[carolinetampa]

Hi, I'm new to this message board and I'm interested in adoptiong independently. Has anyone done this and what is the cost? I've also heard you can pre-select and there's only one short trip. What about adopting more than one at a time? Thanks and God Bless.

[karmicmama]

I believe that you can not adopt from Belarus independently. There are about 8 agencies that are registered to do adoptions through Belarus and you must chose one of them.

[am i too old]

dear carolintempa i have read several goverments regulations nothing says you have to use a agency i would like to adopt from there also but it seem no one is has done it independently are we havent meet them yet i will let you know if i find any thing i am going to call bularus consul for information sue

[Domoi families]

I am usually of the mindset that I can do most things cheaper and better on my own. Not so with adoption from Belarus. Our driver and translator were very important and knew who to go to and what to do with the numerous forms and signatures needed. When you make it through the week and arrive in Warsaw with your "packet" of forms, you don't want a "t" not crossed or an "i" not dotted -- you will not make it back home with your child. We were there for 8 days, and we spent almost all of it driving around getting paperwork done - between Belarus, Poland and the US - there is an enormous amount of detail. Our whole adopted was $11,300 out of pocket, after the $10k tax credit - including homestudy, IRS, orphanage fees, travel expenses, etc. - kept it all on record with Quicken. We couldn't have beat that in any way. I can't imagine how we would have everything on our own. The orphanage and court systems are all set up to deal with the facilitators they know and trust in-country.

[Shadowfax]

$11,300, that is amazing (!?!). Above poster I take it you DID NOT use an indy? It is going to cost us almost $30,000.

[hgschrock]

shayna-
could you please tell me who you used for that adoption? i would love more information on that agency. feel free to email privately hgschrock@hotmail.com.
thanks.
holly