[cmasc]

I too would like info on Nic. Please PM with any agency info or current process times.

Thanks
Chrissy

[saralina]

Hello! I am currently looking into adopting from Nicaragua. I have been there twice this year and met with a lawyer who is going to follow up on the adoption. I am not sure if we really need to contract with an adoption agency here in the US - which would make the process more expensive. I visit Nicaragua regularly, and as far as the lawyer mentioned, the second trip would require a long stay, about 2 or 3 months, after the National Adoption Council (Consejo Nacional de Adopcion) approves the adoption. This means that the very short stay that the agency seems to suggest is too good to be true. By the quote you mention, is the agency you considered ASI? I contacted them and they mentioned a similar quote. Please keep in mind that Nicaragua reformed the adoption law in 2009. While the country process is free, you should not expect to pay for country fees - just in case the agency brings this up.
For the second visit, which is when you need to stay for many weeks, only one parent is required.
Oh, another important fact: Nicaragua is not a Hague convention country. The one fact you need to be most aware of is that the Ministry of Family needs to declare a child as orphan, otherwise everything would fail. The process in Nicaragua is considerably transparent, with no money 'under the table' to expedite things. This is actually one characteristic for which we are considering Nicaragua.
If you are approved by the USCIS as eligible to adopt, the Nicaraguan government overlooks the residency requirement.

[b]
The question I have now is whether I truly need an agency to do an adoption from Nicaragua or if the only things would be the homestudy that a social worker needs to do, besides of course the pre-adoption immigration form. Has anyone adopted from Nicaragua without the assistance of an agency? Did anyone only use a laywer down in Nic and one in the US?

[saralina]

I would really appreciate it if you let me also know about this agency (I think it is ASI), because we are actually considering using it, if it is legit. and responsible. Thanks!

[mommas3sons]

I have not looked into ASI at all for Nicaragua. Sorry I can't help!