[sjordan]

Our beautiful son, Sam, came home to us just over a year ago. He is the absolute love of our lives and he is the center of our family.

Now we are starting to think about expanding our little family of 3 to a bit of a bigger family of 4 by adopting a daughter. We were thinking about starting the adoption late next year... but, with all of the proposed adoption policy changes, I am thinking that maybe we should speed up our time line.

I just wondered if anyone had insight into the future of Guatemalan adoptions or could lend any advice. I've been reading a bunch of stuff... but it all varies.

Does it make sense to wait or get started now... or not do it at all (which breaks my heart)?

Thanks for your opinion.

[ncurry3]

My agency told us to get our paperwork submitted by the end of the year and we'd be okay. Otherwise we better start looking at another country. We should have our dossier submitted either end of this week of first of next. Sorry, that's all the info I have.

[iccsd]

We originally planned to start the process in the spring of 2007, but given the uncertainty of adoptions in Guatemala in the future, we decided to start sooner. As you can see on our timeline, we received a referral in October and are moving along in the process.

I think most agencies would tell you to start as soon as possible.

Sara

[JenniferKaz]

We had originally planned to start the adoption process for a 2nd child in 2007. Due to travel requirements we knew we wanted to go to Guatemala for our 2nd son.

With the Hague concerns we put our adoption plans into overdrive and actually started researching agencies while we were still overseas for our 1st adoption.

We are hoping to time the 2nd adoption so it will be close to finishing around tax return time so we can use the adoption credit for the 1st child to pay for 1/3 of the adoption for the 2nd child so we don't need to take out too big of a home equity loan.

Accelerating the adoption plans put a strain on us financially, but we wanted to get the ball rolling before we got caught in a shut down.

[Tamiswaiting]

I'm no expert, but if your heart is set on Guatemala, I'd start right NOW. If you want/need to wait until late next year, you should probably research other countries. Good luck in your decision .

[CarmJoeMom]

I'd start now if I were you and if you are able to. But just an FYI -- my agency thinks that if Guatemala closes at all, that it won't close for long, but they really don't think it will close down. I wouldn't risk it though.