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What's the first step?
 Opening your heart. This process will change your life and the life of a child forever and it is important to understand the gravity of this commitment. If you are sure that you can give the love and support needed, you begin the process by completing a home study, then file an I-600A application with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and begin collecting documents for your adoption dossier.
Are there age restrictions?
 Adoptive applicants must be at least 30 years old. The average age of the babies is 8-12 months. Applicants over age 45 should be prepared for a child 12-24 months, and applicants over 50 should be prepared for a child 2 years or older. While this is the 'rule', it is very common for applicants 45 and over to be matched with a younger child.
How long does the paperwork process take?
Depending upon your motivation to complete the paperwork and the current efficiency of USCIS, anticipate that your dossier will be ready to send to Nepal 2-5 months following your initial application.
How long before we get a picture?
 Once your dossier is submitted to Nepal, a referral consisting of a child's pictures, medical report and background will be issued, on average, within 1-4 months. We update Nepal constantly during your dossier preparation so they are notified in advance of your particlar family's needs, wants, and situation- thus they are able to send a child's information very quickly. After you receive the referral, you will be able to travel to Nepal to see your child within a matter of weeks.
What will we know about the health of the child?
 You will receive a very cursory medical report with your referral. It will basically indicate that your child is healthy and contain any specific information exclusive to that child. We have visited the orphanages where our children are raised and we continually receive updates, so we are very happy to report that the children are in very good health and are very well cared for. During the first trip to Nepal, families will take the child to a well-established clinic used by all adoptive families in Kathmandu to have a thorough medical check-up of the child.
For a terrific research piece on the children living in children's homes in Nepal, please read this article.
When will we travel, and how is that coordinated?
 Typically, Nepal requires two trips to adopt a child. The first trip will occur within weeks of receiving your child's information. Parents are required to stay in Nepal between 4-6 days for the first trip. During this time, parents are required to visit the US Embassy, the city office, the orphanage, and the hospital to perform paperwork, confirm the child's health, see the child and his or her living environments, etc. A representative of Faith will be there to assist you at every step of the process.
Afterward, parents will return to the US while paperwork and approval is being coordinated in Nepal. Usually, parents will return for the second trip 4-6 months after the first. At that time, parents are required to stay in the country up to two weeks. Both trips require at least one parent to travel. Faith International Adoptions makes all travel arrangements and provides excellent guides in Nepal.
 How much will the adoption cost?
Although this program is our most expensive because of travel costs, the overall costs are minimized by the fact that time from dossier submittal to bringing your child home is exceptionally quicker than any other program we offer. Interested families should call us with questions on costs.
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