This may vary from country to country, depending on their laws, rules and regulations, but here is an overview of the steps to independent international adoption. I have more or less followed all these steps in adopting independently from three different countries (although when I started, there were no cell phones, no digital cameras to send back pics and no Internet – not even a “land” phone!)

1. Decide which country you want to adopt from.
2. Research as much as you can about the dossier requirements for said country.
3. Start homestudy and file for I600A.
4. Collect documents for dossier.
5. Work on finding contacts in your country of choice. You will need them.
6. Contact US Embassy in that country and ask for help, advice and/or recommendations.
7. Scour the Internet to find others who have also adopted from that country. Get their advice on everything from travel agent to hotel to name of driver to process and expected time frame in-country.
8. Get I171H.
9. Send entire dossier off for appropriate stamps, seals and apostilles.
10. Decide when you are going to travel and start travel plans.
11. Nest, nest, nest.
12. Gather donations for your child's orphanage and country.
13. Pack like a crazy person – and unpack and repack to get the weight distributed correctly.
14. Leave sleep-deprived, since you stayed up all night packing the day before you leave.
15. Arrive in country, with all documentation in hand, including power of attorney if not traveling with spouse.

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