THE WEST AFRICAN CHILDREN SUPPORT NETWORK

BCIS Form I-600A: Advanced Processing of Orphan Petition - In order to speed up the international adoption process, you should file this form as soon as possible with your local BICS office. The petition states that you are going to be looking for an orphan or orphans to adopt, though you do not know their names yet. This way, you will get permission to adopt internationally prior to officially identifying the orphan/orphans you plan to adopt.

In order to file the I-600A, you need to pay $525 to the U.S. Immgration Office, you need to pay $70 per person over 18 who lives in your household to be fingerprinted.

Also, you need to submit copies of the following with your application (your local BICS office may ask to see original documents, if that is the case, they will contact you):

1) Birth Certificates (both parents)

2) Proof of U.S. Citizenship (if not born in the U.S.)

3) Copies of Marriage Certificate

4) Copies of any previous Divorce Decree

5) Notarized original Homestudy Report (can be submitted at a later date, check with your local BICS office to find out their specific requirements - most BICS offices will start the I-600a petition process without the homestudy report, but you will not receive final approval until they review the homestudy report.)

Here is the link: BCIS FORM I-600A

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You may wonder how much the minimum income requirements are to adopt internationally... You have to earn 125% of the Poverty Level in order to receive BCIS permission to adopt.

Here is the link (PDF File): BICS Minimum Income Requirement

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Here is are some links to agencies that can write your HOMESTUDY Report: http://naic.acf.hhs.gov/general/nad/index.cfm

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Once you are approved to adopt by BICS and your child has been adopted by you (via proxy - meaning, you don't have to present in the Liberian court during the adoption), you need to file BCIS Form I-600 with your local BICS office.

Here is the link: BCIS FORMI-600 (ORPHAN PETITION)

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In order to finalize the process and apply for your child's/childern's visa to travel to the Unites States, you need to file an "Affadavit of Support" with the U.S. Embassy in Monrovia, Liberia. Also, you need to get a notarized U.S. Immigration Power of Attorney to WACSN so that they can take your child/children to the U.S. Embassy for visa processing.

Here are the links: BCIS FORM I-864 (AFFADAVIT OF SUPPORT)

POWER OF ATTORNEY FORM

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Here are some more useful links:

BCIS FORMS,FEES, AND FINGERPRINTING

The Immigration of Adopted and ProspectiveAdoptive Children

HOW DO I KNOW IF I NEED ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS?

INFANT ADOPTIONS SPECIAL VACcINATION RELEASE FORM

Summary of Laws Regarding InternationalAdoptions Finalized Abroad

US ADOPTION LAW CONCERNING ANY GIFTS OR MONETARY COMPENSATION TO BIRTH PARENTS