[Nichole98]

My mom is waiting to hear if she will be recieving some settlement money. If she does she is giving it to us for our adoption. It will cover our entire adoption expense. If we do not get it we will be ready to sign our contract and pay the $5k agency fee's in August. If we send in our agency Application and get approved can we start our homestudy & INS before we sign the contract?? I just feel like we are just sitting around and would Love to get going here!! Especially with the long wait I keep hearing about!!

[drmalcolm]

Hi Nichole,
Wow, best of luck with that wonderful financial opportunity!

You certainly can begin before signing on with an agency. We started our homestudy process prior to even deciding on China--we were actually with Guatemala.

Keep in mind, however, that your homestudy is only good for one year and the FBI fingerprints are only good for 15 months, so you don't want to start *too* soon.

Christina

[Nichole98]

Christina,

Your always here to answer my questions!! We will definately be ready in August to sign the contract so I think I will be safe if I start in late April/ early May. We we're pretty surprised when my mom told us!! Actually, she was going to split it in half so we would get half and my sister would get the other half. My sister refused her half so we could have the whole thing!!

[twoinblue]

Nichole that is a wonderful thing for your family to do for you!

[oleson1]

That is so touching! What a blessing to have the support of your family and to bring your child home without adoption debt.

[CoatAnnHat]

I know someone who was in a similar situation where they wouldnt have the money for about 4 months. They knew someone who was using the agency they wanted to use and were able to get a copy of their Dossier prep guide. They paid for their homestudy, had their physicals and got their dossier almost completed by the time they had the money to pay the agency fees. They submitted their dossier a week after signing. There is no rule that says you must sign with an agency first. BUT, you have to be prepared to sign and proceed with the adoption on time or else your documents will expire.

[Nichole98]

Please keep your fingers crossed because we're not sure if she's getting it yet!! I cant imagine how good im gonna feel if it works out!! Im lucky to have them both. I couldnt believe it when my sister gave up her half. She's my big sister! My Mom and Sister have always expressed to me how much it has hurt them to see me hurt. I guess this was thier way of helping to end the hurt! It took my mom 9 years to have me so I guess she can really relate. My mom told me the other day to keep praying because if she gets it our lives will be changed for ever.