Where to begin

Unless you are considering Adopting Orphans with Special Needs?? China is currently processing Adoption Dossiers dated back to October of 2007, for Non Medical or Special Needs!! Vietnam and Cambodia are talking about opening to International Adoptions again, but there is nothing definitive yet??? Adoption Agencies say. 'They expect the 'Backlog' to take another 10 years, or 2024.' Colombia has a Moritorium and is Currently Closed to under 7 years old!! Both of Honduras and Colombia both currently have and or had 4 year waits, for Referrals just to be processed before starting the Adoption process it's self?? Could you please define 'What kind of structure'. Which or that you desire, for your Family more in depthly please?? Also could you please define??? What are your expectations of International Adoption as well also please?? Our Family have not explored African Adoption, but besides United States Foster Care. Africa seems to be where all of the Orphans are currently??

With "family structure" I just mean, we aren't sure if we want to adopt an infant (under 2) now and then another infant later. Or if we should adopt two kids under 5 now. And then down the line, when the kids are older, we may look into adopting a larger silbing group (3). We love Philippines, Taiwan, and Korea, but I don't know if anyone has real world experience in those programs. Also, I see that India is becoming more popular and has a need for a lot of girls. I am just confused that it is mostly for special needs or older kids, given the reports I hear about how many orphans are in the country. We don't want to be closed to special needs, but adopted kid(s) will be our first, and we just need experience parenting! It is nice to hear that Cambodia and Vietnam are working on reopening. I have heard good things about Guatemala for whenever it reopens. I hope that in a year when we are finally able to start the adoption process, there will be more choices. And I realize in a year some programs may be closed.

Unless you Request Twins. Most Countries will only allow one Child. Korea requires that you use a Placement Agency in your state of Residency. I would ask if Korea interests you on the Korea Boards. What the Program stability is? Rumor was it was going to close by 2015 due to lack of Children In-Country?? India is currently only Older Kids or Special Needs, for Non Indians? Our Friends recently Adopted a 'Pre Identified' 8 month old Daughter from India. Daughter was 2 years old at Home Coming. Most Placement and Home Study Agencies also offer Free Orientations. To at least 'Get Your Feet Wet In The Adoption Process'!!

Our neighbour has an Asian daughter and because they stand out, people will also assume that their daughter is adopted. People can, on accident or on purpose, say some very hurtful things about adoption and might cause some challenge to their daughter to face in the adjustment period but in the end, for the family, it's still worth it.International adoption is difficult. as there are so many paper works to consider. Here's are some articles that you might get some information[url]https://familyinequality.wordpress.com/2014/05/12/international-adoption-rise-and-fall/[/url][url=http://sisterhaiti.wordpress.com/2012/05/22/4434/]The New Faces of International Adoption? | SisterHaiti {UgandaMama}[/url]

Our neighbor has an asian daughter and because they stand out, people will also assume that their daughter is adopted. People can, on accident or on purpose, say some very hurtful things about adoption and might cause some challenge to their daughter to face in the adjustment period but in the end, for the family, it's still worth it.international adoption is difficult. as there are so many paperworks to consider. Here's are some articles that you might get some information[url]https://familyinequality.wordpress.com/2014/05/12/international-adoption-rise-and-fall/[/url][url=http://sisterhaiti.wordpress.com/2012/05/22/4434/]The New Faces of International Adoption? | SisterHaiti {UgandaMama}[/url]

You could always adopt through foster care! We have, twice!!

that it is possible to adopt two children at once???

