Adoption Costs

Until now, the cost of adoption has always just been one gigantic number for us.  Now that we are involved in the process, we are seeing how each step along the way adds up to make the whole.  We share this in hopes of making the process easier to understand for our friends and family as well as helping up to keep up along the way so we know what fee is coming next! :-) These are in the order that we will be required to pay them.  This list also does not include the costs of gathering the required documents, our passports, etc.  I'll add those in as I know them.

INITIAL FEES

PAID $500 - initial application fee with our placing agency
PAID $300 - application fee for our home study agency
PAID $117 - home study fingerprinting

PAID $150 - online adoption training (discounted by our agency, normally $200)
PAID $150 - international adoption clinic at UAB

PAID $800 - contract fee with our placing agency
PAID $500 - contract fee with our home study agency
PAID $275 - application fee and donation to become a Reece's Rainbow family

PAID $800 - half of home study fee with home study agency; paid at start of HS

PAID $800 - remainder of home study fee; paid when complete

PAID $1500 - post placement report fees; China requires 6 reports and these must be paid for upfront

PAID $300 - home study review by our placing agency

PAID $720 - I-800A application fee

PAID $170 - fingerprinting

PAID TOTAL $7111

FEES ASSOCIATED WITH DOSSIER

PAID $600 - translation and document fees

DID OURSELVES $68 versus $800 - county and state authentication by placing agency

DID OURSELVES $425 versus $800 - Chinese authentications by placing agency
PAID $150 - courier fees to Chinese consulate

PAID $500 - dossier registration fee (discounted for waiting child)

PAID $260 - dossier translation fee (discounted for waiting child)

PAID $3700 - agency fees for processing case (normally $5700, discounted because MinLan is considered "special focus")

PAID $500 - charitable aid and development contribution fee to placing agency
PAID $375 Passports for Bryan, Jenifer and Ellie

TOTAL $6578

PRIOR TO TRAVEL

$3468 - estimated cost for hotel, transfers, guide/translator

PAID (actual cost $4100) 3000  - estimated flight from US to China for Ellie and Mommy plus flight back for MinLan

PAID $1500 - professional services fee to placing agency

PAID $404 - visa for MinLan

PAID $1000 - post adoption bond; paid and then refunded when MinLan turns 18; to ensure we complete post adoption reports

TOTAL $10,472

DURING TRAVEL IN CHINA

$1061 - varies by province for preparation of Chinese adoption documents and passport for MinLan

$5700 - orphanage donation

$300 - medical exam and vaccination for MinLan

TOTAL $7061

OVERALL TOTAL $31,222

REMAINDER DUE $10,529