[thordis]

My hsuband and I are thinking very seriously about adopting from Vietnam once/(if) the adoption situation opens up there. Can anyone give us any advice, guidance, or thoughts on adopting from that country? We're partial to Vietnam because of our love of the people and culture of the country. Thanks!

[brendanod]

Well you have a good start, quite obviously you do like the people and their coulture. I have already adopted from Vietnam and I do not think you will be disappointed. They are a very intelligent race and very loving. The MOU will be signed, so do not give up hope, the wait will be very worth while.

[thordis]

Thank you so much for your encouraging words. Did you adopt from the USA? We're concerned that I might get too old for adoption if an agreement isn't reached relatively soon.

[brendanod]

I Adopted from Ireland, as a rule the top age limit is about 50 years of age for first time parents, 55 if you already have children. I was 53 when I adopted and I did not have any problem with the Vietnamese authorities. If you get through your US assessment you are home and dry you should not have a problem at the Vietnamese end. The Vietnamese authorities do not have a problem with single adopters as long as they are female and are not co-habitating.

[MLRJ]

Hi, We have two beautiful children from Vietnam and right now were waiting for it to open buthave just switched countries due to the current impasse. if you are willing to wait- it was a wonderful experience-we hope to adopt from VN again eventually. MLRJ

[jmolle2003]

To check the progress on Vietnamese adoptions, I periodically check the web-site for Vietnam-JCICS (Joint Council on International Childrens Services), an association of licensed non-profit international adoption agencies, child advocacy groups, parent support groups and medical clinics. That web address is www.jcics.org/Vietnam.htm. The JCICS works very closely with the State Department and the Government of Vietnam (GVN). Concidering how long and how expensive home studies are, I'd recommend that you check on this status occasionally. Most agencies won't process any adoptions from Vietnam until they actually resume, which could be anywhere from mid 2005 to late 2007, or even later. It seems that the more progress we make the further away is that date. Good luck.

[Nevada Jen]

I was just recently told from a very reliable source that VN is open to US ciizens for special needs adoptions. I am not sure what they call special needs but it is open at least

[jmolle2003]

Thanks for trying to help. I'm afraid the special needs children are those who are disabled in some way or another. In our case, it's the child's birth parents who have the special needs - they're both deaf mutes.

To clarify the policy for adoptions of special needs children for those readers who are interested, the State Department did manage to get an exception for these type adoptions with a six month wait period, and then later managed to have the Government of Vietnam (GVN) waive that time requirement.

As far as the period of two years in the Two Year Program (where the adoptive parents live with the child for two years before being able to petition for the child to become a U.S. citizen) is a requirement of our immigration policies for obtaining a visa for the child.

We're seriously considering this approach in anticipation that it may take two years before the GVN approves the Protocol and to obtain a visa for my wife's niece, who is ten years old. We and the child have already emotionally bonded. It is imperative that we and the child reunite as soon as possible, since the birth mother, my wife's sister, who also is mentally challenged, has difficulty raising a daughter who is approaching adolescence and the grandmother who helps is 72 years old and in poor health. The child's birth father is also an unsuitable parent, not just because he is a deaf mute, but ever since he threw the child into a river when she was one or two years old. The birth mother divorced him and moved back with the grandmother. The child is one of the top students in her school and needs to have that nurtured - the sooner she is able to get into a school in America, so much the better for all concerned.

Obviously, this is not a regular type adoption. It would be great to get input from anyone about their own personal experiences with the two year program and also tell us whether there are any guaranties that after spending two years in Vietnam that there won't be any problems from either the GVN or the State Department or the INS in finalizing the paperwork.

Thanks for indulging me with expounding on our unique predicament.