PRINTER FRIENDLY VERSION EMAIL Home Study



To be found eligible to adopt a child abroad and bring the child into the United States, you must also submit a home study with your application. A home study is a review of you, your family and your home environment. It assists U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), as well as a foreign country’s adoption authority, in determining whether you and your home environment would be suitable for a child.


Home study preparation requirements vary. Each state has different rules that apply to home study preparers. There are also differences between home studies prepared for Convention adoptions and non-Hague Convention adoptions. If you intend to adopt from a country party to the Hague Adoption Convention, you must choose the country before the home study is conducted. In non-Convention adoptions, you may complete the home study before choosing a country. Additionally, home studies for Hague Convention Adoptions must be submitted to USCIS with Form I-800A. For non-Hague Convention adoptions, prospective adoptive parents may submit the home study within a year of filing the I-600A.



Home Study Requirements

Home studies must generally include the following:

· An in-person interview and home visit with the prospective adoptive parent(s). In addition, all adult members of the prospective parents’ household must also be interviewed.

· An accurate evaluation of the physical, mental, and emotional capabilities of the prospective adoptive parent(s) and any other adult members of the household.

· A detailed description of the finances of the prospective adoptive parent(s), including but not limited to, income, debts, expenses, and the costs of supporting other members of the family.

· A detailed description of the prospective adoptive parent(s)’ living conditions.

· If applicable, a detailed description of the prospective adoptive parent(s)’ ability to provide proper care for a child with special needs.

· A description of counseling provided to the prospective adoptive parent(s) or plans for post-placement counseling.

· Specific assessment of how the above factors would affect the prospective adoptive parent(s)’ ability to care for an adopted child, the number of children that the parent(s) may adopt, and any restrictions on the children who should be placed with the parent(s).

· A check of child abuse record, and inquiries into substance abuse, child or sexual abuse and/or domestic violence. These checks and inquiries must relate to each adult member of the prospective parents’ household. The results of these checks and inquiries must be noted in the home study.

· If there were any previous rejections for adoptions, or if an unfavorable home study was ever prepared regarding any adult member of the prospective household, explanations must be obtained.

· A criminal history of each adult in the prospective parents’ household – failure to disclose any record of arrest and/or conviction, history of any substance abuse, sexual or child abuse, or domestic violence may result in a denial of the I-600A or the I-800A.