Cost of Adoption

A good friend mentioned that most people don't realize the cost involved in international adoption. I've been researching this for so long, I had forgotten that not everyone understands how expensive it can be to bring a child home!

Below, I've enumerated approximate costs that our agency has provided us with. My hope is that throughout this process others will see that through fundraisers, partnering with those who want to financially support orphan care, grants, and FAITH, it is possible to find an extra 30k. And it is totally worth it. 

Agency Fees:

• Application Services $550
• Home Study Services $1,700-$3,000
• Program Fee I $3,350-$5,600
• Program Fee II $1,650-$3,200
• Post Placement/Post Adoption Report Fee (four reports required) $1,200-$2,000

Country and Authentication Fees (cost of services for the adoption of one child):

• First payment due at Dossier submission $5,500
• Second payment due at referral acceptance $5,000-$5,750
• Country Fee includes but is not limited to the following:
• Translation and documentation 
• Child identification expenses/investigation into child’s background
• Production of life book and video documentary on the child
• Care of the child
• Child’s medical exam required for U.S. visa 
• Child’s passport, photo for passport, new birth certificate 
• Legal, court, and administrative fees
• Contribution: Humanitarian aid and program development
• Authentication and shipping fees due at Dossier submission $400
• Processing for each additional sibling’s case   $6,500

Process and Immigration Fees (Third Party Fees):

• USCIS Filing of Orphan Petition (I-600A) $720
• Fingerprinting ($85/person for every person 18+ in the home) $170 (for 2 adults)
• Additional authentication of dossier, if expires during process $200-$400
• DNA testing (if required by US Embassy) $600
• US Embassy Ethiopia – Child’s Visa $230/child’s child
• Additional Immigration Fees based on which Visa the child enters the U.S. with
• IR-4 Visa $600/child’s case
• IR-3 Visa $345/child

Travel Fees (Estimated costs for two adults, two trips and travel for 1 child):

First trip is 3-5 days. Second trip is 5-7 days. Costs are approximated and subject to change.

• Airfare $6,000-$8,000
• Airfare for Adopted Child (varies by age of child) $350-$1,000
• In-country Lodging and Transportation $500-$1,600