Please Note:

Then He took a little child and set him in the midst of them. And when He had taken him in His arms, He said to them," Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me." -Jesus, Mark 9:36-37 

This summary is not a contract for services. It is simply to aid in your understanding of the process. The information below is subject to change at any time without notice. Because the vast majority of AOHL families reside in the US, this summary is written from that perspective; if you live outside the US, your process will vary from this outline. Please also review The Immigration of Adopted and Prospective Adoptive Children (Click here)

You are responsible for following all the laws and policies regarding international adoption set out by your state and/or country of residence. You may, furthermore, be asked to help AOH and AOHL understand the particulars of international adoption in your state and/or country of residence.

Eligibility: AOHL accepts applicants from any country, provided they meet their country's requirements for adoption and immigration of the adopted child/ren. In the case of married couples, at least one spouse must identify as a committed Christian. Single applicants must be (1) a committed Christian, (2) 30 years of age or older, AND (3) living alone (exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis).

Please Note: The timelines given below are estimates based on normal conditions. The timeline for your specific case may be longer or shorter than the range indicated. Recently, we have been experiencing delays (please see the Newsflash and it's archives for an explanation) and many have been waiting longer for certain aspects of the process.

Phase One—Getting a Homestudy

Phase Two—Acceptance into Acres of Hope-Liberia Program

Phase Three—Immigration Approval

• Submit your I600A application (download from www.uscis.gov) and supporting documents, including fingerprints, to USCIS. This is your responsibility, but the staff of Acres of Hope can help you with specific questions as this form can be confusing. Please call 715.765.4118 for assistance.
• I600A processing times vary by office. You can find current wait times at the USCIS website indicated above.

Phase Four-Submission of Dossier to Acres of Hope-Liberia

• Note: Due to difficulties in transmitting funds and sensitive documents to Liberia, AOHL requests that families send all documents and fees to Acres of Hope-Liberia, 29525 Four Corners Store Rd., Mason, WI 54856 where they will be safely sent to Liberia for the purpose of your adoption.
• Note: The dossier may be assembled and submitted while the family is awaiting I600A approval.
• Note: The dossier may be assembled and submitted as a whole, or in separate shipments as suits the adoptive family.
• The following documents and fees comprise your dossier:
  • Two notarized original copies of an *approved home study* completed by a licensed adoption agency in the state where the family resides (same as the one sent in Phase Two, for a total of three)
  • One original certified birth certificate, plus two photocopies, per applicant
  • One original certified marriage certificate, plus two photocopies (if applicable)
  • One original certified divorce decree, plus two photocopies (if applicable)
  • Three copies of a photo of the exterior of your home
  • Three copies of a photo of your immediate family (those members currently living in the home)
  • Four passport-size photos of each applicant (these need not be official passport photos)
  • Two notarized original copies of the Acres of Hope-Liberia two-page financial declaration (click here to download)
  • Two original copies of medical form (click here to download) for each person 18 years of age or older residing in your home (AOHL will accept either this form or the one used for your home study agency as long as all the requirements of the AOHL form are met, but requires two original copies no matter which form you use.)
  • New requirement for families submitting dossiers after June 25, 2008: Three signed, notarized original copies of the Post-Placement Report Agreement (click here to download)
  • New requirement for families submitting dossiers after June 25, 2008: One copy of the Adoptive Family Resources form (click here to download)
  • Three notarized original copies of current employment letter verifying salary for each applicant (This should be written by your employer or HR department, indicating that you are employed in good standing, the length of time you have been employed, and your current salary. If you are self-employed, please have your tax accountant write the statement for you.)
  • Original notarized letter of local police clearance, plus two photocopies, for each person 18 years of age or older residing in your home (available from your local police department)
  • Notarized original plus one photocopy of reference letters from three non-relatives (AOHL does not specify the format, but requires an original plus one copy of each.) Some references will prefer to send these directly to the office rather than through you. Please ask them to send their notarized letter to Acres of Hope-Liberia, 29525 Four Corners Store Rd., Mason, WI 54856. If the letters are to accompany your dossier, please ask that your references give them to you in a sealed envelope with their signatures over the seal.
  • Original notarized letter (plus two photocopies) to the Liberian government, addressed to the Ministry of Health, explaining why you want to adopt from Liberia (click here to download a sample letter)
  • Three copies of proof of medical insurance for the adopting parent(s) and that the adopted child/ren will be covered (This can be in the form of a letter from the insurer or a photocopy of the statement in the handbook that the child/ren will be covered by the insurance policy, with a photocopy of the insurance card.)
  • Three notarized original Power of Attorney forms (click here to download) authorizing the staff and agents of Acres of Hope--Liberia to process your adoption on your behalf
  • Three photocopies of I600A approval, usually form I171H or I797C (Keep the original for your files)
  • Three copies of the summary page of your federal income tax returns for the preceding 3 years
  • Note: The Processing Fee is due with this set of documents.
  • Note: AOHL highly recommends that you keep a copy of all documents submitted for your own records.

