Children
Available: Children
of either gender are available
for adoption and are age 9
or older unless part of a
sibling group of 3 or more
or special needs. Children
are usually blond haired and
blue eyed, occasionally a
child will have brown hair
and blue eyes; some children
do have light brown eyes.
Hosting
Program: We participate
in several hosting programs
throughout the year, where
qualified and pre-approved
families can host a child
from Latvia for several weeks
in their home. Please contact
Susan Secor Manning for more
information. susan@oneworldadoptions.org
Requirements:
Married couples accepted.
Singles living a traditional,
heterosexual lifestyle are
also accepted. Age requirement
of minimum 25 years old, if
over the age of 55 will be
considered on an individual
basis. Families must be a
minimum of 18 years older
than the child they wish to
adopt - no exceptions. Families
may already have children
currently living in the home.
Adoption
Process: The children
are cared for in orphanages
or foster homes while waiting
to be adopted. The adoption
process begins when you submit
your dossier to Latvia. The
wait for a child depends on
the age of the child you wish
to adopt. Older children are
more available, and will be
assigned more quickly than
a younger child.
Travel:
Latvia requires that
adoptive families make three
trips to complete their adoption.
Both parents must travel to
Latvia on the first trip to
complete the adoption. This
trip is typically 10-14 days
in length, but can be shortened
a bit if you have hosted the
child you are adopting. You
will go before a judge at
the beginning of this trip
and again at the end of this
trip. You may also request
to be granted guardianship
of your child on this trip
and if granted, your child
can travel back with you to
the United States under your
custody. Your second trip
to Latvia is for the final
court hearing finalizing your
adoption. Only one adoptive
parent needs to travel on
this trip with a power of
attorney for the other parent.
If your adopted child is age
12 or older, they must travel
as well. This trip is typically
3-5 days in length. Your third
and final trip to Latvia is
for your US Embassy appointment
to grant your child their
final visa. Regardless of
age, your child must travel
on this trip as well as one
adoptive parent with power
of attorney for the other
parent. This trip is typically
about three days in duration.
Timeframe:
The timeframe varies but approximate
processing time is 6 to 9
months from the time a child
is identified and paperwork
is submitted to Latvia.
Cost:
Please contact Susan Manning
for updated fee information
and fee reductions for NHFC
families. susan@oneworldadoptions.org
