Once the court process begins the entire procedure can range anywhere from 6-8 months for India and 4 months for China and Vietnam before you receive documents stating your child’s arrival. Families that are adopting from India will receive 3 documents when the court process is finished; guardianship papers, your child’s birth affidavit, and relinquishment certificate. Parents must send COPIES of these documents along with the “Petition to Classify an Orphan as an Immediate Relative” ( I-600 form received with the I-171 H approval from CIS) and a copy of the I-171 H form, to the USCIS office for their final approval. Parents must also immediately send IFI; 3 years recent tax returns, 1 recent job or employee letter, 1 medical waiver, and “Affidavit of Support” (I-864). Upon getting the approval from CIS, parents must fax the approval to IFI and inform the CIS office to fax the approval to the Embassy in India, where the Embassy then notifies the orphanage of the appointment date and time to obtain your child’s visa. Families adopting from China will receive their travel permission when their child’s adoption is ready to be finalized. They do not need to send the CIS any documents at this time. IFI will send them a packet of paperwork and assist families in filling out all the necessary documents before the time of their travel. Parents do need to fax the US Consulate Office in Guangzhou, China their travel permission. These are the last few months standing in your way of you and your child. It is normal and even expected for families to be anxious, eager, and at times even frustrated! Just hang in there, your child is almost home.