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Frequently Asked Questions |
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How can I meet with America World in person?
We have seminars dozens of times a year. Check the Upcoming Events page for information about any currently scheduled seminars. We normally conduct these seminars in partnership with an area church, which allows us to use their facilities for the meeting.
We also meet with people on a one on one basis and provide them the same information that we would give out at a seminar. If you would be interested in this, you can contact us to set up a time.
We are very open and non-competitive in nature. Choosing an adoption agency is a very personal choice - and a good match depends as much on the program offered as the personality compatibility between the agency/organization and the parent(s). You should be asking as many questions as you can. In fact, we believe that the more information you have - the better decision you will make in regard to the agency you choose.
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Does America World work with people outside of their local area?
The fees for local and out-of-state families are the same, and we work with people all over the country. Although that means people in other states do not get to meet us face-to-face, we still guide and assist you via phone/email through all the adoption stages. We often have people fax us a document to make sure it has been authenticated correctly - or email/call to check on this or that aspect of the process. We are here for all our families.
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What are the ages of the children being adopted?
China
Children Available: 6 months to 14 years old (3-6 yrs. limited availability).
Parents' Ages: Both parents need to be at least 30 years old, and and have not reached 50 years in order to adopt a healthy child. Both parents must be at least 30 years old and have not reached 55 years old for an adoption of a child with special needs. China does not allow singles to adopt.
El Salvador
Children Available: Available children range from 1 year to 15 years old.
Parents' Ages: Both parents need to be between 25 and 45 years older than the requested child. Singles must also need to fall into these age constraints.
Ethiopia
Children Available: One month old through adolescence are available. Both boys and girls are available; girls are typically more requested. You have the option to adopt more than one child (related or unrelated).
Parents' Ages: Must be at least 25 years old to adopt, and no older than 50 years old to be considered for an infant.
Kazakhstan
Children Available: 7 months to 15 years old are available. Boys are more readily available than girls. You have the option to adopt more than one child.
Parents' Ages: Parents must be at least 25 years old, and cannot be more than 40-45 years older than adoptee (this varies from region to region and will be assessed on a case by case basis).
Russia
Children Available: 10 months to 15 years old. You have the option to adopt more than one child.
Parents' Ages: Minimum of 25 years old. Neither parent can be more than 45 years older than the adoptee. In some regions this may be waived and will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Ukraine
Children Available: 14 months to 15 years. Occasionally sibling groups are available. Children with special needs younger than 14 months are also available for adoption. You have the option to adopt more than one child.
Parents' Ages: Parents must be over 25, and at least 15 years older than adoptee. Ukraine does not allow singles to adopt.
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Are the children healthy?
Yes. All of our programs have healthy children available. However, it must be clarified that in international adoption, children are referred to as "healthy" if they are not known to have a significant medical/emotional condition. Healthy children often have effects of institutionalization which can include malnutrition, delayed development, and other minor medical conditions such as ricketts and scabies. Many of the effects of institutionalization diminish after a child is placed in a home and receives love, attention, medical care and proper nutrition. Children with repaired medical conditions may also be considered healthy.China has a dedicated Waiting Children Program; children with special needs are also available in all of our programs.
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Do I need to be an American citizen to adopt a child through America World?
It is required that at least one of the parents be an American citizen for the adoption to be legitimately processed through us. The adoption is based on the qualification of the parent who is a US citizen.
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Do I need to be a Christian?
We are a Christian-based organization and work with people from a myriad of backgrounds, cultures, denominations and perspectives. We do not consider a parent's background, culture, denomination or perspective an exclusionary factor to adopt a child, but we do request that at least one parent agree to the Statement of Faith found on the AWAA application.
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Are there requirements for the health of the parents?
America World has some requirements regarding health. There is a physician's form in our dossier guidelines, which lists everything we require your doctor to evaluate. Generally, each country will not refer children to individuals with infectious diseases. If this is a concern to you speak with the individual conducting your home study. They will have the specific criteria upon which your health status will be evaluated. Every country has different levels of acceptable medical conditions, so please visit the requirements section of each program to see specifics. Families being treated for mental health conditions, including depression and anxiety, are not eligible for any of our available programs (China, Kazakhstan, Russia, Ukraine, Ethiopia or El Salvador).