Phase Five-Awaiting and Accepting a Referral

• Once all of the above documents and fees have been received, your family will enter the referral waiting period. This time frame varies depending upon the available children and the requests of the family. As you might guess, babies and narrow requests (regarding age and/or gender) require a longer waiting period. As a general guideline, referrals can take up to nine months.
• New Pre-Referral Education Requirements for those families submitting dossiers after April 1, 2008. Please visit AdoptionLearningPartners.com. While we recommend all the courses offered on this website, proof of the following classes (or approved alternatives) is required for those wishing to adopt children age four or older at the time of referral: Adopting the Older Child and Medical Issues in International Adoption. Only Medical Issues in International Adoption is required for those requesting children up to the age of four at the time of referral. There is a nominal fee for these courses, but the content and creative presentation are worth the price. These classes may be completed at any time prior to referral; however, no referral will be issued until proof of these courses (or approved alternatives such as state-required education or courses offered by your homestudy agency) is received in the WI office.
• Occasionally, a family will have a shorter referral waiting period by requesting a match with a special needs or waiting child/sibling group. Children who fall into these categories are listed in the Featured Children section of our website. Referrals with these children are made at the discretion of Acres of Hope-Liberia staff, but if you are interested in one of these situations, please email aohl.referrals@gmail.com. Please put "Featured Child Referral Request" in the subject line of your email or it may be deleted.
• AOHL staff prayerfully seek the best matches of children to families. For this reason, referrals are not always made in "first come, first served" fashion. However, "wait time" is certainly one of the considerations in making referrals.
• When there is a possible match, you will receive an email from aohl.referrals@gmail.com recommending a specific child or children to you. (Note: You may want to add this address to your contacts to prevent this important message being sent to your junk mail receptacle.) This address will ONLY be used for the sending and receiving of referrals. Anything other than an acceptance or denial of a proposed referral, or a request for a referral of a Featured Child WILL BE DELETED without response. Referrals include available medical information (HIV and HepB test results, and information on special needs if applicable), limited background information, and photos. You must accept or decline a referral in writing (by responding to the email). If you decline a referral, you must provide a reason for doing so; however, you will not be penalized. As soon as another possible match arises, you will receive another email. Please feel free to call the Adoption Consultant at 715.765.4118 with questions regarding the referral.
• After accepting your referral it is recommended that you send a 4x6 inch (please do not make it any bigger than this) photo album to your child/ren.  The album may include photos of your family gathered, as well as individually and may show activities your family is regularly involved in.  You may also want to include photos of your home, yard, and car(s).  Including a short bit of text to explain who's who and what they are doing is a good idea.  AOHL recommends avoiding including photos of extended family as they can be confusing to your child/ren.  Your photo album(s) may be sent to Liberia with another AOHL family.  For contact information of families who will be traveling soon, please contact the Main US office at 715.765.4118.
• Program Fees (per child) are due (at Acres of Hope-Liberia, 29525 Four Corners Store Rd., Mason, WI 54856) within two weeks of the written acceptance of the referral. Please call the Office Manager at 715.765.4118 with questions regarding your account.

