[Tamiswaiting]

I don't meet with the agency for the first time until 6/28 and I'm wondering what to expect. If I sign on with them, what's the first thing they'll have me do? How much (approximately) money do I need for initial paperwork (not agency fees)?

I know this is such a newbie question, but if anyone can give me a general idea, I'd appreciate it so much .

[euphemie]

Homestudy agency or adoption placement or one agency for both?

Looks like you will have plenty of time to learn more before your meeting. How did you choose this agency if you do not have any of this information? Letting your fingers do the walking in the yellow pages can be, lets say dangerous. Have the agency send you an information package, that will be a start. Use this board to research placement agencies as there is a mind boggling number of them, not all ligit by the way.
I'm sure you have heard "time is money". Don't waste your time waiting 6 weeks for a meeting with someone unless there is a good chance you will sign on. Without prior research you may just be extending your whole process needlessly.
Good luck

[brandydawn]

The first thing they should do is give you a check list of things that you will be doing during the process (including the fees).

If you haven't already you will complete and file the I-600A and then comes the homestudy.

You have your fingerprinting, waiting for the I-171H and the paperchase for your dossier.

Once you have your I-171H and your dossier completed you wait for your referral.

Regards,
Brandy

[Tamiswaiting]

Thanks so much.

I was pointed to this agency by someone on another message board, but can't, for the life of me, remember who (it was about 6 months ago). At that time, I sent for an information packet and still have it.

Should I try to meet with them before the meeting on 6/28 and just skip that meeting? I'm not sure what the meeting entails....maybe I should set up something more personal. I'd hate to wait and find out that the meeting is the info I'm already getting .

[Yelena]

Is the meeting on 6/28 a one-on-one meeting, or a general meeting for anyone who's interested in adoption? I ask because our agency holds monthly 2-hour orientation meetings open to anyone, and/or private meetings (about 90 minutes) to discuss your personal plans.

Ours went something like this:

May 8, 2005: we decided to adopt
May-June: researched agencies and adoption choices; collected info packages from everyone who would send them!
June 4: went to an orientation for our first-choice agency
June 4-8: decided to go with this agency (who also did our homestudy); filled out application, wrote our autobiographies
June 9: had personal meeting with the agency's owner and Guatemala program director.

At that meeting, we turned in the application, signed the homestudy contract and paid the HS fee. They gave us a binder with all the checklists, and sample forms for our dossier, and an outline of the Guatemala-specific procedures. Their fees had already been outlined in the initial information packet.

You can see the rest of our timeline in my signature.

Good luck! You probably already know this, but choosing the right agency is absolutely the most important part of the process. If you can, it would be a good idea to keep researching other agencies until your 6/28 meeting. You may come across someone you like even better!

[Tamiswaiting]

Thanks, Yelena . It is a general meeting for groups of people. I'm starting to think I should just call them and set up something one-on-one .

[auntiepippi]

I did not have any face to face meetings with agencies. I found a home study agency after just phoning several and talking with the social workers. I found one I really liked and felt was efficient and detail-oriented (she also just adopted from Guatemala using the placement agency of my choice, so that was an added plus!).

For placement agencies, I sent for MANY packets and checked many references (either over the phone or through email). But I also private messaged all the people who listed my final choice agency on this forum's "agency feedback" thread. After getting all that feedback and info, I talked a couple times with the agency's owner about final questions and then faxed my application.

Now I feel really comfortable with my decisions and am going full steam ahead! Don't feel you need to use a placement agency in your own state; just your home study agency needs to be in your state... Do your research and you will save yourself time and headaches later! Good luck!

[Bizzie]

I agree with the time is money statement there are things that you can gather up for your dossier before you meet with your agency


passports (even if you aren't raveling)
marriage license
birth certificates

If you are pretty sure that you are going to sign with this agency, then maybe they can send you what their dossier requirements are.

You could even post who the potential agency is and their requirements then if anyone has that agency they might be able to tell you what you can gather up.

You can also go to the USCIS website and request that an I-600A be sent to you, fill it our and get it ready to go.

Then when you do meet with your agency and decided to go with them or not, you already have a start cause the paper chase is a big part of the process.

Is the agency you are going with doing your Homestudy? If so then request a homestudy application from them so that you can get that started because it has paperwork that goes with it also.

If they are not doing your homestudy that is something that you can start looking into also.

Sorry if any of this is confusing I just got back from lunch and I am a little energized.

[Yelena]

Originally Posted by Tamiswaiting

Thanks, Yelena . It is a general meeting for groups of people. I'm starting to think I should just call them and set up something one-on-one .

Might not be a bad idea! And go with your gut. We did, and we love our agency. Just going in for a meeting does not mean you are obligated to sign, so do take your time finding the right one.

[auntiepippi]

FYI: You can download the I-600A form from the USCIS website.

[Tamiswaiting]

Bizzie-Yes, this agency also does the home study. Thanks for all your input!

I've already printed off the I-600A form.

I have no passport. I've never traveled out of the country to need one. I don't even know how to get one .

I think I have my birth certificate here somewhere.

Not married.

This probably sounds silly, but I have a good feeling about this agency. I have received positive feedback via PM from the post I made regarding this agency (Adoptions From The Heart). I think I'll call them and ask for the application for the home study and whatever else I can get started on.

[Yelena]

Originally Posted by Tamiswaiting

I have no passport. I've never traveled out of the country to need one. I don't even know how to get one .

Passport request forms and info are available online (http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html), and we had our photos taken at the Auto Club. We filled out the forms and took them and the photos to the Post Office. We also needed to submit original, certified birth certificates. What I didn't know was that they actually take your birth certificate and send it with the paperwork. That made me nervous, but they return it when you get your passport. It took about 4 weeks for us to get ours.

It was all new to us, too -- neither of us had ever been out of the country, either!

[dspakowsky]

Due to the Hague possible throwing a wrench in everything, I wouldn't wait until the end of June. If you're certain you're going with that agency, just call them up and say you want to get started right away.