April 28, 2008

Here is a question that I hear sometimes, so I will addres it here:

WHY DOES IS COST SO MUCH? There are many fees associated with any adoption, domestic or international. The process is long and loaded with a lot of legal paper work. Part of the reason for all of the processes and red tape is an effort to make sure the children are placed in loving families and to help prevent child trafficking. The adoption agencies and social workers that help to make adoption happen, are worthy of pay for the services that they provide. Without the facilitation expertise of these agencies, families would be left on their own. Agencies and social workers provide an invaluable service to help families navigate the process and to offer support. Governements also charge fees to complete their side of the legal paperwork. Governments on both sides make sure that people enter and exit their country legally.

When things seem long, hard and expensive, we try to remember that all of this is worth it to help protect children and hopefully guarentee them a loving forever family.


A BREAK DOWN OF THE ADOPTION COSTS AND FEES:

Application Fees $300
Adoption physicals and blood work$300 (approx.)

Homestudy $1000-$2500

KBI background checks $120
And SRS background checks

Case management fee #1 $3,500
(The adoption agency fee for facilitating the adoption)

Case management fee #2 $3500

Refundable deposits $400

USCIS fees and $1000
Finger printing (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, FBI
fingerprints and background checks)

International Fees $13,000
(Pays for all of the child’s care/needs and medical prior to coming home. Other international fees for Visa, passport, paperwork filing,etc.)

Post placement fees $1,200
(Social worker visits for post placement reports after child comes home)

Travel $3,500
(escort from Korea or travel to Korea…about the same for one person…more if two people travel.)

Believe it or not, domestic adoptions can have the same costs range as international adoptions. The exception to this would be to adopt from the foster care system. Foster to adopt fees are generally much lower. Foster to adopt processes are very different from other adoption processes. This is a great option for some families. If you have questions about this, I can forward you more information.