[Tennmomof3]

Dh and I recently decided we wanted to expand our family. We are looking at Korea but I had some questions.

We have 3 bio children already, will that be a problem?

We are not of Korean decent, is that a problem?

What is the current average wait?

I have seen pricing from $15-30k , is this accurate?

Any other advice?

Thanks

[LJR1974]

I am new too, but according to the agency I spoke to a few days ago:

Maximum of 4 children in home.

Do not need to be of Korean decent.

I think the wait varies widely agency to agency. According to the agency I spoke to it's currently 6-8 month wait for a referral, then 4-5 additional months until the babies are ready to travel.

The agency I spoke to is in that price range.

[Tennmomof3]

Originally Posted by LJR1974

I am new too, but according to the agency I spoke to a few days ago:

Maximum of 4 children in home.

Do not need to be of Korean decent.

I think the wait varies widely agency to agency. According to the agency I spoke to it's currently 6-8 month wait for a referral, then 4-5 additional months until the babies are ready to travel.

The agency I spoke to is in that price range.

Thank you! I am looking for an agency that works with TN/Korea but wanted to make sure there were no red flags that would require me to look into other countries.

[sak9645]

Korea has been placing children with Caucasian Americans for 50 years. It accepts families with three children.

Wait times have been increasing. Don't count on a wait of less than a year anymore, from application to homecoming, though it "could" happen. Waits vary considerably at any given time, by which of the four Korean social welfare organizations your agency is partnered with, since the number of healthy infants in their care, available for international adoption, will vary greatly.

I would strongly doubt that you will find an agency with total costs of $15K. Considering everything, expect to pay at least $25,000. Some agencies may be higher, and expect there to be variables related to season of travel or escort, whether you stay in a social welfare organization's guest house or a hotel, what airline you use, and so on.

When you evaluate agency costs, make a spreadsheet. List all the components of cost down the left side. List agency names across the top. Then ask each agency about whether certain costs are included in their published totals, if it is not clear from their literature. As an example, is the homestudy included? Is the I-600A cost included (probably not)? Are the visa fees included? What are the fees for escort, and are they included? If you travel, are any travel fees included? Are any fees related to the U.S. finalization, such as post-placement report fees, included? And so on.

Sharon

[Tennmomof3]

Originally Posted by sak9645

Korea has been placing children with Caucasian Americans for 50 years. It accepts families with three children.

Wait times have been increasing. Don't count on a wait of less than a year anymore, from application to homecoming, though it "could" happen. Waits vary considerably at any given time, by which of the four Korean social welfare organizations your agency is partnered with, since the number of healthy infants in their care, available for international adoption, will vary greatly.

I would strongly doubt that you will find an agency with total costs of $15K. Considering everything, expect to pay at least $25,000. Some agencies may be higher, and expect there to be variables related to season of travel or escort, whether you stay in a social welfare organization's guest house or a hotel, what airline you use, and so on.

When you evaluate agency costs, make a spreadsheet. List all the components of cost down the left side. List agency names across the top. Then ask each agency about whether certain costs are included in their published totals, if it is not clear from their literature. As an example, is the homestudy included? Is the I-600A cost included (probably not)? Are the visa fees included? What are the fees for escort, and are they included? If you travel, are any travel fees included? Are any fees related to the U.S. finalization, such as post-placement report fees, included? And so on.

Sharon

Thanks Again Sharon!