Central & South American Adoption

Patty

Yes my DH and I adopted a baby girl from Colombia 3 mos ago. She is now 6 mos and the light of our lives. Colombia was the most wonderful expierence for us. It is such a beautiful country and the people there are wonderful!!! Our expierence from start to finish was about 6 mos. If I could be of any further assistance for you please post again!

Traci

Thanks for the post! I thought that I had seen someone on this message board that had adopted from Colombia. So your daughter was only 3 months old when you brought her home? How long from the time that you accepted a referral to travel? How long did it take to get a referral? How long were you in the country? My husband and I were all set to adopt from Guatemala. We had EVERYTHING done.. just waiting on a referral. Then we became pretty frustrated with our agency and switched agencies (like in the last 1 week!). I LOVE our agency now.. the woman who runs it is absolutely wonderful and responds quickly to every e-mail, phone call,etc. It's a small agency and she has the Guatemala program and the Colombia program. She started talking with my husband and I about her Colombia program mid-last week because she knew that we lost $4,000 by switching agencies.. she said that Colombia is already "Hague" ratified, etc. and that it is less expensive than Guatemala. My husband and I talked about it since we were so unsure about what was going to happen with Guatemala (have you heard about what's going on?) that we decided to switch. I tell you, my husband and I have talked about it and feel like this is definitely where we are supposed to adopt from... it's like here we thought Guatemala but it feels so right to be adopting from Colombia. My sister in law (my husband's sister) lives in Honduras (she married a Honduran) and she may come down there while we're there.. also my mother-in-law is going down with us since my husband will have to go back after 2 weeks at the most. She's excited as much as we are!

I have all the info. on what we have to do to make the dossier exact for Colombia, from our agency.. I'm just trying to figure out what we need to change and what can be the same (like the witness letters are the same for Guatemala as they are for Colombia but Colombia requires "3" and Guat. only requires "2"). Also we have to fill out a form for INS switching countries, etc. I am so excited!! Are there quite a few baby boys that are up for adoption? I know with Guatemala, there were many more boys than girls up for adoption. My husband and I want to adopt a boy.

So where did you spend most of your time while in Colombia? We will be in Bogota for 2 days or 3 but then will be going to Yopal. Then back to Bogota at the end of our stay to then get the visa for the baby then home.

Thank you for responding! and thanks for responding to any of my questions!!

Patty

Our adoption went pretty fast. After several infertility treatments and miscarriages we decided in November that we were going to adopt. We worked with a lawyer out of NY so we didn't go with an agency. We met with him in November and had a referral in the begining January. Because Colombian government shuts down from December 16 -January 19 we weren't able to travel within that time frame. We traveled at the end of February and stayed in Medellin Colombia for 10 days. After the paperwork and court process was done there we travled to Bogata for 2 days. So most of our time was spent in Medellin where our child was born. We stayed at the Intercontinental Hotel there in Medellin and then at the Raddison in Bogata.

We always felt safe and were always welcomed very warmly in both places. Neither my husband or I spoke Spanish so that was our biggest barrier at times, but someone always was there to translate and in the hotels someone always spoke english.

When we met with our lawyer we were either going with Guat. or Colombia and he told us we were perfect canidates for Colombia, so we went with it! I think I answered your questions, but if not please ask. I'd be more than happy to answer anything I can for you.

Traci

As far as knowing if there are boys or girls, I have no idea. We didn't have a preference, and other couples that we in the hotel with us had a mixed group of genders.

Thank you for replying to my questions. I too have infertility issues and had a failed IVF last June and shortly therafter my husband and I decided to adopt.

I was wondering.. do know much about your daughter's birthmother? Are children typically placed for adoption in Colombia due to poverty? Was your daughter in an orphanage prior to you getting her?

It surprises me that more people don't adopt from Colombia. I was looking at a website that showed that in 1999 only 197 visas were issued (bringing children from Colombia to the US). Do you think people get scared off due to the crime that surrounds Colombia.
I was reading that the crime rate/murder rate is 17 times that of the US. I admit, when I was reading the various info. about the crime, the terrorist guerillas, it is scary.
Did you stay in your hotel most of the time? I really hate to spend all the time in the hotel, I'd love to get out and see the city but I'll do what is safest.

Thank you very much for all your information!

Patty