[samanthaske]

this will be our first child/adoption. i think i've narrowed it down to one particular agency For This Child, inc.
i am slightly concerned about using a out of state agency.
i am hoping that some of you veterans might be able to let me know about your experience with either this agency or using an out of state agency.

for those of you who have adopted more than once or even once, i commend you. i have no idea how i'm going to get all this papperwork together(trying to get a head start)

i appreciate all the help i can gethttp://forums.adoption.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

[Waiting4Celeste]

Oh how exciting for you!!!

We have adopted twice. We live in Missouri and both of our agencies were on the East Coast - Maryland and New Jersey. We never had any problems - we just Fed-Ex'ed everything to them and communicated by phone and email.
The only bad thing is that we haven't been able to take the kids in to see the people who helped us find them!

I personally don't think it is a big deal where your agency is since the people doing the "leg-work" for your adoption are in Guatemala anyway!!

Good luck making your decision. We used a GREAT agency - PM me if you want the name.

Cindy

[dspakowsky]

We used the same agency for both our adoptions, and they're out-of-state. We've never had any problems because of it. As long as the agency is great with communication, it will work out fine.

We use e-mail a lot, faxed a few things, even scanned a few. It's never been an issue.

[sweettlc]

I am not a veteran...but I am using that agency so if you have questions, you may pm me.

Also, while researching, you will soon discover that it is not uncommon at all for people to use out of state agencies. I do not know very many people online or offline who are adopting from Guatemala and who are using an agency that is in their state.

I think about it this way...even if my agency was located in my town, if I wanted to talk to them or ask them a question, I would probably call them or even email them...and that's the same type of communication that I have with my out of state agency.

Enjoy your research! Choosing an agency is difficult.

God bless.

[MicheleB]

Just a friendly reminder to keep specific agency discussion off of the forums and to use PM (Private Messages) to discuss agencies.

Please refer to the Agency Discussion Guidline at the top of the forum pages for more specifics in regards to posting.

Feel free to PM the original poster with any agency specific information.

Thanks!!

[monalouise]

We are in the process of our second adoption. We live in Ohio. For our first adoption, the international agency we used was in Florida. This time our agency is in MN. So far, it has not been a problem in either case. I would not hesitate to use an out of state agency.

Good luck, this it is tough weeding through the all of the information and choosing an agency.

[hbrown24]

We live in Arizona and our agency was in Florida. Never once did we have a problem. I think it's perfectly fine just as long as you thoroughly research the agency you are gonig with.

[annaguat]

We adopted 6 times and never used an agency in the same state we live in. I would not base my decission on that. Anna

[Tamiswaiting]

I am also using an out of state agency and it is not a problem at all.

As far as the paperchase, I had to look at everything as doing a step at a time. If I stepped back and looked at the whole of everything I had to do, I was overwhelmed. Just doing one step at a time made it much easier to deal with. I'm almost done with my dossier and am just waiting to get everything back in the mail (State Police clearance, passport, etc). Now I have to start working on the papers I need for my home study .

Sorry.....I went a little OT .

[chrisa]

we are in Germany (military) and of course used a agency in the states (florida) and we never had any problems.
the most important decision is your agency....so it doesn't matter if they are not near you, as long as you are happy and comfortable with your choice.

good luck,
chris