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Spence-Chapin is proud to be able to assist families who are looking to adopt their relatives or children who are known to them through our Kinship & Kinship+ International Adoption Programs. With more than 110-years of experience in adoption, Spence-Chapin is able to guide you through every step of your adoption journey, and provide lifelong support services to you and your family.
We know that the kinship adoption process can seem daunting at first. That’s where Spence-Chapin comes in. As your Primary Adoption Service Provider in the United States, we will work closely with government agencies and our in-country providers to ensure that the adoption process is smooth and seamless, and that your family is united as quickly as possible.
Spence-Chapin is currently providing Kinship & Kinship+ adoption services in Jamaica and Antigua & Barbuda; we will be launching similar programs in Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent & the Grenadines shortly. If you are interested in adopting from countries outside our country programs and need a home study, Spence-Chapin is pleased to offer kinship-specific home study services to you and your family. Find out more here.
Spence-Chapin is here to serve as your primary adoption service provider! We will support and guide you through the process of adopting a child related to or known to you. We are able to coordinate all the requirements of the child’s birth country and the United States to ensure a smooth integration of the child into your home, providing support through your adoption and beyond.
All U.S. citizens adopting internationally need to work directly with a Primary Adoption Service Provider in the U.S. to oversee the legal requirements in the United States under the Universal Accreditation Act. That is where Spence-Chapin can support your family.
Our experienced staff works closely with our in-country provider, Philippa J. Street.
Philippa J. Street was born and raised in Jamaica; after 30+ years of working in intercountry adoption within the United States, including as founder and CEO of a reputable Hague-accredited agency, Philippa has happily returned to live in Jamaica where she continues her passion of working with adoptive families, in partnership with Spence-Chapin. Philippa has an unparalleled familiarity of the laws and processes required by US regulations and the regulations of each country where we work. Philippa firmly believes that every child has the right to be parented in a permanent, loving and caring family and views international adoption as a loving option.
If you are looking to adopt a child who is related to you or known to you, please begin by contacting us at 212-360-0400 for an initial eligibility discussion. From the very beginning we will assess your case through a lens of the USCIS immigration requirements.
If after an initial screening it is determined that the child’s circumstances may meet the USCIS standards for immigration to the United States on the basis of adoption, you will be scheduled for an in-depth intake with our in-country partner, Phillipa Street, before being invited to apply.
If your application is accepted, Spence-Chapin will begin working with you to prepare all required documents and will guide you through each step in the process as outlined in the below roadmap.
Each country establishes guidelines for adoptive parent eligibility. Click below to read the requirements for each country.
Current adoptive parent eligibility as established by Jamaican and U.S. regulation include:
Current adoptive parent eligibility include:
Current adoptive parent eligibility include:
Current adoptive parent eligibility include:
Current adoptive parent eligibility include:
Current adoptive parent eligibility as established by Antiguan and U.S. regulations include:
Spence-Chapin prides itself on transparency of fee disclosures. In any intercountry adoption process, families will incur professional services fees from their primary adoption service provider as well as third-party and travel costs. Spence-Chapin’s professional services fees reflect the work and support dedicated to your family. Spence-Chapin’s professional services fees are paid in installments as your case reaches new milestones.
| Spence-Chapin Fees | Total Estimated Third-Party Fees | Estimated Travel Expenses | Total Estimated Cost of Adoption (excluding travel) Before the Adoption Tax Credit* |
Local Families** | Application Fee: $300
Professional Services Fees: $8,815 for the adoption of one child. If adopting more than one child, at the time the court hearing is scheduled in-country, an additional $815 is charged per additional child
Home Study Fee: $1,700
Home Study Update Fee, if applicable: $1,000
Post-Placement/Post-Adoption Fees: $450 per visit
| $2,275-$8,165 | $1,000-$5,000 | $13,540-$21,780 |
Non-Local Families*** | Application Fee: $300
Professional Services Fees: $9,315 for the adoption of one child. If adopting more than one child, at the time the court hearing is scheduled in-country, an additional $815 is charged per additional child
Refundable Post-Placement Commitment Deposit: $1,000, payable upon approval of I-600 in cases in which the adoption will be finalized in the U.S. This refundable deposit is returned in full upon completion of all required post-placement visits and submission of a final order of adoption | $4,725-$14,165 | $1,000-$5,000 | $14,340-$23,780 |
* The Federal Adoption Tax Credit is an income-dependent tax credit for qualified adoption expenses which can be taken as credit when you file taxes for the year of adoption finalization; in 2023 the maximum adoption tax credit is $15,950 per child. Read more here.
**Local families are families who live in New York or New Jersey, and within 100 miles of Spence-Chapin’s Manhattan office, for whom Spence-Chapin is providing home study and post-placement/post-adoption reporting services. See full fee disclosures here for Local Families.
