[Fran Grant]

Does anyone know anything about adopting from Mongolia? Has anyone completed an adoption with Adoption Ark Agency. Are they part of YUNONA???? Thanks for information.

[sak9645]

... was never deemed illegal under U.S. law. And it is not illegal under Mongolian law.

HOWEVER, the U.S. government strongly advises families against adopting there, mainly because so many of the children do not qualify for adoption visas, according to the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act.

My understanding is that many of the children living in orphanages do not meet the "orphan definition" in the Act. For example, they may not have been abandoned or totally relinquished. And as to any direct placements, they may not be children of single parents who cannot support them on a level considered adequate by the country. Documentation of things like their age or adoption status may also not meet U.S. criteria for the issuance of an adoption visa.

As a result, unless you work with an extremely experienced agency, you could wind up adopting a child in Mongolia and then find that you cannot secure an adoption visa for him/her. In order to bring him/her home, you would have to live overseas with him/her for two years and secure a regular visa for him/her.

I would strongly suggest that you question the agency you are considering about how many children from Mongolia they have actually brought home to U.S. families, and how many families have faced challenges when children were brought to the U.S. Embassy for adoption visas.

I would also suggest checking with Holt, which has the oldest Mongolia program, to see if it is still placing from there, given all the problems. This could help guide you to a decision on the agency you are considering, as well as on the country you are considering.

Sharon