I have one more question, my wife wanted usinavlivat boy. we are not very rich, and this I would know what costs will be with us? if you know plz help

Not quite sure what "usinavlivat" means. Adoptions through U.S. foster care can often be very, very low cost. The state often pays for the homestudy and finalization, and some kids may come with subsidies for medical care. Do be aware that, in many states, it's hard to find healthy infants and toddlers; most of the children are of school age, or have special needs, or are in sibling groups that usually contain at least one child of school age or with a special need. Make sure you find out whether a child has been exposed to alcohol or drugs in utero, or whether he/she has behaviors that suggest physical or sexual abuse, or attachment disorder resulting from multiple foster home placements.Domestic infant adoption through an adoption agency is generally quite expensive, especially if you seek a healthy Caucasian child. In some states, you will have better luck if you are open to Hispanic, Black, or biracial children. Be prepared for the fact that most of the birthmothers want open or semi-open adoptions -- which are often in the children's best interests, in any case.Domestic private adoption, where you identify a pregnant woman on your own -- for example, through contacts in doctors' offices, churches, and so on -- and use a social worker for your homestudy and an attorney for finalization (and, if you wish, for ensuring that a caller is not scamming you), can be cheaper than agency adoption. However, there is a greater risk that the woman will decide to parent her child, or that the adoption will fall through for other reasons.It's getting harder and harder to find relatively healthy infants, toddlers, and preschoolers internationally. Many of the countries that used to place lots of children are now prosperous enough that families don't have as much need to make adoption plans. Also, traditional beliefs about the importance of the "blood tie" (raising only children who are biologically related to you) are disappearing. And new laws in the countries, plus ratification of the Hague Convention on international adoption by many, have caused more countries to focus on arranging domestic placements, if at all possible.South Korea, which is not a Hague country, has traditionally been the choice of many younger couples (25-43 or so), though nowadays, the number of healthy infants and toddlers available has dropped steeply. Korea is probably the most prosperous of all the countries from which Americans adopt, and the one with the highest standard of medical care; it is also becoming much more open to domestic adoption. As a result, some U.S. agencies are not offering "healthy baby" programs any more. Moreover, agencies are finding that even the so-called healthy babies have some risk factors that were not as common in the past. As an example, more children are being born with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, because cultural taboos regarding young women consuming alcohol have relaxed. Still, Korea is a good place to look, if you meet that country's strict criteria regarding age, marital status, physical and mental health (including weight), financial stability, and so on.As someone pointed out, China's traditional healthy infant program is all but closed now, as there's at least a five year wait for a referral, in most cases; most agencies are not taking applications for the healthy child program, as the wait is expected to increase. And in the past, only children with relatively mild special needs -- a prominent birthmark, an extra finger or toe, malnutrition -- were being referred through the special needs program, because the Chinese did not believe that Westerners would want a child with anything more serious. Today, in China's Hague-compliant program, such children are being referred as healthy, and the special needs program is referring primarily children with more significant issues, such as heart problems, spina bifida, low vision, dwarfism, Down's syndrome, cleft palate, and so on. While some of the children may have had surgery that almost completely fixed their problems, others will require multiple surgeries or will have a need that is not correctable. Some healthy children at risk of "aging out" because China does not allow children to be placed once they reach age 14 may be referred. The good news is that China actually has some special needs programs where a family can choose a child from profiles that the government sends to agencies, so the family has some ability to decide what medical conditions they feel equipped to parent. If you decide to go this route, be aware that China's requirements for parents are now almost as strict as Korea's.Most other Asian countries have much more limited adoption programs, or none at all. Taiwan, though open, has a very small program that varies according to which of its social welfare organizations works with a particular American adoption agency.While Hong Kong is administratively part of China now -- it was under British rule for 100 years prior to 1997 -- it still maintains its own adoption system. Because Hong Kong is such a prosperous place, the program is quite small. Virtually all healthy infants and toddlers, as well as those with minor special needs, are usually adopted domestically. And of those children made available for international adoption, most of those with mild to moderate needs tend to be placed with families of Chinese heritage. As a result, if you are not Chinese, you should consider Hong Kong only if you are open to