Step 3: Assembly and Submission of Dossier

Time between submission of documents and adoption of your child(ren) is variable. See our newsletter, "The Lantern", for current processing times.

In this step we accept your original application documents plus multiple copies of each and compile them into a dossier to be submitted to the foreign country. Your completed dossier is then sent to the foreign country to request the referral of a child. Dossiers are normally sent twice a month to China so that no dossier has a significant wait to be sent. Dossiers for Ukraine are upon completion.

Step 3 Dossier Assembly and Submission to Foreign Country includes the following:

• A final review and compiling all of your documents into a completed dossier that can be submitted to the foreign country for the referral of a child. Note—the documentation requirements vary from country to country and can be quite different in format and content. A dossier prepared for one country will almost certainly not meet the requirements of another country.
• Translation of your documents into the language of your child(ren)'s country.
• Attachment of a letter from Americans Adopting Orphans to your dossier for the foreign country presenting your family as our client and requesting that your application to adopt a child be granted.
• Express delivery of your dossier to the proper authorities in the foreign country.
• Tracking your documents through the foreign government approval process, and assistance with resolving any difficulties that may arise with your dossier.
• Submission of your Advance Processing and Referral Fees to the appropriate authorities.
• Notification to you when your dossier has been received by foreign adoption authorities.
• For families in our China program, notification of when the group before yours receives their referrals so that you can better anticipate the arrival of your own referral and begin to make preparations.
• Notification of when we receive the referral of a child for you, giving you the choice of coming to pick up the documents, or having them sent to you.
• Providing you with both the original language and an English translation of all documents received.
• Transmission of your acceptance or refusal of the referral to your child's country.
• Notification of when we receive your permission to travel to complete your adoption from the foreign country.

Our fee for Step 3 Dossier Assembly and Submission to Foreign Country is $2,700 for China and $5,000 for Ukraine (additional $1,000 per additional child requested).

The $820 Advance Processing and Referral fee required by the China Center of Adoption Affairs must also be submitted. For Ukraine a $3,000 fee is also required, plus $2,200 for each additional child requested.

Note – If the fees for adoption of multiple children from Ukraine have been paid, and only one child is adopted, there will be a partial refund of Step 3 advance processing fees determined on a case by case basis.

Purchase Step 3 Dossier Assembly and Submission to Foreign Country + Advance Processing and Referral fee for China (Total $3,700 via PayPal):

Purchase Step 3 Dossier Assembly and Submission to Foreign Country + Advance Processing and Referral fee for Ukraine (Total $8,405 via PayPal):

Note - Americans Adopting Orphans will only submit dossiers that meet our requirements and standards, as well as those of the US and foreign government authorities. Any document or legalization that does not meet our guidelines must be re-done and found to be in compliance before we will submit the dossier. A Program Fee, Home Study, Step 1, and Step 2 service must be purchased before Step 3 services will be offered. Step 3 fees and expense must be paid before your dossier will be sent.