International adoption is not cheap. On average, the process costs $20,000 to $30,000 per child, depending on the agency, country, number of people traveling and duration of the stay.

Despite the intimidating figure, Pete and his wife, Sunnie, started investigating other ways of financing the pricy process.

Although the Franks were fortunate enough to have relatives and friends help cover the cost, others are not as lucky.

To overcome the financial obstacle, parents often apply for grants or loans. Many nonprofit agencies offer financial assistance to encourage interest. Most banks give home equity loans or an equity line of credit with the interest qualifying for a tax deduction.

The federal government allows a one-time adoption tax credit of up to $10,960 per child. In addition, 14 states advertise some type of tax credit or deduction for adoption.

Military personnel can qualify for a one-time subsidy program.

""What people don’t realize is that all the money is not due up front,"" Sunnie Frank said.

Gathering the documents

Each agency’s fee structure differs, but the nine- to 18-month adoption process for Vietnamese children remains relatively stable.

First, parents submit the I600A to United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), formerly known as INS. The Application for Advanced Processing of an Orphan Petition provides pre-approval for getting a visa to bring the child home. This procedure takes several weeks, so adoption-agency officials suggest parents make it one of the first forms they file.

Second, every family completes a home study by a caseworker licensed in the family’s state of residence.

""It’s definitely a new experience bearing your complete history to a complete stranger,"" said Dorothea Kalatschan, a mother from Southern California who underwent a home study with her husband, Robert, in order to adopt their daughter, Kristina, from Vietnam in the summer of 2001.

Such studies are detailed written reports of a family compiled and prepared by a social worker. The requirements vary by state, but generally adoption caseworkers have parents submit several documents and interview them to evaluate if they are qualified to adopt according to the guidelines of that state. Requirements usually include criminal background checks, financial reviews, medical histories, evaluations of the neighborhood and schools, a list of three or four references and at least one home visit.

During the three- to six-month process, social workers generate a complete picture of the parents and family environment. In addition to helping families decide if the timing and motivations for adopting are good, the home study helps the Vietnamese government select a child that would best fit the family.

Third, every parent starts gathering a set of legal documents for the dossier.

""It takes several weeks to request documents, so make copies of everything, request duplicates and most of all, stay organized,"" Dorothea Kalats-chan suggested.

The Kalatschans reserved a table in their house to store all the forms they were collecting for the dossier.

Once completed, they sent it to the Department of International Adoptions (DIA). After DIA officials accepted the package, they notified provincial authorities, who eventually found a child for the Kalatschans.

Waiting

Many adults say the frustration of securing the funds, completing a home study and dealing with the U.S. government to obtain legal documents is nothing compared to the agony of the next step: waiting.

""It just about kills you waiting,"" said Indiana’s Paula Davis, who was inspired to adopt from Vietnam when her brother, Pete Frank, brought home Mikenzie and Mikayla in 2006.

While waiting for her referral that would include a picture and brief medical report of her child-to-be, Davis tried to fill up her schedule with lunch dates and appointments.

""It can be discouraging just sitting there,"" she said

However, when the day finally arrived after four long months, Davis could hardly contain her excitement.

""The screaming I do during a Super Bowl game is nothing compared to the day I received that call,"" Davis remembered.

That’s when she learned she would be welcoming not one, but two girls. They were born three days apart and reside in an orphanage 60 miles outside of Hà N?i. Davis already has three children, ages 22, 24, 26 — established and on their own — and expects to add two toddlers to her brood by the end of January, around the time when her new kids will turn 1.

She couldn’t wait for the picture to come in the mail, so she had her adoption agency fax her a copy of her two awaiting daughters.

She fell in love with them instantly and had their images enlarged to post around the house.

Each day became a challenge as she looked at her daughters’ pictures and realized they were so far away.

She also realized they were real and they needed a family, yet there was nothing to do but wait again. Now she was waiting for the travel date.

Davis and her husband, Mark, are tentatively scheduled to travel next month.

Meanwhile, the couple occupy themselves preparing their home. They’ve decorated a pink nursery with two white baby beds, bookshelves and two cozy chairs to rock their daughters to sleep in. They’ve filled the drawers with matching outfits and purchased a double stroller, car seats and a brand-new minivan.

They join a long line of families counting down the hours to bring their child home from Vietnam.""The key words to remember during the whole process is flexibility and patience,"" Pete Frank said. ""Just roll with the punches.""

FEE COST
Agency application fee: $200
Agency administrative fees: $2,500
Home study fee: $1,000
Dossier administrative fee: $2,500
Dossier processing fee: $2,500
Foreign program fee: $12,000
Post-placement fee: $500
USCIS fees: $750+
Travel costs: $6,000 — $15,000, depending on the number of adults traveling, how long each plans to stay in Vietnam, etc.
Notarization: $300
Orphanage transportation fee: $100
Child passport fee: $50+

Dossier checklist:
-Parent passports
-Parent medical reports
-Parent criminal reports
-Home study
-Employment letter
-Financial statements
-CIS I-171 Approval Form
-Letter to Department of International Adoptions
-Marriage certificate