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Next Steps

While we are working back and forth to get our home study completely finalized (so, so close!) we have received information from our Adoption Service Provider about what happens next. I want to share with you all. Here is what I know, in big broad steps and with estimated timelines:

1)   Dossier Preparation - Erica and I have another set of forms to fill out and documents to gather up. The dossier process includes Preparation, Submission, Apostilles (authentication), Translation into Portuguese, and Submission to the Brazilian Central Authority. Usually this will take 3+ months.

2)   Approval - the approval process usually takes 4-6 months. This is the process of the Brazilian Central Authority reviewing our Dossier, asking questions, and ultimately approving our request to adopt from Brazil.

3)   Matching - once we have been approved by the Brazilian Central Authority, the orphanages in Brazil will review our Dossier and try to match us with a group of siblings for us to adopt. This process can take anywhere from a few months to a few years. When we are potentially matched with kids, we will have a week to two to review their file and decide whether to proceed with the match.

4)   I-800 process - The I-800 is the U.S. Immigration's form for a "Petition to Classify Convention Adoptee as an Immediate Relative). Essentially, this is a family’s petition to United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) requesting to adopt specific children. The children’s documents (medicals, social reports, birth certificates, abandonment decree, etc.) are all included in this packet of paperwork. This usually takes 2-3 months.

 5)   Travel - once the I-800 is completed, we can travel to Brazil to bond with our kids and finalize the adoption. We will need to spend from 6-8 weeks in country in Brazil with our kids. This time is for family bonding and for the legal steps necessary to finalize the adoption paperwork.

 So ... that's where we're at. The Dossier Preparation process will be our Spring 2019 mission and if everything falls into place quickly we could have our initial approval by end of year 2019 and be ready to begin the waiting/matching process at the beginning of 2020. Please pray for diligence at staying with the process day-to-day and for patience while we wait for various other parties along the way.

 Thank you!

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