***Non-local families are families who live more than 100 miles from Spence-Chapin’s Manhattan office, or who live outside of New York or New Jersey, who will have their home study and post-placement/post-adoption reporting services completed by an agency licensed in their jurisdiction. See full fee disclosures here for Networking Families.
| Spence-Chapin Fees | Total Estimated Third-Party Fees | Estimated Travel Expenses | Total Estimated Cost of Adoption (excluding travel) Before the Adoption Tax Credit* |
Local Families** | Application Fee: $300
Professional Services Fees: $8,815 for the adoption of one child. If adopting more than one child, at the time the court hearing is scheduled in-country, an additional $815 is charged per additional child
Home Study Fee: $1,700
Home Study Update Fee, if applicable: $1,000
Post-Placement/Post-Adoption Fees: $450 per visit
| $5,207-$6,597 | $1,000-$5,000 | $16,472-$18,862 |
Non-Local Families*** | Application Fee: $300
Professional Services Fees: $9,315 for the adoption of one child. If adopting more than one child, at the time the court hearing is scheduled in-country, an additional $815 is charged per additional child | $7,657-$11,097 | $1,000-$5,000 | $17,272-$20,712 |
* The Federal Adoption Tax Credit is an income-dependent tax credit for qualified adoption expenses which can be taken as credit when you file taxes for the year of adoption finalization; in 2023 the maximum adoption tax credit is $15,950 per child. Read more here.
**Local families are families who live in New York or New Jersey, and within 100 miles of Spence-Chapin’s Manhattan office, for whom Spence-Chapin is providing home study and post-placement/post-adoption reporting services. See full fee disclosures here for Local Families.
***Non-local families are families who live more than 100 miles from Spence-Chapin’s Manhattan office, or who live outside of New York or New Jersey, who will have their home study and post-placement/post-adoption reporting services completed by an agency licensed in their jurisdiction. See full fee disclosures here for Networking Families.
| Spence-Chapin Fees | Total Estimated Third-Party Fees | Estimated Travel Expenses | Total Estimated Cost of Adoption (excluding travel) Before the Adoption Tax Credit* |
Local Families** | Application Fee: $300
Professional Services Fees: $8,815 for the adoption of one child. If adopting more than one child, at the time the court hearing is scheduled in-country, an additional $815 is charged per additional child
Home Study Fee: $1,700
Home Study Update Fee, if applicable: $1,000
Post-Placement/Post-Adoption Fees: $450 per visit
| $3,055-$5,660 | $1,500-$5,000 | $15,220-$18,825 |
Non-Local Families*** | Application fee: $300 Professional Services Fees: $9,315 for the adoption of one child. If adopting more than one child, at the time the court hearing is scheduled in-country, an additional $815 is charged per additional child | $6,305-$11,160 | $1,500-$5,000 | $15,920-$20,775 |
* The Federal Adoption Tax Credit is an income-dependent tax credit for qualified adoption expenses which can be taken as credit when you file taxes for the year of adoption finalization; in 2023 the maximum adoption tax credit is $15,950 per child. Read more here.
**Local families are families who live in New York or New Jersey, and within 100 miles of Spence-Chapin’s Manhattan office, for whom Spence-Chapin is providing home study and post-placement/post-adoption reporting services. See full fee disclosures here for Local Families.
***Non-local families are families who live more than 100 miles from Spence-Chapin’s Manhattan office, or who live outside of New York or New Jersey, who will have their home study and post-placement/post-adoption reporting services completed by an agency licensed in their jurisdiction. See full fee disclosures here for Networking Families.
| Spence-Chapin Fees | Total Estimated Third-Party Fees | Estimated Travel Expenses | Total Estimated Cost of Adoption (excluding travel) Before the Adoption Tax Credit* |
Local Families** | Application Fee: $300
Professional Services Fees: $8,815 for the adoption of one child. If adopting more than one child, at the time the court hearing is scheduled in-country, an additional $815 is charged per additional child
Home Study Fee: $1,700
Home Study Update Fee, if applicable: $1,000
Post-Placement/Post-Adoption Fees: $450 per visit | $1,985-$6,875 | $1,000-$5,000 | $13,250-$21,390 |
Non-Local Families*** | Application fee: $300
Professional Services Fees: $9,315 for the adoption of one child. If adopting more than one child, at the time the court hearing is scheduled in-country, an additional $815 is charged per additional child
Refundable Post-Placement Commitment Deposit: $1,000, payable upon approval of I-600 in cases in which the adoption will be finalized in the U.S. This refundable deposit is returned in full upon completion of all required post-placement visits and submission of a final order of adoption | $4,435-$12,375 | $1,000-$5,000 | $14,050-$21,990 |
* The Federal Adoption Tax Credit is an income-dependent tax credit for qualified adoption expenses which can be taken as credit when you file taxes for the year of adoption finalization; in 2023 the maximum adoption tax credit is $15,950 per child. Read more here.
