Welcome to the Board!
I did not use IAS or IAR but know several people who used them. Most families are happy with their level of communication and seem to be happy with the agency in general. As for their timeframes...I would certainly call to verify that information. In order for you to have a child home 6 months from now...you would have to be completely paper-ready and have your INS approval. Then if the agency had an immediate girl referral you very well could have her home within 6 months.
When HAPS quotes 14 months it is because they have such a huge waiting list for little girls. Their children are typically home at a younger age than most agencies (4-5 months on average with some home as young as 3.5 months)...but the catch is that you may wait 6-8 months just to get your referral once your paperwork is done.
So you have to decide which is more important to you personally...waiting for a referral, so that you can bring home a young child (HAPS). Or getting a quick referral and bringing home a child closer to 5-6 months of age.
It's a hard decision....I know...I started out using HAPS, but found I just could not handle the long wait for a referral. I switched agencies and was lucky enough to get an immediate referral. Best part is that my daughter was home at 4.5 months of age! I used Rudy Rivera and Children of the World in St. Louis...they were great.
www.childrenoftheworldnet.com
Good Luck!
Becky
mom to:
Jayme 15
Kellye 13
Christian 12
Ben 5
Isabella 8 months old today (home from Guatemala on 7/20)