We are pleased to announce that, effective April 13, 2009, Carolina Hope Christian Adoption Agency has become part of Nightlight Christian Adoptions, and our office will be operated as the South Carolina branch office of Nightlight. Information on this website (www.CarolinaHopeAdoption.org) about the adoption services that were formerly provided by Carolina Hope remains accurate — but these services are now rendered by our office as a part of Nightlight Christian Adoptions. Read more here.

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Application, Policies, & Procedure for International Adoption

Image child's hand in adult's

To initiate an international adoption with Carolina Hope, please download our International Adoption Application. (Right click on the link and choose “Save Target As…” or “Save Link As…” Choose a location to save the file. Once saved, the file can be opened and printed.) This form can be completed by hand or (with Adobe Reader 7.0 or later) on your computer.

Complete the application and mail it, along with your $250 application fee and two recent photos of you and your children (if any), to:

Carolina Hope Christian Adoption Agency
1527 Wade Hampton Blvd.
Greenville, SC 29609

(An application for our Domestic Adoption program is available at our separate Domestic Adoption website.)

Policies & Procedures

In addition to an application, Carolina Hope requires all clients to sign the following forms (which, along with your application, constitute our adoption services contract):

  • Refund Policy
    This form outlines Carolina Hope’s policy about refunding fees paid for an adoption that is not completed.
  • Process & Risks Involved in International Adoption
    This statement outlines some of the most common risks that can accompany an international adoption. This statement is not intended to frighten families, but to ensure that they are emotionally prepared to handle problems that may arise in the course of an international adoption.
  • Risks of a Guatemala Adoption
    This statement outlines risks associated with adoptions from Guatemala, particularly in light of Guatemala’s legal relationship to the Hague Convention on Protection of Children. This statement of risks does not replace the more general risks statement above.
  • Special Considerations in International Adoptions
    This document outlines information that should be discussed by an adoptive family with their home study social worker. Naturally, this form cannot be signed and returned until the adoptive family has had at least one meeting with their social worker.
  • Communications Guidelines
    Carolina Hope does not anticipate any communication problems, but from time to time they arise, typically as result of simple mistakes or misunderstandings. The Communications Guidelines gives the agency and our clients a clearly defined process for working through any communications problems.
  • Consent to Release of Confidential Information
    Because Carolina Hope must communicate with other parties about a client’s case in order to complete an adoption, the agency must have a signed release form.
  • Schedule of Fees and Expenses
    A Fee Schedule tailored to your adoption program will be sent to you when you choose a particular country program. Each country adoption page gives a breakdown of fees and estimated expenses, as well.
  • Statement of Marital Status
    This statement, required only for single female applicants, verifies their status and intentions. Countries that place orphans for international adoption have strict guidelines regarding single applicants, and Carolina Hope is committed to honoring the policies of these countries. (Because the countries from which Carolina Hope places children internationally do not allow single male adopters, we have no Statement of Marital Status for single male applicants.)

Your (1) completed and signed Application, (2) signed Refund Policy, (3) signed Statement of Risks, (4) signed Special Considerations, (5) signed Communications Guidelines, (6) signed Consent to Release of Confidential Information, (7) signed Fee Schedule, and (8) (if you are single) signed Statement of Marital Status constitute the terms of your agreement with Carolina Hope Christian Adoption Agency for purposes of an international adoption placement. Other documents, such as a valid home study, are also required for an adoption to be performed by Carolina Hope.

Before you send in an application, you will want to contact Carolina Hope to request our informational packet on the country program that you are considering. You can make this request using our online form or by calling or emailing (see our contact page).

Applications for home studies and for our domestic program can also be obtained using our online form or by contacting us directly.