[JUNIE]

I WAS CURIOUS TO KNOW IF ANYBODY KNOWS OF ANY INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS BEEN ABLE TO ADOPT INTERNATIONALLY WITH A "CRIMINAL HISTORY". MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE BEEN HAPPILY MARRIED FOR NINE YEARS. WE HAVE NO CHILDREN OF OUR OWN. I HELPED RAISE HIS DAUGHTER BY A PREVIOUS MARRAIGE. SHE IS 11. WE ARE BOTH CHRISTIANS AND ARE ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN OUR CHURCH. WE HAVE BEEN SINCE DAY ONE. MY HUSBAND HAS SOME THINGS ON HIS CRIMINAL HISTORY FROM 1993 AND BACK TO 1986. THERE ARE 3 ARRESTS. ONE WAS A BATTERY MISDAMEANOR FROM 1993. HE HAD SOME CRAZY GIRL LIVING WITH HIM AT THE TIME WHO WAS TRYING TO GET MONEY OUT OF HIM. WHEN HE TRIED TO MOVE HER OUT OF THE HOUSE SHE THREATENED TO CALL THE POLICE, AND DID JUST THAT. SHE CLAIMED HE HIT HER. THIS WAS NOT TRUE. SHE TOLD HIM IF HE WOULD GIVE HER $10,000 SHE WOULD DROP THE CHARGES. HE WOULDN'T DO IT. SHE MOVED BACK TO IDAHO AND THE CASE WENT TO COURT. SHE DID SIGN A STATEMENT THAT SHE WAS DROPPING THE CHARGES, BUT IT WASN'T AN OFFICIAL COURT DOCUMENT. JUST A PIECE A PAPER STATING SHE WAS MOVING, DROPPING THE CHARGES, AND WOULND'T BOTHER HIM ANYMORE. IT WAS SIGNED AND WITNESSED BY TWO INDIVIDUALS. SHE DIDN'T SHOW UP FOR COURT. THE COP HAD A PERSONAL THING AGAINST MY HUBBY...THEY WENT TO SCHOOL TOGETHER....SO THE JUDGE WENT ON WHAT THE COP SAID. THE OTHER THING HE HAS IS A DUI FROM 1989. WE DON'T MIND ADDRESSING THE ISSUES. I WAS JUST CURIOUS TO KNOW HOW STRICT THESE COUNTRIES ARE WITH THINGS LIKE THIS. MY HUSBAND IS TRUELY SAVED AND A MUCH OLDER AND CHANGED MAN THAN 10 AND 15 YEARS AGO.

[JUNIE]

ALSO I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT I HAVE THE LETTER THAT THE GIRL WROTE AND SIGNED.....ALSO....MY HUSBAND IS NOT A VIOLENT MAN AND NEVER HAS BEEN. SHE JUST USED THIS AS EXTORTION. HE HAS NEVER RAISED A HAND TO ME. I COULD GET 100 PEOPLE TO WRITE A LETTER RIGHT NOW WHO HAVE KNOWN HIM HIS WHOLE LIFE THAT WOULD TELL YOU VIOLENCE ISN'T IN HIS NATURE.
AS FAR AS THE DUI IT WAS ACTUALLY A PUI...PEDESTRIAN UNDER THE INFLUENCE. I HAD TO LOOK AT THE POLICE REPORT. THAT WAS MANY MANY MANY YEARS AGO WHEN HE WAS YOUNG. HE DOENS'T DRINK AND HASN'T FOR OVER 11 YEARS.
WE ARE VERY HAPPY AND GOD IS BLESSING US BEYOND ANYTHING I COULD EVER IMAGINE. I PRAY HE BLESSES US WITH A CHILD. PLEASE PRAY FOR US

[amom4life]

Hi Junie,
Sorry but I don't have any advice. The good thing though is that he doesn't have any arrests or convictions for child abuse/endangerment, etc...

I'm guessing that because these offences are so old they probably won't make a huge deal of them. I think they will be more concerned with who you two are now, how you've changed your lives for the positive, what you've learned from these past experiences, etc...

Also just so you know for future, when you type using ALL CAPS it's the same as yelling.

Hope this helps a little.
Judy

[OllieT]

Junie

I don't know what state you live in, but in Kansas, you can't have issues within the last 10 years and it's definitely past the 10 yr mark for the PUI. The hitting thing is just stupid and probably won't be dealt with either. Go 4 it and get your baby. God bless.

Tanya

[Sienna3]

Junie,
During the homestudy for the international adoption, you would be required to provide an explanation and documentation of the criminal record to your homestudy social worker and it would have to be evaluated on a case by case basis.Criminal checks and fingerprinting by the FBI are required for international adoptions.

I would talk to the agency that you would consider using for the adoption first to make sure the country you are considering does not have a problem with it and then discuss it with a homestudy agency (if that is a different agency than the placing agency).

I would not assume that since the offenses are in the past that it will be no problem since many countries have more stringent requirements of parents than do US domestic agencies.

[MyGrlnme]

Junie...
I would definitely talk with your agency before signing any paper work ....
I have friends that adopted two beautiful girls from china... her husband had a charge from early 1980s.... and it held the adoption of their first child up for over a year! It also cost them dearly! But as I said.. they did finally get their children... so start talking to agencies ! and best of luck to you!

[JUNIE]

We have a wonderful agency I've been open and honest with them about everything. They are a Christian agency who understands that people change, and when GOD forgives somebody their sins are washed away. They are not judging. I told them we have nothing to hide. INS and the FBI will find out everything anyway, so we've hit it all head on. It all happened in the past, and my husband isn't proud of it, but we will address it when it all comes out again. We know for the adoption process to go forward we have to go back.
I obtained a copy of the police report and my husband gave a reply to each arrest. He told what happened, how it changed his life, and how it applies to his life today. The agency then sent a copy of the report and replies to INS. An officer took a couple of days to review everything and told us to proceed. Praise the Lord! If GOD is for us who can be against us? I know he will work things out according to his will. If it is meant to be it will be.
We've been happily married for 9 years. I've enjoyed raising my step daughter (who is 11), but i'm ready to hear the pitter patter of little feet in this home....something other than a dog or a cat or a husband up for a late night snack...ha ha!
PLEASE PRAY FOR US!!! PLEASE PRAY FOR US!!! PLEASE PRAY FOR US!!!

[Edited To Remove Agency comments]

[tobe]

Do you know that you can get a copy of your records under the FREEDOM of INFROMATION and PRIVACY Act?! You need to send your request to the FBI office, and they should provide you with the your personal file. There are exception to the info they must provide but I really think those exceptions are related to national security.This is a pieace of info I came across two days ago, hope it helps.
TB