children with significant needs like Down's syndrome.Thailand has a small program, which is heavily oriented to children over 5 and children with special needs, and which imposes quotas on adoption agencies. Waits may be long if you find an agency.Vietnam and Cambodia are currently closed to Americans because of a history of corruption in their adoption systems. While Vietnam may reopen in the foreseeable future, and Cambodia claims that it will open sometime this year, it should be noted that the last reopening was a failure, as some of the same corrupt facilitators that worked there previously were still identifying children and preparing their paperwork -- possibly falsifying documents showing orphan status and so on. The State Department will not allow Americans to work with either country if it is not clear that true reforms have occurred there. If reopening should occur, be sure to choose an agency that has the highest standards of ethics and that was not implicated in previous problems. And expect some "unknowns" about the process, which will be new because Vietnam has now ratified the Hague Convention on international adoption.Mongolia is technically open, and has ratified the Hague, but you may not find agencies working there because of the difficulty of getting reliable paperwork for the children. At this time, I'm aware of only two U.S. agencies accredited by Mongolia to conduct adoptions. There have been problems with documentation of age, orphan status, and so on in the past, so be careful to work only with agencies that are highly experienced and have a reputation for high ethical standards.Asian countries such as Burma (Myanmar) and Laos do not permit international adoption at this time.There are very few adoptions from Japan, because of traditional beliefs regarding the "blood tie". Even if parents place a child in an orphanage, while going through a tough time in their lives, they rarely release the child for adoption because of the suspicion that anyone seeking to adopt -- and especially a non-Japanese person -- must be of bad character and planning to use the child as a slave or prostitute. Parents may let a child remain in an orphanage throughout childhood, rather than find a new home.Experience shows that the most successful prospective parents who are not of Japanese origin are those who adopt a child while working in Japan. These prospective parents can get to know orphanage officials and birthparents, and can sometimes overcome suspicions. Still, some Americans have adopted while residing in the U.S., but expect a slow, difficult process.There is a bit of uncertainty about Kazakhstan. It was shut down for a while, but is said to be reopening under Hague regulations. Be careful to choose an agency that is acceptable to both the U.S. and the Kazak government, and that is known for its high standards of ethics. Children from Kazakhstan may be Asian (mostly of Chinese heritage), Caucasian (mostly Russian), or of mixed race.India is considered an Asian country, though the people do not have "typical" Asian appearance and are considered Caucasian, even if they have skin that is dark tan or brown. India is a Hague country, and its Central Authority under the Hague is called CARA. It must approve all adoptions by foreigners and even by Indians living overseas. Without that approval, the U.S. government will not grant a visa to the adopted child.At this time, non-Indians, and some Indians, cannot adopt from India unless they are open to adopting a child with special needs. India has been trying to reduce the number of international adoptions so it can make sure that all adoptions meet CARA and Hague requirements. This is important, as India has become aware of and sensitive to the fact that many Indian children are bought or stolen by traffickers every year, and that some of these children wind up being sold to orphanages, where they are then placed with foreigners for a large "orphanage donation".Some Indian states are also preferred by ethical agencies, because local officials do not have a history of demanding bribes from orphanage directors, adoption agencies, and others. I adopted my daughter from China around the time that my agency got "burned" in one Indian state. The agency worked with two orphanages known to be highly ethical, and had recently referred children from one of the orphanages to several prospective parents. Shortly before they were to travel and take guardianship of their children (with India, you get guardianship and adopt in the U.S.), local officials swept in to the orphanage in the middle of the night, removed all the children to an unknown location, and closed the facility. While they claimed that the orphanage was corrupt, it seemed clear that the orphanage was being "punished" for not paying bribes to the officials. The agency lost a lot of money, as it refunded fees to heartbroken clients who chose not to go on with their adoption plans and paid for an Indian lawyer to help families who chose to fight the removal of the referred children in Indian courts.At this time, Sri Lanka should be considered nearly impossible to adopt from. The U.S. State Department has not rescinded its advisory, urging parents not to adopt from Nepal because of concerns about falsification of orphan status and other matters. There have also been problems with getting U.S. agencies accredited by Nepal. Tibet technically belongs to China, and any adoptable children would have to be referred by the Chinese Central Authority for Adoption.All in all, you do have options for adopting from Asian countries, but not as many as you might think.Sharon

