Total Estimated Costs

1. You can choose at each step of your adoption process to move from one level of costs and services to another. These figures are estimates. Your actual expenses will vary. Fees of Americans Adopting Orphans and government agencies are subject to change. All fees paid to Americans Adopting Orphans reflect our 4.7% discount given for payment by cash or check. VISA & MasterCard are accepted at our normal rate. Normal rates are provided to our clients upon acceptance into our program, or are available upon request.
2. A client family living outside of the United States pays a higher fee.
3. This estimate reflects document fees for a typical family, and an allowance for notarization fees and postage. Included is the application fee for the Citizenship & Immigration Services' I-600A
4. This estimate reflects the Home Study fee charged by Americans Adopting Orphans to families in WA & MO. Home Study fees can vary dramatically from state to state. Americans Adopting Orphans charges $250 to review Home Studies not performed by our staff, and for staff home studies in AK.
5. Typical costs reflect Instruction Pack levels of service, higher and lower levels are available for many services.
6. Daily guide fees are included in the foreign section.
7. Post-placement Home Study estimate reflects one Americans Adopting Orphans home study post-placement report with visit and one without visit for China and one with visit for Ukraine.
8. Reflects family filing own court documents in WA State, fees vary from state to state.
9. Typical Costs assumes 2 people travel coach from the West Coast; stay at nice hotels; an experienced interpreter is used; and transportation is by private vehicle (shared by a travel group in China). Fees do not have to be paid to Americans Adopting Orphans until you are ready to order the service. For most families this means that the majority of their costs will occur at the end of their adoption, as they travel to adopt their child.
10. Air fare varies seasonally, these are normal fares for 2 adults from the West Coast, fares can be higher at peak seasons.
11. $2,500 of these fees and expenses may be wired to Ukraine in advance of your trip. This is a generous estimate assuming a family makes only one trip to the NAC to select a child.
12. Includes issuance of child's adoption documents and passport, plus photographs and physical examination for Consulate.
13. Not all adoption trips require additional travel within the country. These are estimates for travel to most orphanages.
14. Adoptive families with an adjusted gross income under $150,000 are eligible for a tax credit (not a mere income credit) of $10,600. Families with an adjusted gross income under $190,000 will receive a proportional credit.
15. These estimates reflect very generous and complete estimates for the typical family. Families can greatly reduce their costs by having only one adult travel (Ukraine requires both spouses travel), and by choosing less expensive levels of service from Americans Adopting Orphans. Complete adoptions from China can cost as little as $2 - 3,000 after the Federal Adoption Tax Credit. Costs will be higher if families travel business class, take additional sightseeing tours of the country, or choose higher levels of service. Let us help you design a personalized adoption plan for your family.

Every agency estimates total adoption costs a little differently. We believe that we have included all adoption costs, including many that are left out of the estimates of other agencies. We include the cost of gathering documents including multiple copies of documents like Birth Certificates. We have also included an allowance for having documents notarized, making photocopies, mailing costs, etc. These costs can add up to hundreds of dollars. The costs of vital records will be approximately the same regardless of the agency you choose. We have also included all travel expenses including meals, hotels, guide services, and in-country flights. When comparing agencies and estimating the total cost of your adoption, be sure to include these expenses. You should also determine and compare how much work each agency requires you to do, how many options each agency gives you, and the quality of the service they provide. If you are not sure what is included in the program or estimate of an agency, don't hesitate to ask.