Phase Six-Adoption Process in Liberia

• New Post-Referral Education Requirements for those families submitting dossiers after April 1, 2008. Please visit AdoptionLearningPartners.com. While we recommend all the courses offered on this website, proof of the following classes (or approved alternatives) is required for all families: The Journey of Attachment, Finding the Missing Pieces,and With Eyes Wide Open. There is a nominal fee for these courses, but the content and creative presentation are worth the price. These classes may be completed at any time prior to travel; however, no family will be cleared to travel or escort until proof of these courses (or approved alternatives such as state-required education or courses offered by your homestudy agency) is received in the WI office.
• Upon the written acceptance of your referral(s), AOHL staff members begin working to complete the adoption(s) on your behalf. Generally, it takes four to six months from this point until the child/ren is ready to travel, although your case may take longer or shorter. Unless there is a significant problem with your case, you will hear from us when the adoption is complete and you should begin making travel or escort arrangements. Because of technological and communication problems in Liberia, AOHL uses the Adoption Consultant at AOH to pass on information about the adoption process to its families. While you may not hear from us until certain steps are completed, you can be fully assured that things are progressing as normal.
• Some parents find this phase of the process the most difficult. But, it is helpful to be proactive in preparing for travel and/or your child/ren's homecoming. You may choose to use this time to prepare your home for your growing family by gathering the things you will need in order to care for your new child/ren. Many families prepare a space for their new addition(s) during this phase. Also, take time to enjoy the family you currently have-whether it's your independence as a single pre-parent, your romance as a married couple without children, or whatever your current family situation. Take time to do the things you will be unable to do when your new child/ren arrive(s). It is also wise to prepare yourself by reading about adoption and attachment. There are lots of great resources out there-and you won't have time for them in the first months your new arrival(s) is/are home! If you plan to travel to Liberia to pick up your children, look into getting immunized early (more about this in Phase Seven). Finally, you might want to locate a pediatrician or family doctor and a dentist who are familiar with children adopted from third-world countries. Many physicians allow for "new parent" interviews so that you can get to know their philosophy and get some tips on caring for your new child/ren upon arrival home.
• When you travel to Liberia, you will need to take several steps to prepare, and some of these things can be done while your adoption is being completed in Liberia. For example:
  • Obtain your passport(s), if needed.
  • Obtain your immunizations (Yellow Fever is required, and others will be suggested by your doctor or travel clinic). Some of these require multiple injections over a period of time, so it is wise to look into them early.
  • You will also need a prescription for anti-Malaria medication. Again, your doctor or travel clinic can help you decide which one is best for you.
  • This is also a good time to begin gathering donations and supplies for our orphanages and humanitarian work in Liberia. Before you depart for Liberia, please send an itemized list showing the value of items you donate and carry over in your luggage to aoh.savinglives@gmail.com so we can issue you a letter of receipt for your donation. Please include your mailing address.
  • Click here to download a simple Adobe Acrobat writable form that may be used when taking donations over to Liberia or sending them to the AOH office, that outlines briefly what you have given, and the cost you have spent.

• Guest House fees (if traveling) are due before you leave the US. Escort fees (if applicable) are due before the child/ren and escort travel. (Note: Due to difficulties in transmitting funds and sensitive documents to Liberia, AOHL requests that families send all documents and fees to Acres of Hope-Liberia, 29525 Four Corners Store Rd., Mason, WI 54856 where they will be safely sent to Liberia for the purpose of your adoption.)

