Because many dossier documents are subject to expiration dates, families adopting from Vietnam will not begin collecting dossier documents until closer to the time of referral. Families can be placed on the referral waiting list by completing their pre-approval packet consisting of: CIS Advance Approval (I-171H) and home study. Families will start compiling their dossier closer to referral and will be contacted by their coordinator when it is time to begin the dossier process.
The collection of documents you gather for the Vietnamese Adoption Officials is called your dossier. Listed below are the documents that need to be included in your dossier which is submitted to the Vietnamese adoption officials if you adopt from Vietnam. Please do not begin gathering and/or preparing these documents until you receive our "Vietnam Dossier Guide". Our guide provides detailed instructions and sample forms to ensure that all your documents are correct and acceptable to the Vietnamese adoption officials.
Upon receiving your completed Application for Adoption & Adoption Services Agreement we will provide you a username and password which will give you access to FTIA's unique online resource for adopting parents: My FTIA - Online Adoption Tracking & Resource Center. Within My FTIA you will find our Vietnam Dossier Guide, as well as a checklist to help you organize your dossier, and a flowchart which will provide an overview of your adoption process. My FTIA will also allow you to track your adoption in real time - as we enter information in our database about your adoption, that information appears simultaneously on your Track Your Adoption page. My FTIA also provides you instant online access to a wealth of articles and resources that will be invaluable throughout your adoption and after.
*These documents must be notarized (or certified by an appropriate state court or agency), certified by the Secretary of State from the state the document originated, and authenticated by the Embassy or Consulate of Vietnam in the U.S. within three months of the documents' original issue date. Specific instructions for this procedure are given in the Vietnam Dossier Guide.
**These documents must be less than six months old when received by the International Adoption Department (IAD) of the Vietnam Ministry of Justice.
Please note: The letters of reference only need to be notarized.
When accepting the referral of a child all adopting parents are required to sign an FTIA Acknowledgement & Agreement in addition to any acceptance paperwork submitted to the foreign country. This Acknowledgement & Agreement confirms your decision to complete the adoption of the child referred to you and reiterates the post placement requirements once you bring the child home. Please click the link below to view a sample of this document. Please contact our office at adopt@ftia.org or 888-797-9900 if you have any questions about the FTIA Acknowledgement & Agreement.
FTIA Vietnam Acknowledgement & Agreement