In your opinion, which country has the shortest international adoption turn over time?

Question

For example, would we be waiting for three years for a baby from China, but only 9 months for a baby from Ethiopia?

I understand it's a case by case basis - I'm just talking in general....

Thanks much - we're still trying to get pregnant again, but want to begin to look into the international adoption process.

Answer 1

"I feel that our flexibility in race and special needs makes us better potential parents."

Better than whom? The natural parents? If you think about it, the natural parents *might* be the same race as their child, hence no need to "flexible", whatever that means.

Answer 2

You should adopt because you love the child, not because it was the fastest.

Answer 3

Please think about this question carefully before you make any decisions to adopt:  How will your child feel if they find out that the reason you adopted from their country was because they had the shortest wait times?

The most important thing you need to do is resolve the grief that will inevitably follow if you are unable to conceive, before you embark on the adoption rollercoaster.

Answer 4

You're putting the cart before the horse.

Approximately 50% of ALL pregnancies end in early miscarriage. It's completely normal. As a previous poster said, work on making your body as healthy as possible (and take folic acid supplements) and then try again.

International adoption is not in your immediate future. You are way too young. You're almost certainly not financially stable enough yet to meet any country's requirements. Besides, most countries will not allow adoptions to prospective parents who do not fit their health parameters, including BMI measurements.

Adopting a child from halfway across the world isn't something you do on a lark. Your starting point should be to spend some serious time researching what it's like to raise an international, transracial adoptee (and what it's like to BE one). If you think the child is automatically going to smile at you gratefully for "saving" them, you're in for a rough awakening.

Answer 5

I think that is just something you have research. Sometimes it can be a lot longer depended on the age of the child. Like in Brazil if you want a very young child it can take up to 36months. This is because Brazilians get first shot at infants and extremely young toddlers.  If you take older children 5 or older or even a sibling group or a child that is considered special needs, the time frame can be shorter sometimes with in 6 to 12month from when your paperwork has been submitted.  

I had a friend who adopted from China this past spring; they sent their paper work in about a year in a half ahead of time, so nearly 2 years from start to finale getting their child.  I think I read that China said that part of the reason they changed their adoption criteria start of this year was to try and move the process a bit faster. Since there are many people now who are unable to adopt from China as they don't qualify anymore

Answer 6

Well - being infertile myself - I totally understand where you're coming from.

Before deciding where's the quickest - you need to find out where you even qualify for international adoption.  Many countries will want you to be 30 or married for at least 5 years - sometimes 10 years.  Some countries have a religous requirement - the Philipines gives preference to Catholic couples.

Also you need to figure out how much you have to spend.  You can adopt a 1yr old boy from Russia very quickly but it'll cost you $35-$50,000 - I personally do not have the kind of money so we are adopting domestically.

If you are serious about adopting - interview a couple of agencies, they willbe able to tell you what contries cost what and the restrictions for length of marriage and age - you may not get a choice between more than a couple countries.  You may find that domestic makes more sense.

Also, you may want to wait to see if you're going to get pregnant anytime soon, if you get pregnant during the process, you go off the wait list and youre money is gone.

edit:  Why the thumbs down??? Seriously people - not everyone is equiped to properly parent a special needs child from the foster system - having a child is a lifelong commitment you don't just go to your local social services office and pick out the cutest kid!  Don't harp on people for wanting to adopt internationally!  Unless you're in the same situation maybe you shouldn't give your opinion.

Answer 7

I am sorry you suffered miscarriages - I know how distressing this is.  I lost twins earlier this year also and have experienced several miscarriages over the years.  I still managed to have three healthy children though, so don't give up.

I think I get what you are asking but I must say your choice of words is a little distasteful.  "turn over time?"

So if you start the adoption process and then fall pregnant will it be a case of 'cancel the adoption!' - no  wonder so many adoptees feel like second best or last resort

I think being having a healthy BMI increases your fertility - perhaps work on that for now

Answer 8

Every country's process is different.  And most of the time you can't predict the wait, China, three years ago, the wait was six months from turning in your paperwork, it drastically slowed down to now no one knows what the wait will get up to.  And, I looked at your profile, you are only 24, so, you wouldn't be able to adopt from China for at least another six years anyway.   Both parents need to be 30.

The best advice anyone can give you is to talk to agencies.  If you are still trying to get pregnant, and are not 100% happy with the idea of adopting, well I think you should work out that before looking into adoption (just IMHO).

Good luck!

ETA:  I am not trying to say that you would love a child less if it was adopted, I just know many couples who, when faced with infertility, rushed into adoption and sometimes realized that that wasn't a real option for them.  I don't want you to feel this way.  Adoption is a wonderful thing, however, looking into whatever country will get you a baby faster, cheaper etc (not saying this is you) isn't exactly a healthy way to go about it.  If you are still considering getting pregnant, AND you are still young (you are...especially in adoption circles, being under 25 makes you a baby practically, I am considered young and I will be 30 soon) you might want to give the idea of adoption a few more years, and do the research yourself, so you can decide, for yourself, what the best option is.  I wish you and your husband the best of luck with whatever you decide.