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Salvadoran Children
Older children and sibling groups are available. The children are from orphanages. The majority of the children are infants.
Most children are mestizo - Hispanic and native. Both boys and girls are available.
Note: The requirements and process below is combined with US laws, but it should be a basis
for citizens of other countries.
Requirements
Parents must be at least 25 and married for five years or more. There must be at least a 15 year age difference between the
parents and child. Parents under 45 can adopt an infant (one year old or younger). The US State Dep. states that singles may
not adopt. The Department also recommends that prospective parents contact the Embassy for more information about adopting
a Salvadorian child. State Dep.'s page on adoption from El Salvador.
Process
The US must conduct an investigation during the adoption because there has been fraud in some adoption cases. It may be required
of you to travel to El Salvador twice. Photos and medical information is available. You will appear in court, along with the
birthmother. Your child must meet several specific definations of an orphan by some Salvadoran govt. agencies, as well as
the US' definition.
Weather / Climate
The dry season is from November until April (summer). It's dry and dusty during the end of this season. Rainy season is from
May until October (winter). The rain is heavy, but occurs at short intervals. The country is lush around November. In the
lower elevations, the temperature is 80-90 degrees F, sometimes reaching 100F / 27 - 37 degrees C. At nightime, the temperature
is in the 60's F / 16-21 C. It's 10 degrees F / 5 degrees C cooler in the higher elevations. The climate is tropical. El Salvador
is known to have heavy afternoon thunderstorms. Hurricanes threaten El Salvador during the summer months, but rarely reach
it. In the mountainous areas, the minimum temperature may be freezing.
Other Information / El Salvador
The capital is San Salvador. El Salvador has small land mass with a high density of residents in the land. Most Salvadorans
are farmers. Acajutla, San Miguel, and Santa Ana are a few major cities. It is bordered by Honduras and Guatemala, and buffered
by the Pacific Ocean.
Major Reasons Salvadoran Children are being put up for Adoption
Because of political unrest and financial issues, children are given up for adoption in El Salvador. 80% of the population
is in poverty.
Advantages
Since El Salvador is relatively close to the US and Canada, the cost of traveling there is cheaper than with other programs.
Most of the children are available at young ages, even though the government supports adoption of older children. In some
programs, both the mother and child will be tested for AIDS, Hepatitis B and C, and venereal disease, and a medical report
by a doctor will be available on the child. I have read about many people praising the Salvadoran orphanages.
Disadvantages
El Salvador recently reopened its adoption program, so the time frame may be longer than expected. Medical reports vary in
completeness. Drug abuse is rare, because most Salvadorans are too poor to afford drugs. Fraud is common. Make sure your agency
/ attorney knows what they're doing and what they are saying doesn't seem too good to be true. Salvadoran children were known
to be kidnapped or trafficked.
The State Department has this warning about private adoption agencies:
Salvadoran law does not permit private adoption agencies to operate in El Salvador. U.S. citizens should be wary of adoption
agencies or facilitators whose promises seem too good to be true. Fraudulent activities involving adoption in El Salvador
have included kidnapping and trafficking in children. One Salvadoran attorney was disbarred and his accomplices placed in
custody charged with illegal child trafficking. The states of Georgia, Florida, Alabama and Massachusetts have undertaken
their own investigations of adoption agencies and facilitators involved in irregular adoption practices in El Salvador.
1.)The US State Dep's Page on Adoptions from El Salvador.
2.)Wasatch Int's El Salvador Program. Only for Europeans.
3.)Adoptions Unlimited, Inc.; Their El Salvador program. Est. 1983. Based in CA.
4.)Adoptions Int.; El Salvador program. Est. 1984. Based in PA and NJ.
5.)New Hope Family and Child Int. Adoption.; China, Taiwan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Romania, Azerbaijan, and El Salvador.
Based in WA.
6.)Uniting Families Foundation; El Salvador program offered through Adoptions Int. Based in Illinois. ?Repeated?
7.)Adoptions Forever; El Salvador program. 3 sets of twins available in this program. Est. 1993. Based in Maryland.
8.)Worldwide Adoption Services, Inc.; China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Kazakhstan, Russia, Romania, Bulgaria, El Salvador, Guatemala,
and Haiti. Based in SC.
9.)Tips and Information about Traveling to El Salvador from the State Dep.
10.)Open Door's El Salvador Program.
11.)CHOICES Adoption El Salvador Program, Canada
12.)Sunrise Adoption; El Salvador Program, Canada
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