Not quite sure what "usinavlivat" means. Adoptions through U.S. foster care can often be very, very low cost. The state often pays for the homestudy and finalization, and some kids may come with subsidies for medical care. Do be aware that, in many states, it's hard to find healthy infants and toddlers; most of the children are of school age, or have special needs, or are in sibling groups that usually contain at least one child of school age or with a special need. Make sure you find out whether a child has been exposed to alcohol or drugs in utero, or whether he/she has behaviors that suggest physical or sexual abuse, or attachment disorder resulting from multiple foster home placements. Domestic infant adoption through an adoption agency is generally quite expensive, especially if you seek a healthy Caucasian child. In some states, you will have better luck if you are open to Hispanic, Black, or biracial children. Be prepared for the fact that most of the birthmothers want open or semi-open adoptions -- which are often in the children's best interests, in any case. Domestic private adoption, where you identify a pregnant woman on your own -- for example, through contacts in doctors' offices, churches, and so on -- and use a social worker for your homestudy and an attorney for finalization (and, if you wish, for ensuring that a caller is not scamming you), can be cheaper than agency adoption. However, there is a greater risk that the woman will decide to parent her child, or that the adoption will fall through for other reasons. It's getting harder and harder to find relatively healthy infants, toddlers, and preschoolers internationally. Many of the countries that used to place lots of children are now prosperous enough that families don't have as much need to make adoption plans. Also, traditional beliefs about the importance of the "blood tie" (raising only children who are biologically related to you) are disappearing. And new laws in the countries, plus ratification of the Hague Convention on international adoption by many, have caused more countries to focus on arranging domestic placements, if at all possible. South Korea, which is not a Hague country, has traditionally been the choice of many younger couples (25-43 or so), though nowadays, the number of healthy infants and toddlers available has dropped steeply. Korea is probably the most prosperous of all the countries from which Americans adopt, and the one with the highest standard of medical care; it is also becoming much more open to domestic adoption. As a result, some U.S. agencies are not offering "healthy baby" programs any more. Moreover, agencies are finding that even the so-called healthy babies have some risk factors that were not as common in the past. As an example, more children are being born with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, because cultural taboos regarding young women consuming alcohol have relaxed. Still, Korea is a good place to look, if you meet that country's strict criteria regarding age, marital status, physical and mental health (including weight), financial stability, and so on. As someone pointed out, China's traditional healthy infant program is all but closed now, as there's at least a five year wait for a referral, in most cases; most agencies are not taking applications for the healthy child program, as the wait is expected to increase. And in the past, only children with relatively mild special needs -- a prominent birthmark, an extra finger or toe, malnutrition -- were being referred through the special needs program, because the Chinese did not believe that Westerners would want a child with anything more serious. Today, in China's Hague-compliant program, such children are being referred as healthy, and the special needs program is referring primarily children with more significant issues, such as heart problems, spina bifida, low vision, dwarfism, Down's syndrome, cleft palate, and so on. While some of the children may have had surgery that almost completely fixed their problems, others will require multiple surgeries or will have a need that is not correctable. Some healthy children at risk of "aging out" because China does not allow children to be placed once they reach age 14 may be referred. The good news is that China actually has some special needs programs where a family can choose a child from profiles that the government sends to agencies, so the family has some ability to decide what medical conditions they feel equipped to parent. If you decide to go this route, be aware that China's requirements for parents are now almost as strict as Korea's. Most other Asian countries have much more limited adoption programs, or none at all. Taiwan, though open, has a very small program that varies according to which of its social welfare organizations works with a particular American adoption agency. While Hong Kong is administratively part of China now -- it was under British rule for 100 years prior to 1997 -- it still maintains its own adoption system. Because Hong Kong is such a prosperous place, the program is quite small. Virtually all healthy infants and toddlers, as well as those with minor special needs, are usually adopted domestically. And of those children made available for international adoption, most of those with mild to moderate needs tend to be placed with families of Chinese heritage. As a result, if you are not Chinese, you should consider Hong Kong only if you are open to children with significant needs like Down's syndrome. Thailand has a small program, which