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Why does adopting a child cost so much?
It is true, adopting a child should be free. Unfortunately an international adoption is quite a complicated legal process. During your adoption process, you (and the agency you are adopting through) will be working with a myriad of entities. These include foreign governments, the USCIS department, county and state authorities, as well as the federal level state department (not to mention the numerous notaries you will need, police checks, medical reports and social services evaluations). There are many people who spend a lot of time working to adequately prepare the legal procedures for the adoption process, and it ultimately ends up costing quite a bit of money. When you receive our information packet, you are provided a complete breakdown of the costs involved. We include estimates for every cost you will encounter. Although most of the money you pay to other entities, not to us, we still include them in our estimate so that you can know realistically all the costs you will be responsible for during the adoption.Please note that the most up-to-date cost breakdowns are listed on our website for each program.
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What are my first steps in the adoption process?
- Complete and sign the Adoption Agreement and Adoption Application . Send it into America World along with a photo of you and your family (or just you if applicable). Also, the first portion of the America World program fee is payable. If you are having problems with this payment, please contact us. We are somewhat flexible on when and how you pay the program fees.
- Initiate your home study.
- Initiate the INS paperwork.
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Does America World conduct the home study?
America World is fully licensed in Arizona, Florida, Kansas, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Washington to conduct your home study. Individuals living in these states should contact their local America World office for information regarding a home study. Individuals living outside our local office areas are encouraged to use one of our partner agencies.
If one is not listed for your state you can find someone to conduct your home study by looking in your local yellow pages under "Adoption Agencies." Ask for a cost estimate for only a home study. Be sure to ask what their estimate includes and what it does not include. Also, counties require 2 or more post placement reports - so when you are getting price quotes, make sure the agency includes the price for the post placement visits in their quote. In most metropolitan areas, home study/post placement reports total approximately $1,900.
After you have been approved, we can then step in and process the international component of the adoption.
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What financial assistance is available for prospective parents?
The Lord has granted favor on adopting families, as you are now eligible for a $10,000 tax credit upon final order of your adoption. Hope for Children Act (H.R. 622) is legislation to increase the adoption tax credit from $5000 to $10,000. This is a reimbursement of $10,000 from the federal government for your adoption expenses. This in effect can make your adoption expenses be under $5,000.
Recent Tax Law Changes Benefit Adoptions
The Hope for Children Act
Makes an adoption tax credit and an exclusion from income of amounts provided through an employer adoption assistance program permanent law.
Allows a tax credit for allowable expenses up to $10,000 in adoptions that have not been completed through the Waiting Child Program.
Allows a $10,000 tax credit for each adoption of a child with special needs. Allows an exclusion from gross income of amounts up to $10,000 for qualified adoption expenses for adoptions not completed through the Waiting Child Program or up to $10,000 for adoptions of children with special needs paid by an employer to an employee through an adoption assistance program.
Phases out the allowable amounts for both the credits and the exclusion between adjusted gross income of $150,000 and $190,000
National Adoption Foundation:
National Adoption Foundation
We are not officially affiliated with this organization, but know that they are legitimate and many people choose to procure loans through them for adoption. They also have some grant money that you can apply for as well. They can be contacted at 203-791-3811 for more information about their program.
Eternal Family Adoption Assistance Program:
Eternal Family Adoption Assistance Program
This is a program designed to find sponsors for a family's adoption costs. Typically, this would work through your church -- providing your church a way to connect -- through your child -- to a specific orphanage in China. They can be involved in ongoing mission and ministry to those children still living in the orphanages. If you are interested in the packet for this program, please contact us at the office. The program is actually quite versatile, and could be used through an individual's employer as well as network of family and friends.
