Cost of International Adoption

Last time we were in the process, and now that we are starting again, a question that is frequently asked is "how much does it cost?" First I would like to make it clear that you are not paying for a baby, or a child. Fees are for an adoption to take place and there are a lot of things that come into play to complete an adoption. Here is a simple break down of adoption costs/ fees:

Application- $300 This includes background check, looking over taxes and finances, sending out reference packets to our references and "Welcome Interview".

Home Study- $2500-$2900 This fee pays for meetings with social worker, him/her writing up home study & home study being sent to Korea.

Medical Physical- $25 to complete our home study we have to get an adoption physical.

USCIS- $720 this is the immigration paperwork needed for us to get approved on the US side to adopt.

Fingerprints/ Biometrics- $85

(Holt) US Processing Fee- $3000 this is described as a "facilitating fee" between US government & adoption agencies with foreign government & adoption agency. I don't remember paying this fee last time, I think it is new, but I could be wrong.

Program Fee (Holt Korea)- $19,365 This is the big portion that we pay when we accept our referral. It includes so many different things including background check/ medical history of child/ birth parents. You also have to remember that in Korea a child has been in foster care which has also been paid for. Our child will have received regular (and very thorough) medical exams. There is so much legal paperwork that needs to be ready in order for a child to be adoptable and officially an orphan as well as paperwork to allow a child to be adopted internationally. Holt does an amazing job working with birth moms, and counseling them to make sure there are no other options before they place a child for international adoption. Part of this fee also goes to social services and government offices on the Korea side of things. Lastly, part of it may go to child welfare projects within Korea.

Travel Fee- $500 a fee we pay directly to Holt to arrange meetings and travel for us while we are in Korea.

Travel- (varies) Plane tickets to Korea last time cost $2400 including Luke's ticket on the way home. Last time we spend around $600 on food (Korea is more expensive than here). Thankfully my Dad used his Marriott points to cover our Hotel, otherwise that would have been another couple thousand dollars.

Post Placement Fee- $1200- $2800 This fee includes meeting with our social worker once we are home with our child, and paper work needed to finalize adoption.

Misc Fees- $700 Last time we spent around $700- $1000 on certified mail, notarizations etc...

Total- $30,795-32795 (not including hotel)

YES, this is a lot of money, and NO we don't have an extra $30,000 lying around anywhere :) One thing that our last adoption taught us, and also working with YL, is that if God wants something to happen, He will provide the money. That doesn't mean that we wont have to work for it of make some sacrifices, but if this adoption is God's will, we believe He will help us pay for it.

Here are some ways we plan to pay for this:

Sell Ryan's car

Garage Sales

Sell Ryan's Motorcycle (sorry Ryan :))

I have been making adoption baby blankets and selling the on Etsy

Possibly rent out our motor home (need to figure out how exactly to do this)

Recycling water bottles- anyone want to help us collect?

Coupon cutting (getting pretty good at this!)

And, I have a few other good fundraising ideas in mind... TBA

We can account for approximately $10,000- $11,000 from some of the above. So it seems like we need to figure out about $19,000 more. Would you pray along with us that this money would be provided? Also, would love to have any other great ideas for fundraising that anyone may have! Thanks!