is heavily oriented to children over 5 and children with special needs, and which imposes quotas on adoption agencies. Waits may be long if you find an agency. Vietnam and Cambodia are currently closed to Americans because of a history of corruption in their adoption systems. While Vietnam may reopen in the foreseeable future, and Cambodia claims that it will open sometime this year, it should be noted that the last reopening was a failure, as some of the same corrupt facilitators that worked there previously were still identifying children and preparing their paperwork -- possibly falsifying documents showing orphan status and so on. The State Department will not allow Americans to work with either country if it is not clear that true reforms have occurred there. If reopening should occur, be sure to choose an agency that has the highest standards of ethics and that was not implicated in previous problems. And expect some "unknowns" about the process, which will be new because Vietnam has now ratified the Hague Convention on international adoption. Mongolia is technically open, and has ratified the Hague, but you may not find agencies working there because of the difficulty of getting reliable paperwork for the children. At this time, I'm aware of only two U.S. agencies accredited by Mongolia to conduct adoptions. There have been problems with documentation of age, orphan status, and so on in the past, so be careful to work only with agencies that are highly experienced and have a reputation for high ethical standards. Asian countries such as Burma (Myanmar) and Laos do not permit international adoption at this time. There are very few adoptions from Japan, because of traditional beliefs regarding the "blood tie". Even if parents place a child in an orphanage, while going through a tough time in their lives, they rarely release the child for adoption because of the suspicion that anyone seeking to adopt -- and especially a non-Japanese person -- must be of bad character and planning to use the child as a slave or prostitute. Parents may let a child remain in an orphanage throughout childhood, rather than find a new home. Experience shows that the most successful prospective parents who are not of Japanese origin are those who adopt a child while working in Japan. These prospective parents can get to know orphanage officials and birthparents, and can sometimes overcome suspicions. Still, some Americans have adopted while residing in the U.S., but expect a slow, difficult process. There is a bit of uncertainty about Kazakhstan. It was shut down for a while, but is said to be reopening under Hague regulations. Be careful to choose an agency that is acceptable to both the U.S. and the Kazak government, and that is known for its high standards of ethics. Children from Kazakhstan may be Asian (mostly of Chinese heritage), Caucasian (mostly Russian), or of mixed race. India is considered an Asian country, though the people do not have "typical" Asian appearance and are considered Caucasian, even if they have skin that is dark tan or brown. India is a Hague country, and its Central Authority under the Hague is called CARA. It must approve all adoptions by foreigners and even by Indians living overseas. Without that approval, the U.S. government will not grant a visa to the adopted child. At this time, non-Indians, and some Indians, cannot adopt from India unless they are open to adopting a child with special needs. India has been trying to reduce the number of international adoptions so it can make sure that all adoptions meet CARA and Hague requirements. This is important, as India has become aware of and sensitive to the fact that many Indian children are bought or stolen by traffickers every year, and that some of these children wind up being sold to orphanages, where they are then placed with foreigners for a large "orphanage donation". Some Indian states are also preferred by ethical agencies, because local officials do not have a history of demanding bribes from orphanage directors, adoption agencies, and others. I adopted my daughter from China around the time that my agency got "burned" in one Indian state. The agency worked with two orphanages known to be highly ethical, and had recently referred children from one of the orphanages to several prospective parents. Shortly before they were to travel and take guardianship of their children (with India, you get guardianship and adopt in the U.S.), local officials swept in to the orphanage in the middle of the night, removed all the children to an unknown location, and closed the facility. While they claimed that the orphanage was corrupt, it seemed clear that the orphanage was being "punished" for not paying bribes to the officials. The agency lost a lot of money, as it refunded fees to heartbroken clients who chose not to go on with their adoption plans and paid for an Indian lawyer to help families who chose to fight the removal of the referred children in Indian courts. At this time, Sri Lanka should be considered nearly impossible to adopt from. The U.S. State Department has not rescinded its advisory, urging parents not to adopt from Nepal because of concerns about falsification of orphan status and other matters. There have also been problems with getting U.S. agencies accredited by Nepal. Tibet technically belongs to China, and any adoptable children would have to be referred by the Chinese Central Authority for Adoption. All in all, you do have options for adopting from Asian countries, but not as many as you might think. Sharon

