GUATEMALA - Adoptions International has had an adoption program in Guatemala since 1987. We’ve developed a “team approach” by having Coordinators overseeing the entire adoption process, supervising the legal procedures and the medical and foster care of the children. These coordinators also work directly with the birthmothers, providing pre-natal assistance, when possible, and counseling at the time of relinquishment. One coordinator is providing birthmother interviews with a licensed Clinical Psychologist. Through our Coordinators we’re able to assure humane services to the birth family, as well as information about the birth family.

Children Available: Primarily young infants and toddlers are being referred, with possibility of older children who have been legally abandoned, or are being relinquished. We sponsor a small 
children’s home, who are referring older children once they’ve been through the legal abandonment procedure. All children are seen by a private pediatrician, and are tested for AIDS, Hepatitis B, VDRL prior to referral.

Eligibility: Couples and Single Women over age 25 are eligible to adopt from Guatemala. Previous marriages, other children in family are accepted. There are no religious requirements.

Time Frame: It is difficult to predict referral time, as it depends on the status of our waiting list at the time we receive your documents. Most referrals are made within 6 months of your dossier being received in our office.

Travel Requirements: One or both parents must travel AFTER the adoption is completed in Guatemala. Travel time is approximately 3-5 days. Escort Service is possible, but cam add to the time. Families are encouraged to travel, as they are met at the airport and escorted safely through the short time in the country. 

Costs: The Country Fee for Guatemala is $21,500, plus $450 DNA Testing fee.  These fees cover medical exams, UP TO EIGHT MONTHS OF FOSTER CARE, all legal expenses, translations of documents, and support services within Guatemala.  Travel and/or Escort Service is extra. 

Dossier fee is $600. Additional foster care is prorated at $300 per month.

Waiting Time: Usually 1-3 months after documents are in Guatemala for referral of baby boys and 6-9 months for referral of baby girls. The adoption process then takes about 4-6 months.

*Travel time in Guatemala after the adoption is completed is scheduled by appointment with the US Embassy. It can be as little as 3 days.

More information...

CHINA -Adoptions International has been licensed in China for almost 10 years.  However, recent changes in the China Center for Adoption Affairs (CCAA) requirements would place a low "quota" on the number of petitions we can present.  Therefore, we are partnering with Adopt International from California, an agency who has partnered with us in Guatemala, as they have a long standing and large program in China.  The China adoption process is very standardized, with families' dossiers being submitted to the China Center (CCAA) and the family being matched with a child according to the date on the petition.  The vast majority of the children are girls (97%) are anonymously abandoned and there is very little birth or family background available.  Generally, certain guidelines are followed in the matching of children with the adoptive family:

• Couples between 30-45 years of age are eligible to be assigned a child about 1 year of age.
• Couples between 45-50 years of age are eligible to adopt a child about 2 years of age.
• Couples between 50-55 are eligible to adopt a child over 3 years of age.
• Couples must be married for at least a year.
• Single Female applicants must be at least 35 years old for an infant and will be assigned an older child if they are above 45 years of age.  Singles must sign a declaration that they are not homosexual.  Currently, options for singles are very limited, as each agency can only petition for 1 single applicant for each 12 petitioners.

Current Processing Time: Waiting time from dossier in China to referral is currently about 8-10 months.  Travel is usually within 2 months after receiving referral.

Information about Child:  While information about each child referred by the CCAA is somewhat limited, there is usually a medical report (about 3 months old) and a developmental checklist from the child's orphanage.  Our staff in China will be visiting the orphanage to see the child, when possible, or talking with the orphanage to get as much current information as possible. 

Travel: All travel includes an escort.  Travel is arranged expeditiously and does not depend on waiting for large groups to form.  Usually travel is arranged for 2-6 adoptive families.  Travel is from 10-14 days in China.

Fees: $8750. Country fee, including dossier processing at Consular level. *These include current expenses for adoption processing and orphanage donation which are our of agency's control.

Additional Expenses: $500.  Escort Fee per family.  Escort's hotel, food, local transportation (shared by families who travel in groups.)  Family's travel. lodging and air fare and local expenses are the responsibility of the family.