[mcburg]

All,
We are considering adopting our next child from either El Salvador or Mexico and I would like some information. Here is a few beginning questions that I have:
1) approximate cost
2) agency info/recommendation
3) time frames (approx)
4) paperwork requirements(BC, marriage, etc...)
5) travel requirements

Thank you for the info.
PS. we are not planning to start an adoption anytime soon, we are still enjoying our daughter from Guatemala, just want to start gathering info.

[bajj]

Please remember to PM all agency discussion to mcburg. Thanks!

[mcburg]

Sorry, I should have said that, please PM any information that you have.
Thank you

[mommytoEli]

What I've "heard" is that adoptions from Mexico are cumbersome and costly. I just learned of a family where the mom basically lived in Mexico for a year while it took place, and it cost them over 30k for fees (not living expenses). The last agency I contacted about a Mexico program (pm me...i'll share the name) made me call them to get info, they wouldn't put it in writing (weird), and they basically said that it was a private adoption where the mom relinquished the child, and then it took 4-6 months for the child to come home....and the program was about 30k. El Salvador, I would also love more info on. It seems to be a less costly alternative. I've talked to several agencies (again, I'll share names), but none of them had completed an adoption there, and I've yet to "run into" anyone who has.

[mcburg]

Well I was my agencies pioneer with Guatemala Adoptions so I guess I might have to be one for El Salvador or Mexico. Makes the journey harder when working with an agency that does not have all the answers but it will be worth it when the baby comes home.

[mommytoEli]

Originally Posted by mcburg

Well I was my agencies pioneer with Guatemala Adoptions so I guess I might have to be one for El Salvador or Mexico. Makes the journey harder when working with an agency that does not have all the answers but it will be worth it when the baby comes home.

i agree i may get gutsy soon, too.

[anilorak13ska]

It seems that every time I look into a Salvadoran adoption, the programs are unavailable, just closed, or not yet reopened. What is going on with El Salvador? DH is from El Salvador, and we really wanted to adopt from his country, but it doesn't look like it's going to happen. I hear Guatemala seems to be the most likely Central American alternative - would you all agree?

[Amber76]

"It seems that every time I look into a Salvadoran adoption, the programs are unavailable, just closed, or not yet reopened. What is going on with El Salvador? DH is from El Salvador, and we really wanted to adopt from his country, but it doesn't look like it's going to happen. I hear Guatemala seems to be the most likely Central American alternative - would you all agree?"



Guatemala is not an option right now and nobody knows when or if it will reopen for sure. They passed a new law effective Jan. 1, 2008, but the system for processing adoptions under this new law is yet to be set up. Everyone you see adopting from there right now was in-process before Dec. 31. I know this for sure because we were in process and our baby died in January and they won't even let us start another process even though we were originally in before the cut-off date. I hope they reopen soon, but nobody really knows. Best of luck in whatever you decide.