[happygoer]

Hi all, I'm new to the forum and just want to say, wow!!I know you all can relate to beginning this process completely confused, endlessly researching and then discovering this site and actually talking to people in who have walked in our shoes...fantastic! Now, why I'm here..
Our problem is deciding on a country...aggh We are currently exploring Russia and Korea. We are both 33, married 5 yrs and are caucasion. When chosing what is important to us in adopting, trusting the agency, the childs health (no chronic illnesses) and cognitive development are our biggest concerns. Travel being our 4th biggest issue...3 trips...do they not think we work??? It seems to me that Korea has more stringent medical guidelines, closer to US requirements and may be closer to meeting our needs. How long does this process usually take, beginning to end. We are wanting an infant, less than a year. We do not care on gender. We welcome any advice.

[Matt's Mom]

Hi,

Welcome I was just as confused and overwhelmed as you are right now, but it does get easier. My husband and I adopted through Korea. The process from start to finish took 10 months. We got our son at 8 months old and was very healthy. Korea does give very complete and readable medical reports of your child as well as a pre flight report when he or she comes in. The report will tell you there eating and sleeping habits as well as how many times a day they nap and poop. The whole time they are in Korea they are not in orphanages but in foster homes which make a big difference. Our son came in already pulling himself up and having been in a walker at his foster home. He came in very healthy. At having just turned 2 my son is very healthy at 35 lbs. and over 3 feet tall. If you have any questions feel free to ask.


Good luck on the start of your journey!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!




Irene

[Liese]

I totally agree with Irene. We have adopted two boys from Korea. We are awaiting the arrival of our daughter at this time. As far as timing, I think it depends on which agency you go with. My first child took 18 months from beginning to end, he arrived in '97 at 4 months of age. Very healthy!! Our second child took 10 months from beginning to end and he arrived at the age of 6.5 months, again very healthy!! Our daughter is now 4.5 months old, very healthy but she will not travel until 2004 (January, hopefully), as we got caught up in the quota. We received her referral 5 months after hs so if she comes in January took a total of 9 months!! Korea is great, if you don't want to travel, they escort. They are very good with the health care, updates given just about monthly!! I can only say great things about the Korean Program. We are with Bethany Christian Services in Chicago and have only had great experiences with them as well!! Good luck to you on your journey, it is a beautiful one!!
Liese

[Suzan]

Hi,
I am also adopting from Korea. We started 11/02. Received our referral of our beautiful. healthy son on 10/17/03. He will probably be home in February. If so it will be 13 months total. Best of luck in whichever country you choose.

[happygoer]

I'm excited for you, the days must be going so slow after seing the picture. We wish you a speedy four months. Reality is within reach and gives you just enough time to catch up on movies and sleep two things that will be foreign to you soon! ha Good luck!!!

[lynnor]

What state are you in (ie: what agencies for Korea are available to you?)

Some agencies have a wait list and the wait can be longer. With Holt, we requested a healthy infant. We were referred a boy and were told travel would be Feb/March. Total time = 17/18 months (getting caught in quota situation). Girls are a couple months longer (healthy).

Some agencies are quoting even longer timelines now, such as 18 mo for boys and 2 yrs for a girl.

If you are willing to accept special circumstances/health issues, timelines can decrease a lot.

[Cheryl in Iowa]

We used Holt for our first adoption. It was about 14 months from when we first inquired. Our homestudy went to Korea in August, the referral of our son was 12/13/01 and we traveled to Korea 4/25/02. With Kullen he was a waiting child with CHSM and he was home in an amazing and not typical period of time. It was 7 weeks from the time we saw him on www.rainbowkids.com website until we traveled to Korea to pick him up. If you adopt from Korea I urge you to travel to Korea to pick up your child. It is an incredible experience and one that will be important later on. I've NEVER met a parent who traveled who regreted their decision but plenty of parents who didn't and wish they had. If you have any question feel free to contact me.

[happygoer]

Cheryl your children are so precious, just wanted to thank you for sharing a smile. It's always so fun to see children happy and you get double the pleasure and double the trouble too, I'm sure! ha Thank you for sharing your thoughts on traveling, I must admit I was admiring the idea of an escort.. We would want to travel initially but if a second trip is required, can get tough with work and finances. Thanks for a change in perspective.

[Cheryl in Iowa]

Thanks. I think they are darling too. Just so you know, only one trip is required to Korea and it has to last three days. Traveling is such a great thing to do. Because of it we have books for our kids in Korean/English, beautiful artwork on the walls(so the boys will always know that we are proud of their heritage) beautiful pottery, hanboks for when they are older. I could go on and on. You can't just say you are proud of your kids culture they have to be able to see it day in and out in your everyday life.
In peace,
Cheryl