific adoption questions you may contact: adoptionsnepal@state.gov



For general information, please visit: adoption.state.gov.



Adoption Alliance

2121 S. Oneida St., Ste. 420, Denver, CO 80224



Adoption Ark, Inc.

830 S Buffalo Grove Rd., Suite 103, Buffalo Grove, IL 60089



Adoption Associates, Inc.

1338 Baldwin Jenison MI 49428



Adoption Forever

509 Strathmore Road, Havertown, PA



Adoption International Inc

10935 Estate Lane, Suite 271, Dallas, TX 75238



Adoption Star, Inc.

47 Plaza Drive, Williamsville, NY 14221



Adoption-A Gift of Love

35 Rolling Hills Circle, Denton TX 76205-8560



All God's Children International

3308 NE Peerless Place, Portland, OR 97232



Carolina Adoption Services

301 N. Elm Street, Suite 500, Greensboro, NC 27401



Children's Home Society and Family Services (CHSFS)

1605 Eustis St. Paul, MN 55108



Crossroads Adoption Services

4600 W. 77th Street Suite 200, Minneapolis, MN



Decolores Adoptions International

2615 Paul White Rd., Lake Charles, LA 70611



Faith International Adoptions

535 East Dock Street, Suite 103, Tacoma, WA 98402



Families Through International Adoption (FTIA)

400 Bentee West Court, Evansville, IN 47715



Florida Home Studies and Adoption Inc.

5930 Palmer Blvd., Sarasota, FL 34232



Holt International Children's Services

1195 City View Eugene, OR 97402 (541) 687-2202



Hope's Promise

309 Jerry Street, Suite 202, Castle Rock, CO 80104



Illien Adoptions International Inc.

1250 Piedmont Avenue NE, Atlanta, GA 30309



International Adoption Net

2305 E. Arapahoe Road # 248, Centennial, CO 80122



International Families Inc.

5 Thomas Circle NW, Washington DC 20005



International Family Services

700 S Friendswood Drive, Suite A, Friendswood, TX



Journeys of the Heart

1005 NE Cornell Road, Hillsboro, OR



Kentucky Adoption Services Inc.

3808 S Griffith Avenue Owensboro, KY 42301



La Vida International

150 S. Warner Road, Suite 144, King of Prussia, PA 19406



Life's Vision International

4580 Klahaine Drive SE #114 Issaquah, WA 98029



MAPS (Maine Adoption Placement Services)

277 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04101



New Beginnings International

2164 Southridge Drive, Tupelo, MS 38801



Pearl S. Buck International (PSBI)

520 Dublin Road, Perkasie, PA 18944-3000



The Barker Foundation

7979 Old Georgette Road, First Floor, Bethesda, MD 20814



The Gladney Centre for Adoption

6300 John Ryan Drive, Fort Worth, TX 76132



The World Child International Corporation

9300 Columbia Boulevard, Silver Spring, MD 20910



Wide Horizons for Children Inc.

38 Edge Hill Road, Waltham, MA 02451

Getting Started

I assume if you are reading this, you are either considering adopting from Nepal or you are well on your way to submitting your Dossier. For those who are in the beginning stages of this journey, the process can seem overwhelming. As you can see from the photo, I killed a few trees in this process. Having lived the Dossier preparation nightmare when I was applying for the China program, this seems like a stroll in the park. Your homestudy agency or adoptive agency will provide you with a checklist, but here are the first few things you want to get taken care of immediately.

• Start monitoring the Department of State website on intercountry adoptions through Nepal (http://www.travel.state.gov/family/adoption/country/country_424.html).
• Schedule your homestudy. Make sure when your homestudy is sent in to the adoptive agency (if not the same agency), include a copy of home study agency’s license and a copy of home study social worker’s license.
• Schedule physicals for you and for any other adults or children living in the house. Make sure it is a M.D. that actually signs the form. My form was kicked back because a P.A. had originally signed it.
• Schedule a Psychological Assessment. This was not required for China, but this forum must be a notarized statement from physician/counselor/psychologist (on professional’s letterhead) explaining that you are mentally fit and able to adopt.
• Order copies of birth certificates, marriage certificates and divorce decrees (if applicable). I used http://www.assistantstork.com/ and it saved my life. At this point in time, Nepal is not requiring authentication, simply notarization. Your birth certificates, however, must be certified copies.
• Send in your child abuse clearance form. This can take up to 6 weeks to get back, depending on the state where you live.
• Start preparing your 1-600A and send it to the USCIS. This is generally sent with your homestudy.

This is probably enough to have your head spinning for the rest of the night. I will add to the 'to do' list tomorrow.

Navigating the New Nepal Adoption Process

On Oct 28, 2008, Nepal agreed to resume international adoptions of Nepalese children after stopping all adoptions by foreigners following reports of corruption last year. Many of us read the United Nations report in August that claimed Nepalese children were being sold, abducted and trafficked.

After closing the program for more than a year, the government approved 58 adoption agencies from the U.S., Canada, France, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Belgium, Italy, Spain and Norway.

What will change? Now prospective parents will no longer select the children on their own. Similar to other international adoptions, the government will "match" the children with their new families. Also, previous Nepalese adoptions were handled directly with individual children's homes. This new regulation will not allow for agencies to work with anyone outside of the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare.

Navigating international adoptions is a complicating, tiring and confusing endeavor. I know. My LID in China in March 23, 2007 and I first began preparing my dossier on February 20, 2006. Yes, nearly three years ago. China officially closed international adoptions to singles in May 2007 and the wait for those of us lucky enough to have made the cut is another 48 months.

Last fall, I had the amazing fortune to visit Bhutan and India with the dZi Foundation (www.dzifoundation.org) dZi works hand-in-hand with remote Himalayan communities to address their needs in the areas of health, education and sustainable community development. Their flagship programs include vision and dental clinics, Revitalize-A-Village, Hygiene and Sanitation Intervention, Education Sponsorships, and Homes for Girls at Risk. I was so hooked when I came back from volunteering at the dental clinic, I "adopted" a young woman, Bimla, 13, and sponsor her education and stay at the Happiness Home. I also joined the advisory board of dZi and have been helping them with their communications and fundraising efforts this past year.

Given my love for the Himalayan community and the unique timing of the announcement based on some personal issues that had recently transpired in my life, it seemed like this opportunity to adopt simply was the right thing to do. So, on November 2, 2008, I made the decision to dual track and start to prepare my dossier for Nepal.

So why the blog? I am a big fan of online research and, unlike China programs, there is simply not much out there with regard to Nepalese adoptions. My goal with this blog is simple: I want to help educate other families who are considering adopting from Nepal. I promise to share the good, the bad and the ugly in an effort to shed some light on the daily changes happening with this new international adoption program. I am certainly not an expert, but am learning new things on a daily basis from my wonderful Asia Program Caseworker from the Gladney Center for Adoption (www.gladney.org), Kaitlin Brophy.