[jenmart]

Hello! My husband and I are trying to decide between China or Taiwan. I was wondering if anyone knows which program is less expensive? Both programs seem to have a bit of a wait on referrals. This isnt a problem for us but financially, we would like to choose a program that is more affordable. I do like how with China the fees are very spread out. Any advice would be wonderful! Im tryign to find out how much a total adoption from Taiwan is..

[Dearonebaby]

Jen, China is about 5k less expensive I would say.. at least. I think that is why so many try to do china. China, last time I checked was around 16k, I can't remember if that was total or not... Taiwan is about 21k to 25k. The fees for Taiwan would come at you much quicker than China because you will pay your app fee with application at first... some charge $500 most charge 1k to 2k to start and get you on their list. The next would be the referral fee which is usually your first big big chunk around 7k that could happen within 3 weeks to 3 months depending on the agency and how quickly their referrals are happening...which sex child you wish to adopt and what age group. Then the last amount of 7k-8k will be a couple weeks before you travel usually which is only 3-6 months after you get your referral.. then you have your 3k-5k for travel a month from that point.. so you have dropped your 21k -25k within a shorter period of time.... When we signed on for Taiwan.. we got a referral within 1 month, then we got our final ruling within 5 months, so our total was 6-7 months from beginning to end. China from what I hear and correct me all if I am wrong.. I have heard it is a year on the waiting list and then a possible year in the pick up process. So there you have it. Taiwan does move fast and does cost a little more but it comes down to time or extra cost when comparing these countries.
Sarah k.

[jenmart]

Thanks Sara for all of the information! After all the research, we have decided to go with Ethiopia! Im so glad you have your baby home!! Congrats! We are looking forward to our journey! We are going to start in January!!

[ripples]

I can appreciate the cost and time considerations when trying to decide between China vs. Taiwan. May I also suggest considerations about the possible receptiveness of the locals from each country if/when the adoptee tries to search for his/her birth family?

I am a Taiwanese-born adoptee and was adopted by Asian Studies scholars who were from America. When I was a teenager, my American mom went to mainland China to teach and I went with her for the two years as a dependent. I must say that, in general, the mainland Chinese people seemed a lot more uneasy with me being an overseas Chinese adoptee. While I did meet a lot of friendly people who didn't have an issue about my mixed background, I also got quite a bit of envious flack or resentment from the locals. I also remember the mainland Chinese locals looking at me and my adoptive father with disdain when we walked together hand-in-hand - they probably thought I was a local prostitute hustling a white guy.

Now I'm studying in Taipei and I must say that the people here are so much more open, relaxed and welcoming to overseas Chinese/mixed background people such as me. I think this may have something to do with the fact that a large proportion of Taiwanese people have travelled/lived overseas, whereas proportionately a lot of mainland Chinese people have not. Their openness and understanding has greatly helped me get to know my birth culture roots.

I was also impressed by how helpful the Taiwanese government workers were during my search for my birth family. Whereas a lot of government workers in China I'd met were very, very unhelpful. I can only shudder at thinking how the negative vibes from mainland Chinese people would have affected me if I was an adoptee from mainland China.

About 20 years ago, apparently a lot of Taiwanese people had reunited with their birth family members, when the ban regarding contact between Taiwanese people and their mainland Chinese-based families was lifted. According to an anthropologist and my Chinese language teacher, apparently the Taiwanese people were met by their mainland Chinese relatives with open hands seeking money, not a welcoming hand-shake - very distressing. I hope this sort of response won't repeat itself if/when mainland Chinese born adoptees return to China to seek their birth family.

[wickedwickedwitch]

Ripples, thanks for sharing that. It is something to consider for our child.

[ripples]

According to an article in the Taipei Times, Taiwan is increasingly becoming a top source country for Westerners interested in adopting, particularly since China is becoming more stringent. The article is titled, "Taiwan becoming top source country for Westerners seeking to adopt" and was printed in the Taipei Times on April 9, 2007.

[intladoptionblog]

Very interesting, ripples. Your perspective is a greatly appreciated addition to the conversation. I doubt many parents are thinking that far into the future, so hearing your take broadens the scope.
Of course, given the way the world works, things could change a lot before kids adopted today reach the point you have.

[macy1]

We are looking into adopting from Taiwan. The agency we are using has 2 programs: one is a very expensive where the children are cared for in private foster care and the other is a thru an orphanage. Any experience with either of these options?? Any insights on your adoption journey in Taiwan would be greatly appreciated: how long the process took, how old your child was, how was the child cared for in Taiwan, how was your trip to pick up your child (on your own or with a group), how is the adjustment since you've been home (w/ food, daily routine, etc.). Anything else we need to be considering? THANK YOU!!