[sadiesmom1020]

Hi all. After many months of lurking on this board (and dreading the paperchase ), DH and I have decided to start the adoption process. We are going to submit our application this week, but wanted to get started on gathering our documents immediately. I know we'll get more detailed info from our agency after approval of our application, but I have 2 questions to get us through this week:

1. We want to send in our I-600A asap (we know the homestudy agency we have chosen can get our homestudy completed relatively soon). Do I need certified copies of our birth certs and marriage certs for purpose of filing this form?

2. How many certified copies of these docs will we need for the process? Just one? I'd like to order them all asap so I only have to do it once (we are both out of state).

Thanks!

[SummerMommy]

We didn't need to send certified copies of anything with our 600A. But in the vast majority of cases, you don't gain anything by sending this so soon since they have to wait for your approved homestudy before they work on your 171. Also, if you send it early, you might miss some critical information that your agency would have been able to tell you that you needed.

If you want to get a headstart on the process, order your birth and marraige certs and schedule your physical (but wait for your agency's form before you have the physical). Schedule lab tests. Make sure they draw blood for EVERYTHING! We had to go back three times because their version of "everything" didn't include hep and hiv testing. Get you passport and get about 6 copies of your passport photo. Work on dossier photos. Think about four people who'll be your "references" and send them an email asking if they mind doing this and include an example of what they'll need to say (in their own words, of course). Your agency should have a sample.

Good luck!

Summer

[cungar]

There's no advantage to sending a I600A without a home study. They won't process anything without the home study. I would just wait and submit it together so you don't have to worry about someone matching it up.

[cungar]

Originally Posted by SummerMommy

schedule your physical (but wait for your agency's form before you have the physical). Schedule lab tests. Make sure they draw blood for EVERYTHING! We had to go back three times because their version of "everything" didn't include hep and hiv testing.
Summer

Didn't you have a form to fill out for your physical? We had one that listed all the tests.

[smedf]

The one advantage of sending in your 1600a is getting your fingerprints done. Atleast we could here in GA and I felt that it helps to have them done and they now have our HS and the process time from what I read if they have everything and then get your HS is about 10 - 14 days. FYI. I will post as soon as I get my I171

Sherry in Atlanta

[Korrie Sue]

I agree with Sherri. I would definately send the I600A in as soon as possible so that you can get your fingerprints scheduled, especially if you live in a state that has a notoriously slow BCIS office.

Korrie

[Lissa]

As far as sending you I600. Some states will pre-process prior to fingerprinting and will fingerprint without the actual homestudy. Most won't but I've heard of a couple that will--not sure which ones. My state will not fingerprint without a homestudy, but will do some of the work prior. We turned out I600 in about 5 weeks prior to our homestudy and less than 2 weeks after the homestudy was submitted the fingerprinting was done. This is nice if your state will do this as the break in the momentum is minimal. The danger in having a state that will fingerprint prior to the homestudy finished is all the documents will expire. Hubby and I have an expiration of Dec. 28th. We should hopefully be back 2-3 months prior to that day, but it's always a good thing to keep in mind.

Nothing needs to be certified for the I600...and you only need 1 certified copy of all your documents...at least in the state of Ky. I assume it's the same for everywhere else. I've never heard differently.

Congratulations on getting started. It looks bad now because it's all ahead of you. Once it's all behind you it's not nearly as huge as you thought it was...

[VAMom2Be]

Hi,

I agree that sending in the 600A ASAP is the best way to get started. The USCIS website states that no originals should be sent. Check the site for all info that needs to accompany the application. We submitted ours in Feb, got fingerprinted April 7th, submitted the homestudy on the 21st and rec'd the 171H the first week of May.

We requested 4 copies of birth certs, marriage license, divorce decrees (if applicable). We made 3 color copies of the first two pages of our passports.

My DH is a CA native and took care of his paperwork - LA County, Sect'y of State (CA) and Chinese consulate (LA) in two days. You can start the authentication process on birth certs, marriage license and divorce decrees now. Once the homestudy is complete you can pay the "rush" fee to get that authenticated... Request that your agency send you their dossier instruction package now so you can see what will need.

I would invest in home printer/copier/fax machine...HP makes an affordable model for about $60. This saved me a lot of time and running around. At each step I just made copies at home, kept each document in its own page protector sheet and once each document was done, I already had a full copy to accompany the originals of the dossier.

We had to work with/authenticate in 4 different states (MD, VA, PA and CA) it took us less than 3 weeks.

Good luck. Stay organized and you'll do great!

[danimarie]

im a lurker also coming out! I am just where you are sadiesmom. We are going to get a jump start. I did have questions on this I600:

what is question #16? how should I fill this out?

thanks.

[Lissa]

Hey Danimarie

Thanks for coming out of lurkdom!!

I don't know what agency you are considering using, but you can ask them to help you fill out the form. I wasn't officially signed with my agency yet when I filled out the I600, but it was close to a done deal so they helped me with it over the phone. You might want to stop by or give them a call or whatever...

I know that there were certain questions they even had me leave blank because there was no way to know the answer...

Good Luck and welcome to the forums!

[danimarie]

Thanks Lissa,

We are using AGCI. They have been very helpful so far! They did send me the form and filled in their information (agency address, etc.)

sorry sadiesmom-didnt mean to hijack your thread.

[Lissa]

My agency also pre filled out their informations, but still was able to help me even more over the phone with what to fill out and what not to fill out. I think of all the forms I filled out, that was the one that scared me the most. Something about it is just spooky. I think it's the pink colouring. :-)

[sadiesmom1020]

Thanks for all of the great information -- this will help to get us started gathering the paperwork this week. DH and I were both born in different states, but married where we currently live (CA), so I have a feeling there will be a lot of work to do. We're waiting approval of our application from our chosen agency, but don't anticipate any problems -- but keep your fingers crossed for us!

[hcromwell]

We live in PA. We sent our I600A in without our homestudy. We sent copies of our birth and marriage certificates with it. We had our fingerprint letter within A WEEK of mailing it. We had our fingerprints done 12 days after MAILING our I600A. This gave the fingerprints plenty of time to come back (they say it can take a month). Once they rec'd our homestudy it took about 20 days to get approval.

Hope in PA