If you have a question about Gladney's Colombia Adoption Program, ask it here! We'll post the answer to this page.

Questions and Answers

Q: Does the Colombian government allow exceptions regarding parents' ages if they are Colombian-American over 40 who want to adopt a younger child or younger sibling group?
A: Unfortunately, they do not. There are many sibling groups waiting for forever homes and one of the siblings could be younger. But expect one of the siblings to be 7 years or older.

Q: We have two adopted children; one from Colombia. Are we still permitted to adopt from Colombia?
A: Yes, you are still eligible to adopt from Colombia as long as you meet all the other prospective parent criteria.

Q: How long is it taking from the time the dossier is submitted until referral for an infant to a 2 year old of either gender?
A: The time frame to be matched to a child, boy or girl, in Colombia is about 24 months.

Q: Is being a member of the military going to effect whether or not we are eligible to adopt?
A: Being in the military does not effect the adoption.

Q: How strict are they about the age requirements?
A: We have not seen Colombia make any exceptions to their guidelines.

Q: On average what is the total cost of an adoption from Colombia?
A: For Colombia, the fees depend on whether or not the child is placed from a private orphanage or a government run orphanage. The total adoption fees, excluding travel, can vary between $10,000 from a government orphanage and $17,000 from a private orphanage.

Q: On average, how long is the total process for Colombia adoptions?
A: Families should expect about a 18 month to 2.5 year process for Colombia.

Q: Do the age requirements apply to both parents? For example, I am 35 but my husband is 41. Would his age make us ineligible to adopt an infant or toddler?
A: Colombia has specific guidelines for the age of the adopting parents. Both parents must be 38 years old and younger to adopt children up to age 2 years.

Q: Once a couple is put on the chronological waiting list - how long should they anticipate being on that list before getting a referral?
A: The time frame for waiting for a child depends on the age and gender of the child the family hopes to adopt. Typically, families wait longer to adopt girls. Expect a wait of 18 months to 2.5 years.

Q: How many dossiers does Gladney currently have in Colombia? Are any of them close to receiving a child?
A: Gladney currently has 2 dossiers in Colombia. On average, it takes about 18 to 30 months for families to be matched to a child. This time frame varies depending on the age and gender of the child the family wants to adopt.

Q: I have heard recently that all infant babies were going to Colombian families - can an American family that has already been approved for adoption from Colombia get an infant (or at least 6 months old?)?
A: It is difficult to adopt an infant from Colombia. To adopt the youngest child available, the adopting parents need to be 38 years old or younger. Typically, the children will be up to 2 years old for these parents.

Q: Is it safe to travel to Colombia? I have seen some travel warnings online. What about traveling with other children?
A: There are travel warnings for U.S. Citizens traveling anywhere in the world. You must always be aware of your surroundings. However, you are escorted by a Gladney in-country representative while in the foreign country. If at all possible, it is best to leave children at home with family.

Q: Once you are referred a child - how long before you go to Colombia to get your child?
A: Typically, a family will travel to Colombia about 6 weeks after accepting the referral of a child. Families spend approximately 3 weeks in Colombia.

Q: Once dossier is accepted by Colombia officials, exactly when do adoptive parents anticipate a picture of their child?
A: It can take between 8 to 12 months for a family to be referred a child in Colombia after the dossier submission. This time frame varies depending on the age range and gender of the child a family hopes to adopt.

Q: How common is it for intercultural adoption?
A: Very common. There are approximately 20,000 children adopted from foreign countries every year by U.S. Citizens.