**Local families are families who live in New York or New Jersey, and within 100 miles of Spence-Chapin’s Manhattan office, for whom Spence-Chapin is providing home study and post-placement/post-adoption reporting services. See full fee disclosures here for Local Families.
***Non-local families are families who live more than 100 miles from Spence-Chapin’s Manhattan office, or who live outside of New York or New Jersey, who will have their home study and post-placement/post-adoption reporting services completed by an agency licensed in their jurisdiction. See full fee disclosures here for Networking Families.
| Spence-Chapin Fees | Total Estimated Third-Party Fees | Estimated Travel Expenses | Total Estimated Cost of Adoption (excluding travel) Before the Adoption Tax Credit* |
Local Families** | Application Fee: $300
Professional Services Fees: $8,815 for the adoption of one child. If adopting more than one child, at the time the court hearing is scheduled in-country, an additional $815 is charged per additional child
Home Study Fee: $1,700
Home Study Update Fee, if applicable: $1,000
Post-Placement/Post-Adoption Fees: $450 per visit | $4,070-$9,650 | $1,500-$5,000 | $15,335-$24,165 |
Non-Local Families*** | Application Fee: $300
Professional Services Fees: $9,315 for the adoption of one child. If adopting more than one child, at the time the court hearing is scheduled in-country, an additional $815 is charged per additional child
Refundable Post-Placement Commitment Deposit: $1,000, payable upon approval of I-600 in cases in which the adoption will be finalized in the U.S. This refundable deposit is returned in full upon completion of all required post-placement visits and submission of a final order of adoption | $6,920-$16,050 | $1,500-$5,000 | $16,535-$25,665 |
* The Federal Adoption Tax Credit is an income-dependent tax credit for qualified adoption expenses which can be taken as credit when you file taxes for the year of adoption finalization; in 2023 the maximum adoption tax credit is $15,950 per child. Read more here.
**Local families are families who live in New York or New Jersey, and within 100 miles of Spence-Chapin’s Manhattan office, for whom Spence-Chapin is providing home study and post-placement/post-adoption reporting services. See full fee disclosures here for Local Families.
***Non-local families are families who live more than 100 miles from Spence-Chapin’s Manhattan office, or who live outside of New York or New Jersey, who will have their home study and post-placement/post-adoption reporting services completed by an agency licensed in their jurisdiction. See full fee disclosures here for Networking Families.
| Spence-Chapin Fees | Total Estimated Third-Party Fees | Estimated Travel Expenses | Total Estimated Cost of Adoption (excluding travel) Before the Adoption Tax Credit* |
Local Families** | Application Fee: $300
Professional Services Fees: $8,815 for the adoption of one child. If adopting more than one child, at the time the court hearing is scheduled in-country, an additional $815 is charged per additional child
Home Study Fee: $1,700
Home Study Update Fee, if applicable: $1,000
Post-Placement/Post-Adoption Fees: $450 per visit
| $9,185-$16,075 | $1,500-$5,000 | $20,450-$27,340 |
Non-Local Families*** | Application fee: $300
Professional Services Fees: $9,315 for the adoption of one child. If adopting more than one child, at the time the court hearing is scheduled in-country, an additional $815 is charged per additional child | $11,635-$20,575 | $1,500-$5,000 | $21,250-$30,190 |
* The Federal Adoption Tax Credit is an income-dependent tax credit for qualified adoption expenses which can be taken as credit when you file taxes for the year of adoption finalization; in 2023 the maximum adoption tax credit is $15,950 per child. Read more here.
**Local families are families who live in New York or New Jersey, and within 100 miles of Spence-Chapin’s Manhattan office, for whom Spence-Chapin is providing home study and post-placement/post-adoption reporting services. See full fee disclosures here for Local Families.
***Non-local families are families who live more than 100 miles from Spence-Chapin’s Manhattan office, or who live outside of New York or New Jersey, who will have their home study and post-placement/post-adoption reporting services completed by an agency licensed in their jurisdiction. See full fee disclosures here for Networking Families.
Spence-Chapin is committed to reducing barriers to adoption and partners with the experts at Your Adoption Finance Coach to provide our families with free access to experts, tools, and content that can take the worry out of financing your adoption. This service is available at no additional cost to families. Additionally, the Federal Adoption Tax Credit can greatly offset the costs of adoption. The Adoption Tax Credit is up to $15,950 per adoption, taken in the tax year in which your adoption is finalized.
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