Explanation of Non- CCAI Haiti Adoption Expenses

1. Home study costs vary greatly between states and agencies within the same state.  We encourage families to be “educated consumers” when choosing a home study agency to serve them.
2. The USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services) charges $720 at the time that you file the I-600A.  Each person 18 years old or older in the household must be fingerprinted.  $85 for each person to be fingerprinted should be included in the initial USCIS check.  The I-600A approval is valid for 18 months.  Please remember that Haiti adoption timelines are controlled by the Haitian government and are subject to change.  Due to extended timelines you may need to renew your immigration fingerprint clearances.
3. The cost of dossier preparation varies depending on what your state charges for issuing birth and marriage certificates and for document certification.  The cost of document notarization may also vary depending on the notary.  CCAI notarizes documents for Colorado families at no charge.  The $150 estimate reflects the average that families will spend compiling the adoption dossier.

            ** The cost of your home study is included in CCAI’s First Program Fee. **

1. A letter from a licensed psychiatrist attesting to the adoptive applicants’ sound mental health. The estimate is $300-$400.         
2. The orphanage/crèche fee ranges from $4,000 - $7,000 per child.  This expense varies depending on which orphanage/crèche your child lives in. CCAI wires this expense directly to the orphanage/crèche.
3. The First In-Country Processing Fee ranges from $1391 - $1700 depending on the orphanage you are adopting from. This fee is for the work that the orphanage lawyer/processor does to put together the dossier of the adoptive child, as well as submitting the family’s dossier to IBESR. For a breakdown of this fee please see Haiti In-Country Fee Breakdown.
4. Your first trip to Haiti is to file the I-600 with the USCIS in Port-au-Prince, meet your child and appear in Haitian Civil court. You will travel to Haiti with a group organized by CCAI. This is a four to six day trip. For one adult the estimated cost is $1,675. This estimate includes: domestic airfare to Florida approximately $225, Florida hotel accommodation approximately $200, international airfare approximately $400, Haiti trip fee $350 (includes Haiti security and ground transportation), and Haiti hotel (double occupancy) $500.
5. As part of your I-600 process, the U.S. Consulate in Port-au-Prince reserves the right to order DNA testing for your child. The fee is $700-$900. Please note that this fee is only required if the U.S. Consulate orders DNA testing.
6. The Second In-Country Fee ranges from $2156 - $2700 depending on the orphanage you are adopting from. This fee covers expenses related to the orphanage lawyer/processor getting a Haitian passport, passport photos, and a U.S. visa for your child. The Second In-Country Fee for Lifeline families also covers the expenses of having your child examined by a USCIS approved doctor in Haiti.
7. The Third In-Country Fee is $1268 and is for families adopting from Maison only. This fee covers the expenses for a medical examination for your child, as well as fees for translating visa related documents into English and the visa application.
8. Your second trip to Haiti is to bring your child home. This is usually a three day trip (two nights in Ft. Lauderdale, FL and one day in Port-au-Prince). For one adult to bring home a child between the ages of 2 and 11 years the estimate is $1,325. This estimate includes: domestic airfare to Florida approximately $225, Florida hotel accommodation approximately $200, international airfare $400, child’s airfare $500 ($300 international and $200 domestic).
9. The adoption may need to be validated by a court in your state.  The cost will vary - the state where the adoption is validated will determine the cost.
10. Your child will need a state-issued birth certificate.  The cost will vary depending on your state’s requirements.
11. One way to verify your child’s U.S. citizenship is to obtain a citizenship certificate.  Upon return to the United States, you will receive a certificate of citizenship at no additional cost.  If only one parent in a married couple travels, a certificate of citizenship will need to be obtained following court validation.  The current fee to obtain this document is $420.