The Ghana Adoption Process:

[taken from the yahoo groups site on ghana adoption]

Phase I: Collecting Paperwork!

· Family decides they would like to adopt from Ghana and contacts social worker to begin working on the homestudy.
· Family applies to and contracts with Ghana placement agency.
· Family files form I-600a with their local USCIS office.
· Family receives approved homestudy and sends it to local CIS office to complete I-600a file.
· Family receives approval of form I-600a (usually numbered I-171h)
· Prepare the Dossier for Ghana with your placement agency’s assistance.

Phase II: The Adoption Process

· Dossier is sent to Ghana.
· Dossier documents are prepared for court.
· Child referral is given to family (anytime after you receive I-600a approval)!
· Social Welfare conducts a medical and social investigation on the child to be adopted. This is when the child becomes legally (rather than informally) available for adoption.
· Dossier is filed in court and court date is requested.
· Court date! Either final adoption decree (usually) or 2 year interim adoption (very rarely) is ruled.
· With an adoption decree, your referred child now has your last name as his/her own!

Phase III: Before you can Travel

· Team in Ghana applies for your child’s new birth certificate.
· Team in Ghana applies for your child’s Ghanaian Passport.
· Form I-600 and supporting documents are filed with the US Embassy in Ghana by a representative.
· USCIS in Ghana determines whether or not a “field investigation” needs to be done in order to gain I-600 approval (this process could go as quickly as 1 week or take as long as 6 months).
· I-600 approval is awarded and the Embassy invites you to travel to Ghana for the visa interview!

Phase IV: Travel!

· Travel to Ghana to receive your child!
· Attend the Immigrant Visa Interview early in the week.
· Pick up your child’s Immigrant Visa (IR-4) on Friday.
· Travel home with your newest addition!

Phase V: Post-Adoption

· Complete 3 required post placement visits (6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months)
· Because your adoption was completed by proxy (you weren’t at the court date) you will need to readopt your child in your state of residence.
· File to receive your child’s US Passport and/or Certificate of Citizenship, and Social Security Number.
· Consider sending yearly reports to your child’s orphanage so that the staff and any living birth family can follow the progress of your child’s development.