[specialk4b]

Hi there! We're just getting started on this adoption journey. We're still trying to select a country and then an agency. This group seems so helpful and supportive I am hoping you can help us find direction. Here is our situation

Would like an infant if possible
We're a little older - 41 and 45
Married for one year in March (second marriage for both of us)
Not sure we're ready to deal with more than mild special needs
Money is somewhat a concern.

Thanks for your input.

[Max'smom]

I recommend attending several local adoption agencies' information sessions and asking them these questions. Agency guidelines regarding age and length of marriage as well as their fee schedule vary a great deal. My understanding is that among the main countries from which you can adopt infants, you might look into Ethiopia. The fees for Ethiopia are reasonable, considerably lower than other countries from which infants can be adopted, such as Guatemala and some post-Soviet countries. My understanding is that your ages and length of marriage make it unlikely that Korea will work for you, as I believe that for the adoption of healthy babies, S. Korea requires a 3 year length of marriage and for both spouses to be younger than 45.

Good luck!

[Lissa]

I would recommend you start "lurking" about the other sites like Guatemala, China and Russia (though there are many others, these are the "big three" for international adoption) and start reading what others have to say. I myself am very pro the China Program but that's because thats where I went to find my daughter Lydia. Also I have a blog (the address is in my sig.) as do many other people concerning their adoptions. These blogs may give you a better idea where you want to go.

From what info you've given you qualif for a child from China. The children are very healthy there and the program averages around $18,000-$25,000.

Good luck and if you have any questions about China come to the China forum or you can PM me!

Congratulations on getting started on your journey towards your child. My daughter is the light of my life!!

[bluedaisy]

I second the Ethiopia program! They have many healthy, beautiful babies who need homes!

[stephdpenn]

We are adopting form China and so far the whole process has been painless, well as painless as can be expected when adopting.

I second what Lissa said, start to lurk on the individual forums and please post with any questions. It took us almost a year to decide on a country so I know how overwhelming it can all seem.

Stephanie

[jami26]

Hi We too were looking for international agency to adopt from but our problem was also money and we are too young for CHina (i am 26 and not ok with waiting 4 more years) So we went to a domestic adoption meeting and found out that it is a lot cheaper than we thought. It is goint to cost us 2000 up front and then 10% of our anuall income and we will get an infant. There are more things to concider though such as open adoption but all these things are optional. We are also open to race which i understand will help this go a lot Quicker! Just putting my two cents in!
Good luck Jami

[Lissa]

For those of you who are interested in China and are too young--Vietnam has opened up again and I BELIEVE their bottom age is 25.

[specialk4b]

Thanks everyone for your input. China seems to be speaking to us at this point, but also Russia. (My husband is of Eastern European descent).

There just happens to be a seminar in our area this weekend so we signed up for that. Hopefully that will give us some insight.

Karen

[sak9645]

Ethiopia is an excellent choice. It is flexible on parental age/length of marriage/number of divorces, has children of all ages from infant to teens available for adoption, seems to screen children for the most serious health issues, and is among the lower-fee countries.

Guatemala refers very young children, is flexible on parental age/marital status/number of divorces, and seems to have reasonable health care for the children. However, it has fairly high fees.

China welcomes people of your age, has no problem with divorce or a short length of marriage, and is among the lower cost countries. Although there is little medical information, and the Chinese health system is very different from the U.S. system, most of the children are fairly healthy. However, regardless of what you put on your application, you could wind up with a child anywhere from 6-24 months of age. (China considers any child under age two an infant, and refers from the same pool.)

Russia is open to your age range, and length of marriage/number of divorces. However, it is just about the most expensive country from which to adopt. Also, it is becoming increasingly difficult to get a referral of an infant with no known medical issues, since every effort is made to place the child domestically.

Kazakhstan is open to people of your age, length of marriage, and number of divorces. It may or may not be possible to adopt a healthy child under 1 year of age; check with agencies. The medical care is said to be decent, however. Kazakhstan is on the pricey side because you must either make two trips or stay in-country for six weeks or so.

You are not eligible for Korea, because of your husband's age and your length of marriage. Depending on the program, both spouses must be under 43 or 45. A three year marriage is required.

You are not eligible for Colombia, which wants very young parents for infants. The time frame is also very long.

You are probably eligible to adopt from Thailand, but waits tend to be long and infants are unlikely
to be available. There are relatively few Thailand adoption programs, so it's hard to assess timing and fees.

You are in an acceptable age range for India, but you probably need to be married two years. You probably would not get an infant. India programs have faced some challenges, and there are relatively few operating, so timing and costs are unclear.

You are probably eligible for Vietnam, which is just reopening after being closed to Americans for several years. It is not yet clear how young the infants will come home, how healthy they will be, how long the time frame will be, and how much the fees will be. However, it used to be an excellent program for people wanting infants, and was quite flexible on parental age, length of marriage, divorce, etc.

Sharon

[specialk4b]

Sharon,


What a wonderful, concise explanation. We're pretty sure we're going to go with China. It seems to be a good fit for us as you point out. Thanks to everyone for your insight.

Karen