[vivismom]

Hello!
I have some general questions about adoptions from Guatemala. My friend is very interested in adopting, but she doesn't know what country (she is open). She is also looking into Ethiopia, but she is single and isn't sure if they allow singles.

1) Are there age/marital restrictions?
2) About (roughly) how much time is the process from starting the paperwork to bringing home your child?
3) Once you are referred a child, is it possible to foster the child until you bring him/her home? (how long is that?)
4) What age children are available? Can you choose gender?

and finally... what is the issue with the Hague? I have no understanding about who signed what and what that implies. I am sorry I am so clueless! We just brought home our son from China and it didn't apply to us. My friend told me she thought Guatemala was closing(?) so I told her I would ask. I know this is a very active board so I didn't think it was closing??

Thank you in advance!! I am amazed that there are so many helpful and knowledgeable people here!

[w8ting4Thomas]

I don't know where to start and wouldn't have enough time to share everything with you. I am sure you get FLOODED with information after your post. Suffice it to say I would NOT consider Guat right now and, yes, except for those families "grandfathered" (though that has turned out to be a JOKE) it is closed.
We are all hopeful that ONE day things will change and they will start processing adoptions there again, but it is not a country for the faint of heart!
Good luck to your friend and congrats on your little one from China.

[PabloandCarlosMama]

As recently as two or three years ago when I began the process of researching countries, Guatemala was a good fit for me--I'm single, over 40, and it was a relatively short wait--anywhere from 6 to 12 months to get a child. That began to change by the time I accepted the referral of my children, and it took over a year to get them home.

Today, no one really knows what is going to happen with adoptions that are not already in process (and if you read the posts on this and other boards, even the cases in process right now are undergoing additional scrutiny and uncertainty--) the children will be placed, but it will probably take longer than it has in the past).

At this point, no one knows what the new process in Guatemala is going to look like, and the US won't recognize adoptions if Guatemala isn't compliant with the Hague requirements. It's all confusing, so there will be others who can better explain this.

The bottom line is if I were in the preliminary stages of considering international adoption, I would steer clear of Guatemala until there is more clarity. I have friends who adopted from Ethiopia last year, and they had a quicker, smoother process. I've heard that Peru is opening up, so that might be worth exploring as well.

And if your friend wants to adopt older children (18 months or older now qualifies as being "older"), he or she should also consider domestic adoptions. The wait isn't as long if they want to adopt older kiddos.

[allido]

Everyone's right about Guatemala being complicated at present and with an uncertain future. I would not plan on pursuing adoption from Guatemala for at least the next 3-5 years. At this point, I would tell your friend to look anywhere else; with Ethiopia being definitly among the most promising.

In our (still-as-yet unresolved)adoption journey, we have researched and debated just about every country possible on the globe. If there had been any agencies with Mars, Venus, or Saturn, we probably would have considered those too! Every country has its pros and cons; and every agency has its good and bad points. From someone who has learned from a painful mistake,the best advice I can give is 1) Do your research and when you think you're done, do more 2) LISTEN to the feedback (even negative) and trust other families (as much or more than your agency) 3) Remember you are not alone, ask questions, get support, and be tough!

Best of Luck to you and your freind!

[greytpaws]

Yes, no agency should be taking applications for Guatemala right now...and if you find one that is, RUN!!!! No reputable agency would be giving out hope that it may open back up in any reasonable timeframe. I've heard a couple are taking apps with disclaimers about the current situation but most reputable ones have their programs on hold (as was strongly encouraged by the DOS, JCICS and other adoption groups.) If your friend is looking to adopt in the near future, I'd say they will have to look elsewhere. :-( Very sad for the children of Guatemala....sigh....We all hope it opens up, but I wouldn't expect it ANY time soon....Good luck!