[KarynB]

Originally Posted by Sohmakun

I hate to admit it but foreigner are not allowed to adopt from the USA. Long and short, the US has implemented the Hague Treaty and Hague forbids the private placement of children abroad (this is also why Guatemala is now closed because babies were placed privately - therefore breaking the Hague rules.). Unfortunately, this is how many Americans adopt newborn babies so getting a infant is close to impossible. Infants must be on a "data bank" for two months before they are allowed to go abroad and to be quite frank rarely will a healthy infant of any race wait that long for a family. Infants who are still available after 2 months often have Fetal Alcohol Syndrome or severe special needs. However, foreigners are allowed to adopt from our foster care system but most of the children are ages 8 and up - unless they have younger siblings. There is a very long wait time (5-8 years) for infants UNLESS you foster before you adopt and never will they allow foreigners to foster because they want the children close to their biological parents while she/he still have custody.

I would suggest you look into agencies located in Ireland that work in developing/third world countries.

Just to correct in case anyone reads this for future reference - the Hague does not forbid placements of children abroad. The Hague just says you have to look domestically first. And unfortunately, in certain areas children of a certain race will wait longer than two months for homes and so will most likely become available for foreign adoptions.

Most countries that conduct international adoptions are Hague countries. Adoptions from Guatamala have halted as both countries attempt to ratify the Hague - neither were Hague countries before and so the process is in the air as both put the regulations into place. East for a devloped country as they have the infrastructure, more problems for Guat as it doen't have the same structures. The Hague is a good thing for the protection of children - it assures their rights and lessens the chances of child-trafficking.

Right now adoptions from the US to other countries have halted until the Hague process has been clearly in place, but will most likely start up again.