Adoption Glossary

CIS - Formerly known as INS, this is the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Service. The CIS must grant pre-approval before the adoption can go forward. We received our approval in August of 2007.

Dossier - A mountain of paperwork required for internation adoptions. The specific documents vary by country, but typically include birth certificates, marriage certificate, FBI clearances, employment verifications, etc. Our dossier included appx. two dozen documents from three states plus Switzerland. It took us three months to complete.

Home Study - A report prepared by a social worker after visting the home and interviewing both parents. The purpose of the home study is to determine whether the family is well suited to adoption. We completed our home study in July of 2007.

Referral - An invitation to adopt a specific child. The referral usually includes photos and a medical report (sometimes a video as well.) After reviewing these materials, the family can accept or decline. We received our referral in March of 2008.