Phase Seven-Uniting the Family by Travel or Escort

• The decision to travel to Liberia or to have the child/ren escorted home is one each family must make. Most of our families currently choose to travel to Liberia to bring their children home. And, AOHL recommends that at least one parent travel, if possible. In fact, the Liberian government has recently made known it's preference that parents travel to Liberia, rather than retaining an escort. It is important for you to have first-hand experience of your child's country, especially if the child is young and will not have his/her own memories. It will be enjoyable for you to share your impressions of Liberia as your child grows up. In addition, your time in Liberia and the trip home will serve to "jump start" your attachment process as your child will have to trust you during some potentially frightening scenarios (like being on an airplane for the first time). Finally, filing your I600 at the US Embassy in Liberia is generally quicker than filing through your local USCIS office here in the States.
• On the other hand, please bear in mind that Liberia is currently one of the poorest countries in the world with very little infrastructure. Most of the country (including portions of Monrovia) has no running water or electricity, except via generator. It is recommended that you check with the State Department for current travel information for Liberia. (Click here to go to the State Department website). For these reasons, we require our traveling families to reside at the Acres of Hope Guest House while in Liberia and to follow certain safety guidelines (like using "the buddy system" and not going out unaccompanied after dark).
• We require families who travel to arrive in Monrovia on a Sunday and fly out the following Friday. This schedule is mandatory. Please realize that, though unlikely, circumstances may arise causing you to lengthen your stay in Liberia. If you are just beginning the process, you should also be aware that the Liberian Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has recommended a minimum stay of two weeks (or more) for adopting families and this may soon become the official policy.
• When you travel...
  • All fees must be paid and your account current before you travel.
  • When everything is completed in Liberia and we get the final green light from the US Embassy in Monrovia, we will contact you to begin making travel plans.
    • Begin looking into airfare and flight arrangements for 2-3 weeks out. We recommend using the following agencies to secure the lowest fares and best information:
      • Golden Rule Travel (888)950-3599(FLYY)
        • Ronald Miller--Our preferred representative--very knowledgable about restrictions, etc.
      • Raptim Travel (800)777-9232
      • Menno Travel (800)667-5559
    • Be sure to book one-way ticket(s) for your child/ren on the same flights you have for your return trip, and ask your travel agent to seat all persons in your party together if possible. Lap babies require paper tickets (not e-tickets). Note: Please confirm the spellings of the child/ren's names with the Adoption Consultant before booking tickets.
    • You can obtain your travel visa(s) directly from the Liberian Embassy in Washington, D.C. or through a company such as Travel Docs, Inc.
      • Request a tourist visa.
      • You will need to submit an itinerary with your application. This need not be your final itinerary; a close approximation will be fine.
      • The application requires two references. You may use the following:
      • Francis Dunbar, Old Road, Sinkor, Liberia, 06-560-202
      • Mark Sheppard, Airfield Road, Sinkor, Monrovia, Liberia, 06-886-266
  • You will work with the Adoption Consultant to confirm travel dates and reservations at the Guest House. We will require a copy of your final itinerary.
  • Sign up for the frequent flyer programs of the airlines you fly. These miles can be donated to AOH to aid in the travel of special needs children and other humanitarian efforts.
  • Consider purchasing medical and evacuation travel insurance.
  • Before you travel you should register with the US Embassy
  • Please remember that individual copies of each form are required for each child, even if they are in a sibling group (the only exception being the I600A). Each child requires his/her own packet of documents.
  • Also, use the child/ren's birth name(s) on all documents (including airline tickets) rather than their new adopted name. This includes using the child/ren's surname at birth.
  • Bring extra copies of any and all documents related to your adoption:
    • I600 (Orphan Petition)
    • I864 (Affidavit of Support)
    • I864A (Affidavit of Support)
    • I600A approval (usually I171H), with receipt that you have paid the fee with the I600A
    • Copies of complete taxes and W2s for the past three years
    • Copies of the sponsors last three paychecks (see I864 and I864A instructions)
    • A copy of your completed homestudy with any addendums
    • Birth and marriage certificates, and divorce decrees (if applicable)
    • Copies of the front and back of your "Green Card" if one of you is not a US citizen
    • A letter from each of your employers stating your position and salary. If one of you is a stay at home parent, write a letter stating:
      • "I am a stay at home parent and my spouse currently provides the income for our household. I have successfully held full time employment in the past and I am willing and able to enter the workforce again if necessary at any time"
    • A letter to the USCIS stating that you "intend and are willing to re-adopt your child/ren in the United States." Note: Children who have been seen by the adoptive parents prior to the finalization of the adoption in Liberia come home on an IR-3 visa and become automatic US citizens. Children who have not been seen by the adoptive parents until after the adoption has been completed in Liberia come home on an IR-4 visa and must be "re-adopted" in the US. There are good reasons for every child to be "re-adopted" in the US, even though those who are issued IR-3 visas do not require it.
    • It is wise to bring a complete set of copies of your dossier, just in case.
  • If only one parent (in a married couple) travels, the non-traveling parent will need to sign and notarize a Power of Attorney form granting "general authority to my attorney-in-fact along with the specified power to sign on my behalf any legal papers/forms regarding the adoption process in Liberia." You can purchase this form at www.lawdepot.com or elsewhere. The traveling parent should keep this on hand.
  • You will receive further instructions and guidelines when your adoption finalizes in Liberia.
• If you choose to escort...
  • After the adoption is final in Liberia, you will receive the documents required to file your I600 and your I864 and I864A at your local USCIS office.
  • Your approval will be sent to the National Visa Center in New Hampshire where it will be cabled to the Embassy in Liberia. While you may receive confirmation of your approval, this is not confirmation that the US Embassy in Liberia has received the notification and is ready to process the visa. Our staff will receive your child/ren's visa(s) from the Embassy on your behalf.
  • You will be notified when an appropriate escort has been secured and your child/ren is/are ready to travel. All fees must be paid and your account current before the child/ren will travel. You will meet the escort and your child/ren at a major US airport. You are responsible not only for your transportation to meet the escort, but also for your family's transportation home from the airport.
  • Please note that if you choose to use the escort option it will take longer to bring your child home. This is due to processing your I600 stateside and coordinating escort travel.

