We didn’t always provide home studies for US citizens living abroad. Several years ago we casually turned some people away because they were residing outside of the US for work. However, that family turned out to be special as they were able to find our agency presidents contact info and shares with her that they felt called to adopt from Poland and they just knew they wanted to use Saint Mary International Adoptions to do it.
To read that family's story in more detail, it is shared on our blog here.
So back in 2013, Lina, our agency's president, buckled down and took on her first home study for US citizens residing abroad! To no surprise to any of us at the agency, she passed with flying colors! Now, we’ve expended our services to do home studies for US citizens living abroad!
The timing of this article is consistent with another home study we did for a family temporary residing in Germany. Our social worker just completed a trip to meet with them in order to help the agency prepare the necessary requirements for the family.
FAQ | Home Study for US citizens Residing Abroad
Can your agency do a home study for US citizens residing abroad?
That is a very good question to begin your interviewing process with as you are talking to agencies. Unless they answer that initial questions with "yes", there is no point in interviewing them. We have successfully completed adoptions for our parents who are temporarily living overseas including successful completion of their home studies. The home study itself falls under different requirements, but we are more than capable of helping our parents meet those requirements and navigating them through what is necessary.
Does it make any difference if we live on a military base overseas?
Regardless of the reason as to why you are residing abroad, we can help you with your entire adoption – including sending our agency’s social worker to complete the home study portion at your location. We love doing US Military Adoption home studies.
How much will it cost us to do a home study while living abroad?
Our home study fees are the same as if we are doing a regular home study. The additional cost for the parents will come with the expenses associated with our social worker having to travel and stay in the country where you are. The social worker will stay for a few days to do the required visits. The parents can be involved in the selection process of such expense items as airplane tickets and hotels.
How quickly can this home study be completed?
Though the process is a bit more complicated in terms following legal requirements that the authorities are looking for, all of this is handled internally by our agency, so no delays are pushed onto the process. There is no reason to assume that home studies for US citizens living abroad will necessarily take any longer than than your “typical” home study.
How would we communicate to schedule everything and if we have questions?
We make that easy! Everything is done electronically and we also love skyping with all of our parents regardless of whether they’re in a different state or a different country.
For any additional questions that you may have about home studies for US citizens living abroad or for US Military Adoption Home Studies, you can read more about it on our website, under Home Studies Abroad.
What are additional resources where I can learn more about this process.
As always, we recommend that adoptive parents educate themselves about any aspect of the process by visiting the Department of State website. To read more about home studies for parents abroad, please visit DOS page here.
Or you may also contact us, and we'd be happy to answer any questions.
