| If you are interested in adopting a child from Thailand, you can rely on CHSFS to guide you through the process and keep you informed of what is happening in the program in general and in your case specifically. However, because this is a pilot program for our agency and thus haven't had many families work their way through the process, we encourage families to be flexible and patient when choosing to adopt through this program.
Adoption Study: If you live in Minnesota, Iowa or Western Wisconsin, Washington D.C., Maryland and counties in Northern Virginia or Richmond you will first complete your adoption study through Children's Home Society & Family Services. If you live outside these areas you will first complete your adoption study through a local adoption agency. If you are not currently working with a local adoption agency, we recommend using one of our partner agencies.
Dossier: Upon completion of the home study, the dossier is sent to FFAC. Waiting time for referrals can be from 6 to 12 months. After acceptance, the dossier is forwarded to the Thai Adoption Board, who then contacts the family (approximately 4 to 7 months later) with a choice of several potential meeting dates, the first usually being about three weeks from time of notification.
Travel Arrangements: Families can make their own arrangements for accommodations or request assistance from the Director of FFAC.
Travel: Families are encouraged to arrive five days prior to their appointment date in order to spend time with the baby, whom they receive on the day after they arrive. During the brief hearing with the Board, the family answers questions about their jobs, extended families, and their hopes for their new child. They are then given the government’s adoption documents and the child’s Thai passport.
The stay in Thailand is generally about 10 days. Our families report being treated with courtesy and friendship in Bangkok by everyone from government personnel to hotel staff. The director of FFAC is helpful and guides the family through the process.
Finalization: Thailand is a guardianship country, and thus while in the country the family enters into a Memorandum of Agreement with the Thai Government, stating that they will adopt the child according to the laws of the state in which they reside. There is no court hearing. The child is issued an IR4 visa through the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok, and the adoption is finalized in the U.S.
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