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Published on: 10/17/2002
Last Visited: 3/23/2004
'I probably average two calls a week inquiring about Mexico," says Brent Yoder, director of the Mission Valleybased international adoption agency Adoption Options."I'm one of the few agencies that even indicates that I can help people with Mexico adoptions.So I get calls from all over the country."
Yoder isn't boasting.Calls to adoption agencies all over San Diego resulted in repeated referrals to Yoder and Adoption Options.But despite being one of the few adoption agents that will deal with Mexican adoptions, Yoder's response to such inquiries is a warning."When people come to me and say, 'I want to adopt in Mexico,' " Yoder explains, "I say, 'I've got to warn you to start off with, adoptions in Mexico are extremely difficult.' "
What makes it so complicated?
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"To give you an example," Yoder says, "in the past year and a half I've dealt with two families, American families who actually ran orphanages in Mexico through their church affiliation.Both of them tried to adopt, and it took a year and a half to complete their adoptions.And they had no idea whether they were going to be successful or not.That's how hard it is to work with DIF."
Yoder adds, "I probably shouldn't blame DIF.
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"That's because," Brent Yoder explains, "the [U.S. State Department] only allows certain places to process the adoption petitions.Another example: I do adoptions out of Russia and Kazakhstan.And if you're adopting in Kazakhstan, you can't just fly back home with the child.You have to exit through the U.S. Embassy in Moscow."
"It would be one thing," Yoder complains, "if it were predictable and you could guarantee that you would get the child when it was all over."
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Though easier than an official DIF adoption, Yoder warns that there are dangers in private adoptions in Mexico.
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Yoder explains, "You need to have approval from the INS to bring the child back, and you need to have it beforehand.And the child has to meet what's called the 'orphan standard,' which means he has to be legally considered an orphan in Mexico.You have to have that document [which DIF issues].Without it, you can't bring the child back."
Aside from an attorney's knowledge of international adoption proceedings, another worry, Yoder says, is ethics.
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Yoder works with an attorney in Tijuana whom he trusts, and the three Mexico adoptions he averages per year have been going smoothly.He says hopeful parents wishing to adopt in Mexico should expect to spend $18,000 to $19,000 for everything.To those who think that sounds high, he says, "Actually, that's a pretty reasonable price compared to world standards.
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But though Mexico is a relative bargain for international adoptions, Yoder says the hassle and unsurety makes it a less-desirable option than other nations.
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