Shannon Fissori

is adopting a child from Lesotho

I am so grateful to be adopting a little girl from Lesotho!

In an effort to raise awareness about adoption I am sharing the details of my journey below. You will notice that some steps had to be repeated. This was due to the unforeseen delays in children from Lesotho being referred for adoption and some paperwork reaching expiration. Since the US and Lesotho have both signed the Hague Convention, an international treaty to prevent child trafficking, the bureaucracy of adopting a child has been particularly tedious in my case. Information on both myself and my child underwent rigorous scrutiny to make sure my child really is an orphan eligible for adoption and I am a suitable parent who meets all the required criteria.

I made the choice to adopt internationally for a number of reasons. As a single woman wanting to adopt a relatively healthy baby/toddler I would have had a long wait going the domestic route. While my adoption ended up taking much longer than anticipated, the original estimate was to receive a referral for a child from Lesotho within 6-12 months. I am incredibly excited to connect with Lesotho and learn more about the culture and history of this truly special place.

As I progress through the final steps of my adoption I have started this page as a way to raise funds to cover some of the costs and help ease the financial burden of this process. In order to shed some light and be fully transparent, I am listing my expenses incurred below as well.

Thank you for supporting me on my path to motherhood!

Shannon

Adoption Timeline

July 2013: Submit adoption application

August - October 2013: Complete Home Study

Photograph
Birth certificate
Medical report
Employment letter
Financial records
- Tax return
- Bank account, credit card statements
- Verification of assets: vehicle, pension
Criminal background check
Personal history form
Proof of health insurance (that will cover adopted child)
Proof of life insurance
Education/training
- Classes at Adopt International’s office in San Francisco
  - Attachment In Adoption (2 hrs)
  - Transracial Adoption (2 hrs)
- Online classes through Adoption Learning Partners (ALP)
  - Medical Issues In International Adoption (2.5 hrs)
  - With Eyes Wide Open (4 hrs)
  - The Journey of Attachment (2 hrs)
  - Adopting the Older Child (2 hrs)
Results of T-JTA (Taylor-Johnson Temperament Analysis) personality test
Reference letters (5)
Release of information
Interviews w/ Social Worker (2)
- Informational meeting in Ojai (where assigned SW lives)
- Home inspection
Post Placement Agreement (reports at 3 months, 6 months 12 months, 18 months, 24 months, 36 months, 48 months, 60 months post adoption)

November 2013: USCIS (US Citizenship & Immigration Services) submission

Form I-800A: Application for Determination of Suitability to Adopt a Child from a Convention Country
Home Study
Birth Certificate
Criminal background check (biometrics appointment assigned at Oxnard office)

January 2014: Receive I-797 Notice of Action (I-800A approval) from USCIS (expires 2/28/15)

Gather documents for dossier

Application letter (original)
Photographs (6 originals)
Passport (copy)
Birth certificate (certified)
Medical report (notarized)
Criminal background check (original)
Employment letter (notarized)
Home Study (notarized)
USCIS approval (original I-797)

February 2014: Submit dossier to Lesotho; begin wait for a referral for a child

2015-2017: Continuing education through ALP online webinars

January - February 2018: Update Home Study

March 2018: Submit second I-800A to USCIS

May 2018: Receive updated I-797 Notice of Action (I-800A approval) from USCIS (expires 7/23/19)

August 2018: Receive child referral (picture, medical information & social worker report)

September 2018: Review information with pediatrician (specialist in international adoption)

October 2018: Sign acceptance letter, submit to Lesotho Central Authority

November 2018: USCIS submission

Form I-800: Petition to Classify Convention Adoptee as an Immediate Relative
Form I-864: Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the INA (Immigration & Nationality Act)
Form DS-230: Application for Immigrant Visa Registration
Child report (birth certificate, medical records, social worker report)
Adoption agency letter (meets requirements of Hague Convention Article 16)
Letter signed by adoptive parent confirming acceptance of child referred

December 2018: Receive Request for Evidence (RFE) from USCIS for additional information from Lesotho government in order to process I-800 petition

January 2019: Submit Lesotho Central Authority letter (confirming child can be adopted internationally per Hague Convention Article 17) requested by USCIS

February 2019: Receive I-800 approval from USCIS

March 2019: National Visa Center submission

DS-260: Immigrant Visa Application

April 2019: US Consulate in Johannesburg, South Africa processes child's visa application, issues Article 5 letter to Lesotho Central Authority certifying I am eligible to adopt the identified child and my child is approved to enter and reside permanently in the US

May 2019: Awaiting Lesotho court date…

Adoption Expenses

7/21/13 Application fee $300

8/6/13 Home study fee (#1) $3,350

8/9/13 Live scan (#1) $74

8/9/13 Medical report (#1) $65

8/30/13 Adoption courses required for home study $200

9/23/13 Social worker home visit fee $150

9/26/13 Notary fees (employment letter and medical report) $50

10/25/13 Agency fee $6,000

11/1/13 USCIS I-800A filing & biometrics fees (#1) $805

1/21/14 Dossier translation and registration fee $1,400