[rosiedaffodil]

Hello.
I am trying to decide where to adopt from. All paperwork is ready except I have to let INS know where to send my approval. I have found an agency for 12,500 in Kazakhstan, but am uncertain about traveling by myself. Of course there is the added fee of staying in a country for 3-4wks. Then there is Guatemala which is an easier trip or escorts can be arranged, but its about $20,000. So, is there anyone who would be interested in traveling with me to Kaz in late June? I'm a teacher. Summers off. Or should I spend extra money and choose Guatemala?

[sak9645]

and I traveled without a companion, though in a group of other families, to adopt my daughter from China. I had a wonderful trip. I was away for about 15 days.

Traveling alone is wonderful. You can spend all the time you want bonding with your child. You won't have to be entertaining someone else, and your child won't be worrying about which person is her Mom.

Of course, a lot depends on the support your agency gives. My agency used China Women's Travel, an arm of the Chinese government, for guide/translator services. Our guides were fantastic. We also knew that the agency head would be on 24 hour call when we traveled and, indeed, our group had to call him at one point; it was 2 a.m. in Maryland when we reached him. He was able to solve the problem.

Sharon

[Joanmir]

I am a single mom who travelled to Kazakhstan last year to adopt....and it was wonderful....I went thru Yunona and they meet you right at the airport, take care of all your travel arrangements and pretty much escorted me the whole way....I also met many other Americans at the hotels in Moscow, Almaty and Pavlodar (you no longer have to go to Moscow)....we have all kept in touch over the past year.

In fact it was such a great experience, that I'm returning to KZ within the month to adopt daughter #2 Anastasia (5 years) from Almaty.

The KZ government requires 2 weeks for you to "bond" with the child, and it really works out great- my daughter left the orphanage and never looked back- its been a truly rewarding experience and I would wholeheartily recommend Kazakhstan.

Good luck!

[grogers]

I am a teacher too, and thought about the travel in the summer. This is difficult for my husband. What agency did you use, maybe I can get started with them and catch up to you this June. You never Know? Kazahstan for 12,000.00. Really?

[rosiedaffodil]

Sorry to have mislead you, but I posted that almost one year ago. I am now in the final stages of an adoption in Guatemala.
I don't remember which agency I was thinking of.
Go to www.theadoptionguide.com and email Mary Mooney about it.
She will recommend someone for you. I think the $12,000 is for a toddler. Not sure.
I was glad to read that you don't have to go to Moscow anymore, and the stay was more like 4wks when i looked into it.

Best of luck to you.
Michelle.

[JuliannaTeresa]

The stay In-Country, for Kazakhstan, has recently changed to 6-7 weeks. What happened in summer 2003, is the Adoption is finalized in Kazakhstan, but Agencies were not registering the children here in the states. Now registration takes place in Kazakstan after the Court proceedings which takes longer!

Both Parents if married must stay the entire time during the bonding period. The rest of the time you have to do some very heavy prooving that the other person was in fact In-Country.

Because the laws are changing! I would look at going with a Agency with very strong Advocacy In-Country. Rather than cost of the Adoption!

[travel-with-me]

Hello, I like to adopt 2-3 children. I would like to visit orphanages in KAZ, Ukraine, and - well, possibly Russia.

It is cheaper to travel in the Fall, check travelocity.com. I would like to go with 2, 3, 4, people or more, in a group, if we can arrange that. I know how to travel cheap, via Europe.
PLEASE CONTACT ME, IF YOU ARE SINCERELY INTERESTED
Thank you.
Lise