[KKR213]

I am currently on the waiting list for Guatemala but there is a proposal currently that would ban singles from adopting. I am considering switching to China but wanted to see if anyone has any input in the waiting time in China due to the quota system. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

[maureen3770]

I am also single and got myself on several waiting lists about 9 months ago. I was told to anticipate a waiting period of 18 months - 2 years. Well....to date, I have been called by 5 or 6 agencies wanting to know if I am ready to begin the process because I was at the top of their list.

At first the quota system seems daunting, but if you do your research and are persistent, you should have no problem getting a slot within about 6 months or so (provided you meet the agency and China requirements). If you are ready to begin, you could start by getting some of your documents together and then keep plugging away at finding an agency. Something will open up for you...I have been very surprised at the number of options that I have considering the quota. It is definitely do-able if you want to!

Good luck,

Maureen

[KKR213]

Thanks, Maureen! Originally I went into the process interested in China but my agency said it would be over 2 years! But now it may make the most sense to start collecting the info and getting on the list. I am agency approved and CIS approved.

[bthomas9500]

Another option for Singles who want to adopt from China is the special needs program. Many of the needs are very very manageable. The wait is a little longer for singles over couples through the sn program. From LID to TA it takes about 10-12 weeks vs. the 6 months in the traditional program. The 10-12 weeks is for couples. I don't know what it would be for singles. I'd love to tell you about the children available with my agency. PM me if you'd like more info!

Brandy

[Hopeful Gal]

At our agency, they send dossiers every Friday. Their policy is that they take on 12 new client couples for each single dossier they send out. A single friend of ours with the same agency had her dossier ready to go on a Wednesday, but had to wait until the next Friday before they submitted her dossier to China because they didn't reach their quota the week she was ready.

[sak9645]

First off, I wouldn't be so quick to jump ship from Guatemala. The talk of banning singles has been around for a long time, but nothing has happened. Many singles are still adopting there with no problems, except the usual bureaucratic issues that married people face.

Second, how long it takes you to find a singles slot with China will depend a lot on your own perseverance. Here are some of the things you can do to make sure that you find a spot in a timely manner:

1. Basically, get a good list of agencies with China programs -- there's one on the Joint Council on International Children's Services website. Then call or email every one of the agencies. Ask whether it has a singles opening. If not, ask if it has a waiting list. If it has a waiting list, find out what the fee is, if any, to get on it. If the fee is zero or low, put your name on the list. Then research the agency to make sure it's one you can live with. Keep good records of the agencies you contact and what they say.

2. You may well get calls from the agencies whose waiting lists you are on within six months. If not, repeat the agency calling process every 1-2 months, focusing on those agencies that sounded at all promising the first time around. You may find that an agency is impressed by your persistence and sincerity, and will find a way to accommodate you.

3. It's a bit risky, but consider becoming "paper ready." Paper ready means having a completed homestudy and USCIS clearance, suitable for China. Agencies definitely prefer to accept paper ready families, since they know the people won't get rejected during the process and since they know that paper ready people will get their paperwork sent sooner. I say that this strategy is risky, because homestudies and USCIS clearances have expiration dates. If you are paper ready too long before you find a slot, you could have to spend time and money redoing things later.

4. Consider using the Waiting Child program. Despite the fact that it is for children who are older or who have special needs, many children with relatively minor problems -- a large birthmark, a couple of missing toes, a repaired heart defect -- are available. The Waiting Child program does not have a singles quota.

Sharon

[KKR213]

Thank you all for your advice and I don't want to leave the Guatemala program but I figured it would be a good idea to research the options just in case. I don't plan on making any decisions until I hear if the law is passed. Please keep your fingers crossed that it is rejected yet again. Thanks again!