[ahill]

I am a first time user of your site and would like all of the information you can give. My husband and I are recently married, although we have been together for 4 years and living together for 2. It is a first marrige for both of us. We are interested in a Guatemalan infant. I am biracial and me husband is hispanic. We bought our first home over a year ago and have lots of support from family and friends. We are both of age, I am 26 he is 29. I am concerned over the fact we have only been married for a short time. Do the agencies ever make exceptions to marrige length if you can prove you have been together for several years before the marrige? We are a great couple with a lot of love to give. I would like to hear of any agencies that would be open to our situation. Thanks!

[lisah]

We have an internationally adopted child and to be honest, if an agency waives that requirement, I would worry about them. Well-known agencies to not vear away from their guidelines and sometimes it's not there guidelines, it's the country's.

I would call agency's you're interested in and find out when you can start getting documents together. Sometimes they'll have you do that about 6 months before you hit the required anniversary date.

Lisa

[Dublin]

I think many agencies like a couple to have been married for 3 years before they adopt. Are you in the Kansas City area?

[shastafire]

I would also tell you, check it out with several agencies.

They may actually waive that requirement - they have been known to waive them before. Especially, since you have been together for years, if you could provide some form of proof....

But, you'll never know if they'll be accepting until you start contacting them!

Be well...Best Wishes...

Ang

[CappachinoBlast]

I would copy and post this on Guatemalan Adoption board.

Another consideration to factor is Immigrations requirements not just the Agency's.

[pgecco]

Let's hope not! I know you are anxious and excited right now about adoption. I won't get not the lengthy philosophical debate on why there are waiting periods I'll just say they need to stay! Plenty of couples get divorced even when they were todether long before marriage (infact....statistics show marriage after 3+ years fail more often than shorter relationships that result in marriage) But be encouraged! Spend the next several months getting your house (nursery) planned out, interviewing pediatricians, talking to adoption support goups BEFORE you adopt, and chat often in forums like this to educated yourself about the stuff you don't read in brouchures. The time it takes you to complete your preperation will more than eat up the waiting period of year that is common to many agencies..and as always I have to say..CONSIDER STATE ADOPTION!

[ahill]

Thanks for the reply! We have actually decided to go with a domestic infant or foster child adoption. It is a long process no matter which route you decide to choose. We are looking foreward to the future.