[SarahLZ]

Hi Everyone,
We're still in the research stage and things look gloomy. It seems like most programs are on hold, or backed up by years. We are hoping to adopt a relatively healthy girl under 4 and would love to be able to bring her home in 2 years. I didn't think my expectations were too high but anyways.....

I was wondering if anyone knew of any agencies in the United States that work with Canadians living in Canada?
We prefer to work with non profits but ultimately will choose the program we have the most confidence in. Thanks in advance!

[KarynB]

Hi Sarah,

It is not possible for a US agency to work with Canadians - in fact in most provinces you need to use a provincial agency or have a very good reason why you aren't. But it does need to be Canadian. Can I ask why you want a US agency if you live in Canada?

[Theatrenerd]

You have to use a Canadian Agency no matter what program you are looking at every province usually has at least one agency allowed to work with a country you are interested in

[SarahLZ]

I was wondering if it was possible because I am having a hard time finding a program here, from a country I am interested in, that is even taking new applications. I know that sometimes these back ups aren't the country itself but the in country child organizations the agency works with. I was wanting to adopt from Asia or South America. Not China though because we are under 30.

My province doesn't have any inter-country agencies so I know we can work with agencies outside of the province. I haven't gotten the full run down from the province though as I am waiting for them to get back to me.

Thanks for the replies!

[KarynB]

What Asian countries are you thinking of? Korea is still open, Vietnam is pretty much closed, India and Nepal are options...

[KarynB]

Sorry - and one more thing - most South American countries are closed at this time...

[momtolee1993]

Hi,
You cannot use an US agency...you must go through the provincial government first, then if there is an agency that works within Canada you can use them. We adopted our daughter from the Philippines and did not use an agency. The Philippines deals directly with our provincial central authority. Most countries do not allow for gender specification anymore...due to the fact that many more girls are requested. I can say that international adoption is and is going to continue to have more pressure put on and you need to be prepared for a wait. Korea is not an option unless you live in a populous province...they have a quota and only deal with certain agencies in Canada.Philippines is an option but due to increased applicants the waits may increase to the 2 plus years. Their increase is largely due to the slowdown and closure of many other country programs. If I would be a few years younger we would happily adopt from the Philippines again.
Laurie mom to DD 2yr PI , DS 15yr dom

[SarahLZ]

Thank you for all the information. I am starting to see the complexities involved in this, even in just deciding where to start. We've tentatively decided not to go through an agency since I am a control freak (I know adoption is going to test me because of this) and I am a law student who actually in a strange way enjoys working through paperwork, redtape and bureaucracies lol. So now I am looking for a country that is stable and has a good adoption track record.

Karyn B - How did you find out about South America being closed. I am having a hard time finding out the "low down" on the programs since the Central Authority websites seem to describe things as open and running smoothly. I was looking into Peru or Chile. I was thinking Brazil but our age expectations seem pretty unrealistic there.

momtolee-Phillipines seems like a great option but my husband is 26 (just turned 26) and we were hoping to be able to submit our application in somewhere this year. Its frustrating that they enforce age restrictions at the time of application when years will pass before an adoption happens.

Anyways thank you both for all the advice and info, I am definitely a babe in the woods right now.

[SarahLZ]

oh yeah and I finally got some info out of my province, we can basically pursue an independent adoption in any Hague country or work with other agencies in Canada that can take us.

[KarynB]

Hi Sarah,

Not sure where you live, but I'm surprised to hear it is possible to choose to not use an agency - it certainly isn't an option for people who live in Ontario. Unless certain countries (like the Phillipines allow it), but that is the only place I've ever heard of. If you go to Family helper.net they keep a pretty up-to-date site on which countries are open, and what the requirements are.

I work in adoptions so usually get the info through work - Chile I don't believe has ever been open, or if it has it's been a long time, and not sure about Brazil. Ecuador had a fairly stable program but I think is now either very slow or closed completely. You could look into the Caribbean - Haiti, St.Vincent and jamaica are all open, although Haiti is up and down.

Good luck - let me know if I can help further!

[momtolee1993]

Hi I also have heard that South America is basically closed..except if you are interested in large family groups, older children or significant special needs. I know of a couple who waited 3 years in Brazil and then withdrew and went to Africa. The age requirements are put in place because the countries feel this is in the best interest of the children. The adoption of a toddler who has spent the first part of their life in an orphanage is much more involved then having a new born infant...I think they just want to make sure the parents are mature and have enough life experince to be prepared....that being said it does not mean a 26 year old is not prepared or that a 35 year old is...it just is a guideline. I know of a couple who were just referred a little girl from PI, they have 2 young boys at home. They applied before she turned 27 years old and thier file was just held in PI until her birthdate...then processed. She also had to wait till their youngest turned 2 years old. I also wanted to say that adoption is all about patience...every step of the way....it is important in that the wait helps prepare you for the patience you need when your little one comes home.... One year here or there when it comes to adoption is a short time...having control over anything in adoption is not very likley...you need to just hold on for a roller coaster ride and have faith and presistence. All the best with your journey....
Laurie

[SarahLZ]

KarynB- Actually that is what it is like here, both the country and our province (NS) have to allow independent adoptions. But I only had one conversation with the administrator in charge of international adoptions, so its possible I misunderstood. I am eagerly awaiting my info pack to arrive.

Laurie- I think the faith part will be the toughest, with my biological daughter waiting for her wasn't difficult because I had faith in the end I would have a child, with international adoption it seems much more uncertain.

In good news I started to look closely at Bulgaria, the program just seems to be a fit. There are so many Roma children in that region that have no chance of being adopted in their own country because of their ethnicity, and recently Bulgaria has been making efforts to improve their process and allow these children to be adopted internationally sooner . Their new government official in charge of adoption was an orphan and everything seems to indicate a renewed commitment on the part of the government to find their children homes. I am getting these tingly fuzzy feelings, maybe this is where we will find our daughter .

Thank you for the well wishes!