[flybygrace]

Do we apply to the agency first or apply for our home study first? I spoke to the home study rep and she said we should apply to the agency first, because if we do a home study and the agency won't approve us, the clock starts ticking and could run out on our approved home study while we find another agency. Yet if we apply for the agency, we could pay $2850 in fees without knowing if our home study will be be successfully approved. AHH! What is the better way?

-Amanda

[ProspectiveSingleMom]

Is that fee in addition to the cost of the home study?

[flybygrace]

The cost breaks down as: agency application fee $350, first half of agency fee (due after you sign application) $2500.

I was given the advice from someone who's been through an ET adoption that I should do the home study first, so I'm going to follow that. I'm still looking at different home study companies, but I think, given the extras included in the home study cost (post placement reports, background checks, etc), it's a little better than what I've seen in the others I've checked out. We're also still doing a final compare/contrast between a few agencies, so we have to make a decision on that as well.

[minibus]

Wow. That's a lot of money. Some agencies won't accept other agencies' homestudies, or they will charge you a fee to "modify" your first homestudy. Normally, I would advise you to choose your agency first, but I'd be wary of the agency you're talking about...

[nbailey]

Home Study first

[va_adopt]

Choose your agency since they may not accept a home study from your source. I went to and information session at one agency and they only accept their home studies.

[GoddessDanu]

I agree with the people who say that you should sign with your agency first. Some agencies don't accept home studies from other sources so you wouldn't want to go through the home study only to have to do it all over again with the agency. Good luck!