[LEJ8]

I just spoke to agency rep about India. She told me it is taking up to two years for a referral. If this is true, once your dossier is in country, does your homestudy have to be constantly updated? I ask because if it will truly take two years, I'd like to go back to school, which means no income for a while (I'm single). But wouldn't that effect my homestudy? Can I not change anything in my life for the next two years?

[Max'smom]

Hi,
You have to satisfy minimum income requirements imposed by the US government and by your agency and possibly India, so if you are not earning any money during this time, and are also taking out loans, it may negatively impact your adoption. Major life changes do have to be addressed in Home Study updates.

[sak9645]

Homestudies need to be updated anytime there is a significant change in your life. This can include a birth, an adoption (other than the one in process), a marriage, a separation/divorce, death of a spouse, a new home, a new person in the home (such as your mother or a boarder), loss of a job (if not followed quickly by a new one), a new job that changes your salary or working hours or commute, a serious physical injury or illness, a psychiatric illness, diagnosis of alcohol or drug abuse, criminal charges of any kind (even misdemeanors), major financial changes (good or bad, such as an inheritance or a failed investment), etc.

In addition, most states have a validity period for homestudies, after which they expire and must be redone, even if you don't have major changes in your life. Further complicating matters is the fact that the USCIS requires refingerprinting after 15 months and a new I-600A/I-800A after 18 months. The new USCIS application must include a homestudy update. The USCIS recognizes that there is a long time from homestudy to homecoming, these days, and has a great concern that something negative could occur in a person's life that would make it unwilling to allow an adoption to proceed.

All in all, it is advisable to make significant changes in your life situation BEFORE you apply to adopt or after completion of an adoption.

Sharon

[MenloAve]

It probably isn't the norm and isn't the easiest route. However, you should talk to your agency about how India will perceive you quitting your job to go back to school. It is possible to do something like this, you just need a plan and savings to back you up. Your agency should be able to tell you how much they will want to see in savings. Your plan should be addressed in your home study so you don't need to update the homestudy when implementing the plan. You might need to or want to get a part-time job to supplement income while in school.

There is always a possibility that you would receive a referral early and you wouldn't be able to take it since you need a certain amount of income when going through the adoption process. But you are committed to bettering yourself through education and my guess is that India would be a country that would be impressed by that.

Good luck - I hope you find an agency that works with you since it will be easier to go back to school now than after adopting a child.