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Boni Bender-Klosson really searched the world over for her beautiful daughter.  After several attempts and much frustration they successfully adopted daughter  Karen in Bolivia in 1994. The Klossons are in the Foreign Service. From the  time they began their adoption odyssey to the end, they had lived in 3  separate countries. Being an expat is hard enough but trying to adopt as an  expat can be daunting. Boni shares with us her unique experiences and advice  about adopting internationally.  Q:Being an expat, was it hard to find an adoption agency?  A: It was hard to find an agency who would work with us. Most agencies only wantto handle domestic adoptions for people living in the U.S.. We thought we would adopt from Russia or China. So we asked the U.S. Embassy in Russia if they knew of a reputable agency who was currently operating. They said the agency Los Ninos International (LNI) [see resources] has a good reputation and did Russian adoptions.

By Kate Goggin Ms. Goggin is a consultant to USNewswire, a public policy newswire based in Washington, D.C. Previously, she was the  Director of the President's Office and Programs at the National Press Club (N.P.C.). She directed all of the weekly NPC luncheons which air on National Public Radio and C-SPAN.An expat herself from 1993 to 1996, she lived in the Netherlands with her husband who is a Foreign Service Officer. Before leaving the U.S., she was a video producer at the U.S. Peace Corps headquarters in Washington, D.C. She produced a documentary video series which educated American school children about world geography and foreign cultures. The DESTINATION video series is part of the World Wise Schools Program and her work is still airing on some educational cable systems nationally. Escape From America Magazine Newsletter Index Submit an Article to EFAN Subscriptions are Free

Q:What were some of the resources you used to learn about international  adoption? 

A:A good source is the Adoption Resource Book (by Lois Gelman). This book lists  all adoption agencies in the U.S. and lists their specializations such as  international adoptions. I suggest anyone considering adoption look through  that book. One factor for adoptions is the age limit of the parents. We  learned that in Bolivia one parent cannot be over 50. In some countries if you  are over the limit, say 56, you have to adopt a 6 year old. There are other  limiting factors you need to be aware of. 

Also when researching an agency they should be able to give you a list of  satisfied customers. Call them and interview others about their experiences.  Try to get a feel for how much support the agency provides because once you  are in country, and you are waiting for your child, you really need the  support of a good agency. I cannot stress this enough. The support of a good  agency is crucial. 

Q:How long does it take to complete an adoption and how much does it cost? 

A:The entire adoption process for us took about a year and a half to  complete—that includes assembling the proper paperwork, etc. The cost averages  between $25–35,000. 

Q:What kind of paperwork is required? 

A:LNI provided us with an information packet which we called our Bible. It never  left our side. The following is a partial list of some of the requirements: 

•statement of net worth and police statements. It’s harder to go through this  with an adoption than just to have your own child. You have to really prove  that you can afford a child as well as prove no police record in your home  state. Additionally, you must obtain police clearance from the country you are  living in. 

•home study—done in English. Be sure to pick somebody you feel very  comfortable with. 

•birth certificates for all family members. Get at least 5 each. You can  always use them later. Make sure they are notarized, if you have to go back  for that, it’s a long time and much more costly. 

•certificates of marriage and divorce, letter from employer, proof of  insurance, tax returns, medical forms.  

•3 personal letters of recommendation and one from your pastor, pictures of  all family members, including close-ups, the family together and your house,  fingerprint charts and statement of mental competency. 

Q:That’s just a partial list? 

A:Right. Every country has different requirements. What you need to know is that  for each of those documents we had to have the original, and notarized copies.  Bolivia requires the notarized copies from your hometown to then be  authenticated in your state capital. Then they have to be stamped by the State  Department and then stamped by the Bolivian Embassy. We had to do that for  every document! 

Q:What an effort!  

A:Yes, but when we finally heard the Bolivian judge say, ‘she’s yours’ we forgot  all that—the bureaucratic running around we did, the paperwork and the long  arduous process.  

With a Bolivian adoption you must appear before a judge. He asked us to  promise to give her an education and to include her in our will. We said,  “sure, of course.” Then he asked us to make a sign. My husband and I looked at  each other and didn’t know what to do. All we could think to do was to place  our hands over our hearts and we pledged that we would take care of her.  That’s when he said, ‘ok, she’s yours.’  

Q:Any other tips or advice for those considering international adoption? 

A:•Keep a daily diary. It helped me remember the details of every step. 

•Take lots of pictures when you’re in country. This will be wonderful for the  child in later life when you try to recreate their family history. 

•Try and find a support group. The U.S. Embassy in Bolivia introduced us to  other parents who were adopting at the same time. I didn’t feel so alone, we  were all going through the same thing at the same time. 

•Expect the unexpected. Things don’t always go according to plan. Don’t give  up and concentrate on the long run. It’s really worth it! 

International Adoption Resources  (both willing to work with expats) 

Los Ninos International—www.losninos.org    Staff is multilingual and includes social workers. Accredited under  international standards through the Council of Accreditation (COA).    Contact: Jean Nelson-Erichsen, 1600 Lake Front Circle, Suite #130, The 
Woodlands, TX 77380  Ph: (281) 363-2892; JErichsen@LosNinos.org 

International Children’s Alliance— www.adoptica.org  Staff includes psychologist, licensed not-for profit child placement agency,  currently placing children from Russia, China, Bulgaria, Ukraine and beginning  next year, Albania.  Contact: Deborah McFadden, 1101 17th Street, N.W. #1002, Washington, D.C.  20036  Ph: (202) 463-6874; adoptionop@aol.com