Also, please feel free to speak with us directly here at the office. We are willing to work with you in many ways to help you meet the expenses toward adoption. If you have any further questions -- please do not hesitate to give us a call. 888-ONE-CHILD we would be happy to speak with you. Thank you again for your interest and we might encourage you that we have seen, time after time, that always God provides a way for His will to be done. We should all just pray to know His will.
Please keep in mind that the price we quote within our packets is a complete quote -- including airfare and travel expenses for two parents, home study costs, INS fees, notarization/authentication expenses, as well as in-country adoption fees, etc. Many agencies quote a price, then have multiple add on expenses . . . so, if you are looking into other adoption agencies -- ask what their costs cover as well as what they don't cover. Only a small portion of this money is actually paid to us. You pay the separate entities yourself. Although it may be more footwork for you, it saves you a lot of money.
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Are there any age criteria to adopt?
Each country has its own age criteria. See the following for more information.
China Requirements
Parents' Ages: Both parents must be at least 30 years old and and have not reached 50 years old in order to adopt a healthy child. Both parents must be at least 30 years old and have not reached 55 years old for an adoption of a child with special needs. China does not allow singles to adopt.
El Salvador Requirements
Parents' Ages: Both parents need to be between 25 and 45 years older than the requested child. Singles must also need to fall into these age constraints.
Ethiopia Requirements
Parents' Ages: Must be at least 25 years old to adopt, and no older than 50 years old to be considered for an infant. Singles must also need to fall into these age constraints.
Kazakhstan Requirements
Parents' Ages: Parents must be at least 25 years old, and cannot be more than 40-45 years older than adoptee (this varies from region to region and will be assessed on a case by case basis).
Russia Requirements
Parents' Ages: Minimum of 25 years old. Neither parent can be over 45 years older than the adoptee. In some regions this may be waived and will be assessed on a case by case basis.
Ukraine Requirements
Parents' Ages: Parents must be over 25, and at least 15 years older than adoptee. Ukraine does not allow singles to adopt.
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Are there any restrictions for people who are divorced?
To adopt you cannot have been divorced more than two times. Married couples are required to be married for more than one year before adopting.Please review our Agency Adoption Requirements for a complete listing of America World adoption requirements.
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Are there any discounts available?
Pastor’s Discount:
One of the two spouses or the single applicant must be a full-time minister (as defined by the IRS) and the combined income of both spouses must be $70,000 or less. If they meet these requirements, they will receive 25% off of their program fees for the country from which they are adopting. If their combined income is between $70,000 and $100,000, the family is eligible for a 10% discount.
Military Discount:
One of the two spouses or the single applicant must be in a branch of the military on active duty, and the combined income of both spouses must be $70,000 or less. If they meet these requirements, they will receive 10% off of their program fees for the country from which they are adopting.
Second Adoption Discount:
If the family is adopting through America World for a second, third, fourth, etc. time, they are eligible for 10% off of their program fees, regardless of the country from which they are adopting.
If families are eligible for multiple discounts, they will receive the highest discount they are eligible for, but the discounts will not be cumulative.
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If I have had any involvement with the law, including arrests, charges, convictions, etc., on my record, even if I believe it has been expunged, is this going to preclude me from adopting?
Not necessarily. If you have been arrested on a felony charge, it does preclude you from adopting in Russia, Ukraine, and China. If you are applying for a Russian or Ukrainian adoption, any arrest involving alcohol must be at least 15 years old to be considered. If you have an arrest involving drugs, it must be at least 15 years old and will be taken on a case-by-case basis. If you are applying for an adoption from China, any arrest involving alcohol must be at least 5 years old. If you have any police involvement with drug charges, it can only be for marijuana and it must be at least 15 years old. Any other misdemeanor charges will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
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Is the Application Fee refundable?
The application fee is non-refundable. The purpose of sending in the application and paying the application fee is for our Intake/Social Services Department to determine eligibility for the country in which you are applying for an adoption. There are several steps and much time that goes into determining eligibility. In addition, if you are denied for some reason, additional resources are investigated and offered as alternative options.
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