[ssizemore]

If age, sex and health are the only issues, which country is best to adopt from? We are looking for a healthy baby girl -- Asian, Caucasion, Latina -- doesn't matter. Any ideas?

[dr. mom]

I am not exactly sure what you mean by easiest but here goes--- Korea may be what you are looking for. The children are well cared for and have access to excellent medical services. There is no dossier required. The process is pretty much set in stone/ You can even have your child escorted to the Us if you choose not to travel!

[ssizemore]

Thanks! I'd not thought of Korea. I guess I'll start looking into the laws. I've also been told that Columbia would be a good place to adopt an infant. What do you think?

[dr. mom]

My thought i sthat the children get better care in Korea and i tis a much more stable country. Travel to Columbia is not always considered safe. Korea requirements:
Couples 25 - 44 1/2 (please see
No more than 15 years age difference between husband and wife

Length of Marriage Minimum 3 years
Divorce 1 divorce each accepted
Children in Family Up to 4
Single applicants not accepted.
Travel in Country Optional (escorts available); 3 business days -- one or both parents may travel

[ssizemore]

Korea and Columbia seem to be viable options right now because my husband has contacts in both countries. Do you know whether this would make the process any smoother or quicker?

[dr. mom]

I don't think it wil make it any quicke rto have connections. You still have to go through BCIS, etc.

[mattmiamom]

I agree. Korea may be your best bet. I may be a little byist since both my children are adopted from Korea. Columbia is really an unsafte play to travel right now. Both of our children arrived at JFK in NYC healthy and happy 4 month olds less than 7 months after we started the adoption process.

Susan

[odi]

Hi, We were looking at Colombia, had signed with an agency and were well on our way when they told us we can not request a girl. We knew we wanted a girl and we were evan willing to wait a little longer. But it seems to be highly offensive to make requests. We did like the younger age the adoption tends to happen in Colombia but it takes 12 months for most refferals. So we are back to looking at other countries in our hopes of finding our daughter. Good luck to you.

[lynnor]

A few words about Korea (waiting for our referral)...

If you have no children, or have children of both genders, you won't be able to pick the gender and will therefore most likely get a boy. (Unless you choose a Waiting Child --- usually health issues)

The wait for us (at least through Holt) is looking like it will be about 8-9 mo to get a referral for a healthy boy, 8-11 mo for a girl and then another 2-5 months for placement. Korea has become *very* popular, so things are 'slowing down' a lot just because there are so many more applications to handle. Also, Korea does have a quota (the number of children available for int'l adoption decreases every year...are hoping to eliminate the program by about 2015 or some such time).

Girl -- try China or verify you can choose gender with whatever country you choose. Another option...my cousin recently made me jealous A couple of month after we announced we were adopting, they said they were, too. Originally looking at Guat, then went domestic. Within 2 weeks they had a 2 month old AA girl (they wanted a girl as they have 3 boys already).