November is National Adoption Month, a month set aside to raise awareness about the adoption.
So here is some general info regarding adoption in Colombia.
According to the US Department of State, 344 Immigrant visas were issued to orphans coming to the US in 2006. Compare that to the 6,493 from China in 2006. Wow! Due to the issues in Guatemala regarding adoptions the numbers for Colombia will likely increase greatly for 2007 and 2008.
Colombian law does not allow for private adoptions. Children may be adopted only through the Colombian Family Welfare Institute (ICBF) and approved adoption agencies. This means that both the U.S. agency that is contracted by the adoptive parents and the Colombian agency facilitating the Colombian part of the process must be approved by the Colombian government.
Every adopted child must have a final adoption decree in order to leave Colombia. Colombian law also requires that both adopting parents be physically present when the adoption is presented to a “family judge.” No exceptions are made to this requirement, and the process takes two to four weeks, sometimes more. After both prospective adoptive parents have appeared before the court, one of them may return to the United States, but the other parent must remain in Colombia until the adoption/immigrant visa process is completed. (this is the process we are looking forward to when we arrive in Colombia)
So here is some general info regarding adoption in Colombia.
According to the US Department of State, 344 Immigrant visas were issued to orphans coming to the US in 2006. Compare that to the 6,493 from China in 2006. Wow! Due to the issues in Guatemala regarding adoptions the numbers for Colombia will likely increase greatly for 2007 and 2008.
Colombian law does not allow for private adoptions. Children may be adopted only through the Colombian Family Welfare Institute (ICBF) and approved adoption agencies. This means that both the U.S. agency that is contracted by the adoptive parents and the Colombian agency facilitating the Colombian part of the process must be approved by the Colombian government.
Every adopted child must have a final adoption decree in order to leave Colombia. Colombian law also requires that both adopting parents be physically present when the adoption is presented to a “family judge.” No exceptions are made to this requirement, and the process takes two to four weeks, sometimes more. After both prospective adoptive parents have appeared before the court, one of them may return to the United States, but the other parent must remain in Colombia until the adoption/immigrant visa process is completed. (this is the process we are looking forward to when we arrive in Colombia)
One other thing that Colombia is known for are the many holidays that are observed as well as their colorful festivals. They observe more than double what we observe in the states. Here is a list of most of them for 2007.
Carnaval de Barranquilla is celebrated February 17, 18, 19 and 20. The Bogotá Carnival starts at around August 6th. Rock at the park (Rock Al Parque) in October, is the second largest rock festival in Latinamerica. The Iberoamerican Theater Festival held in Bogotá every two years, is the biggest theater festival in the world. Carnival of Blacks and Whites (Carnaval de Negros y Blancos) held from January 4 to January 6 in Pasto. Cali Fair (Feria de Cali), held in Cali, Colombia from December 25 to New Year's Eve.
Public Holidays include:
New Years Day (January 1)
Día de los Reyes Magos (Epiphany) (January 6*)
St. Joseph’s Day (March 19)
Holy Thursday and Viernes Santo (Holy Friday) (variable dates in March or April)
Primero de Mayo (May 1)
Ascension (May 20*)
Corpus Christi (June 10*)
Sacred Heart (June 18*)
Saint Peter and Saint Paul (June 29*)
Independence Day (July 20)
Battle of Boyacá (August 7)La Asunción (Assumption) (August 15*)
Día de la Raza (October 12)
All Saints’ Day (November 1*)
Independence of Cartagena City (November 11*)
La Inmaculada Concepción (Immaculate Conception) (December 8)
Christmas Day (December 25)
So we are sure to at least encounter one holiday and or festival while we are there. They are all about having a day off…smile! On a side note, these are days adoptive parents keep handy, because we know the Colombian agencies are closed meaning no news for us on these days.
Well that’s all from this end for now.
So we are sure to at least encounter one holiday and or festival while we are there. They are all about having a day off…smile! On a side note, these are days adoptive parents keep handy, because we know the Colombian agencies are closed meaning no news for us on these days.
Well that’s all from this end for now.
2 comments:
Yep - we just got an email today at work saying that our Colombian office would be closed Monday. They are always getting off work down there!! They practically have more national holidays than we get of vacation days!! =)
Well it looks like you have done your homework about the holidays and your adoption agency! That is a huge number difference between China and Columbia. I don't think I ever would have guessed it been that much different.
That would be really awesome if you could be there during one of the holidays. See first hand what it would be like there durning that time!! :-) Thanks for keepin us posted!
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