Hi..I understand what you need..My name is Candice Billiones here in Philippines..I have a 3yr old son and I'm looking for someone who has a good and genuine heart to adopt my son..I cant give the best future he deserve due to our poverty..

I would like to continue my story if I may, I got pregnant when I was 17, actually I have 6 kids..Five of them are from my first husband..Got separated 8 yrs ago..And now I have a 3 yr old son from my live-in partner whom, like me does not have a stable job..I can say, even though I was separated from my first husband, I am a good parent, I was raised by religious parents and good values was passed on to me and so as to my kids..Now I'm looking for someone parents here who has a good and genuine heart who can give a good future for my son..

Candiceremiel:Philippine adoptions are subject to the Hague Convention on international adoption. As a result, you will not be able to place your child directly with an overseas family in any country. Your child will have to be made available through the Central Authority in the Philippines, which is the Intercountry Adoption Board (ICAB). And under the Hague rules, it will want proof that there is no domestic family willing and able to adopt your son, before it permits international adoption.My advice to you is to work through a reputable agency in the Philippines to make an adoption plan for your son. Comply with all Hague requirements, and remember that the biological father of your child will have to give his consent to the adoption.Never try to place a child via the Internet. First off, you won't be able to complete it, because of Hague and Philippine rules. Second, there are all kinds of scoundrels out there, who prey on women like you, who are down on their luck and obliged to make an adoption plan. Some of these people will try to take your child in order to enslave him or place him into prostitution. Others will be unacceptable parents -- abusive or neglectful or involved in crime. You need to work through an agency that will counsel you about your options and, if international adoption is truly in the best interests of your child, that will make a match with a carefully screened family acceptable to ICAB. There will be no cost to you to place your child through a Philippine agency.Also, do consider that, if you place your child domestically, you may be able to have an adoption in which you can keep in touch with the adoptive parents and even visit your child occasionally. With international adoption, it may be possible to communicate with your child's adoptive family, but visits are likely to be impossible because of cost. While you won't have parental rights in either situation -- placement for adoption means that you agree to terminate your parental rights forever -- it is usually healthy for a child to grow up knowing who his birthmother is and having some form of contact.Sharon

Candiceremiel: Philippine adoptions are subject to the Hague Convention on international adoption. As a result, you will not be able to place your child directly with an overseas family in any country. Your child will have to be made available through the Central Authority in the Philippines, which is the Intercountry Adoption Board (ICAB). And under the Hague rules, it will want proof that there is no domestic family willing and able to adopt your son, before it permits international adoption. My advice to you is to work through a reputable agency in the Philippines to make an adoption plan for your son. Comply with all Hague requirements, and remember that the biological father of your child will have to give his consent to the adoption. Never try to place a child via the Internet. First off, you won't be able to complete it, because of Hague and Philippine rules. Second, there are all kinds of scoundrels out there, who prey on women like you, who are down on their luck and obliged to make an adoption plan. Some of these people will try to take your child in order to enslave him or place him into prostitution. Others will be unacceptable parents -- abusive or neglectful or involved in crime. You need to work through an agency that will counsel you about your options and, if international adoption is truly in the best interests of your child, that will make a match with a carefully screened family acceptable to ICAB. There will be no cost to you to place your child through a Philippine agency. Also, do consider that, if you place your child domestically, you may be able to have an adoption in which you can keep in touch with the adoptive parents and even visit your child occasionally. With international adoption, it may be possible to communicate with your child's adoptive family, but visits are likely to be impossible because of cost. While you won't have parental rights in either situation -- placement for adoption means that you agree to terminate your parental rights forever -- it is usually healthy for a child to grow up knowing who his birthmother is and having some form of contact. In addition, with international adoption, it may be difficult for an adoptive family to raise your son to have an appreciation and respect for his birth country. It's not impossible -- I have a wonderful daughter from China and I worked hard to help her understand and appreciate her birth culture. But you may find that you would prefer to have your son raised speaking Tagalog (or whichever other language you speak), enjoying Philippine traditions, and so on. Sharon