Phase Eight-Post-Placement Requirements

• Many homestudy agencies have their own post-placement requirements. Please check with yours to make sure you comply with their policies. These are separate from AOHL requirements and are your responsibility.
• Your state of residence may also have its own post-placement requirements. These are separate from AOHL requirements and are your responsibility.
• Acres of Hope-Liberia requires post-placement reports at 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, and 12 months after the child/ren is/are home, plus every January 1st thereafter, until the child reaches age 18. The 1-month report must be completed by a licensed social worker; the subsequent reports may be written by the adoptive parent(s). Each report must include three copies of the statement, plus three identical copies of five different photos (a total of 15) of each child adopted through Acres of Hope-Liberia. The photos need to be 4x6 in size and may include siblings, but should focus on the adopted child. We cannot accept post-placements by email. Please mail them to: Acres of Hope, 29525 Four Corners Store Road, Mason, WI 54856
• Click here to download a pdf Post Placement Form.
• Post-placement reports and photos are shared with the Liberian government, AOHL staff (including nannies at the orphanage), and are available to the relinquishing families. It is your responsibility to keep your file current.
• In most cases, you will need to "certify" your adoption or "re-adopt" in your state of residence. It is your responsibility to fulfill your state's requirements.  
  

 The Waiting Child
by Debbie Bodie

 I saw you meet
your child today.
You kissed your
baby joyfully
And as you walked
away with her
I played pretend
you'd chosen me.

I'm happy for the baby,yet
Inside I"m aching
miserably
I want to plead as you go by,
"Does no-one want
a child of three?"

I saw you meet
your child today
In love with her
before you met
And as I watched
you take her out
I knew it wasn't
my turn yet.

I recognize you
from last year!
I knew I'd seen your
face before!
But you came for a
second babe.
Does no-one want
a child of four?

I saw you meet
your child today
But this time there was
something new
A nurse came in
and took MY hand
And then she gave
my hand to you.

Can this be true?
I'm almost six!
And there are
infants here you see?
But then you kissed me
and I knew
The child you chose
this time was me.