It costs HOW MUCH???!!!

We have had many friends and family members ask us "why in the Sam Hill does it cost so much?"

And yes, that's an exact quote.

So I thought I would share a little bit about how this whole International Adoption process works.

Specifically China.

Specifically Special Needs.

Specifically through the agency we have chosen.

Here's a cost breakdown, and where it all goes.

And yes it still makes my head spin no matter how many times I look at this.

Agency Application       $200

Agency Program Fee     $2500 

Home Study Fee (we use a local agency to complete this)   $3900

     this includes the home study, and post adoption fees that have to be paid up front.

Let's pause....

I also hear "what in the Sam Hill is a Home Study?"

A home study is requires for all adoptions, domestic or international.  And even though we already completed a home study through our county/state, yep, we have to do another one.

We should be all studied up for this then!

We are assigned a case worker that is in charge of our collection of needed documents like...

* birth certificates

* marriage license

* medical documents

* safety audit

*fire inspection

* child abuse clearance

*proof of residence for last 5 yrs

*FBI & BCII Fingerprint clearance

*cultural training certificate

*reference letters

* employer letters

*financial statements

*guardianship agreement

*autobiographies

* and on and on and on....

 

Back to the fees....

Dossier preparation     $450

One more question "what in the Sam Hill is a Dossier?" (pronounced doss- e- ay)

This is another collection of paperwork and this collection has to go through a process...

Notarized locally, then checked by our County Clerk, then sent to our Sec. of State, then sent to the Ch.Embassy, then back to us, then to our adoption agency, then to Ch.

Hence the term "Paper Chase"

There are fees for each piece of paper to move along these steps starting w/ the State.  And we have to pay a courier service to hand deliver them to the Ch. Embassy.

Back to the fees....

Second Agency Program Fee      $2350

Ch. Children Services Fee           $1275

Post Adoption Fee (due before we can be matched)   $1000

Third Agency Program Fee         $1950

Post Adoption Translation Fee (due before we can be matched) $360

Travel & Accommodation Fee        approx $4100

Ch. orphanage gift                      $5000

Child Physical & visa fees               approx $400

Various In Country fees             $1600

If my math is decent, this adds up to $25,000+

 

Ok...I hope

that I don't scare anyone who *might* be thinking about International Adoption soon.  Because those numbers mean squat to our God.  HE FUNDS WHAT HE FAVORS!!!

We wanted to be completely transparent with you with what HE will need to take care of through this journey.  We need your prayers!!! 

We are asking the Lord to bless the company the Nate works for.

We are asking the Lord that our fundraising efforts will be fruitful.

We are asking the Lord to light a fire in the hearts of our friends and family to consider adoption.

We are asking the Lord to

Flat Out

Knock Our Socks Off!

We are asking YOU to join us in our journey to bring our daughter HOME!

We can't wait to see what Our Lord will do!!

To Him be the Glory!!!!

 

ANY gift is generous in His eyes and ours.

http://adopttogether.org/therohrers

 

 

~ Amber

http://adopttogether.org/therohrers