There is no set format that adoption agencies use to complete a homestudy. They are required to meet the regulations of the state in which the agency is licensed. Each agency has its own application, policies and procedures that fit within those guidelines. The number of homestudy visits varies according to agency and state. If you are adopting internationally, the US Dept. of Immigration and Naturalization has it own set of guidelines that the agency must follow.
Most agencies require several interviews during the homestudy process.
They are generally held in the agency office and at least one must be held in your home. If you have children already they will be included in the homestudy in some way. In the case of married couples, some agencies conduct all the interviews jointly. INS requires that each partner be interviewed individually during the homestudy process. Some agencies require attendance at group meetings to meet other preadoptive parents and to become familiar with various issues in adoption.