These country updates bring you the most current and up-to-date information from our program coordinators. One way of keeping you informed of what is going on in the country.
August 2010
One family recently arrived home with their beautiful baby boy! We await Interstate and CIS approval for two families with referrals. This program continues to move forward with normal wait times, the wait to submit paperwork to the SWS has ended and a family’s paperwork will be sent when finished. Children receive excellent care in their foster homes as they wait for their forever family. Families enjoy peace of mind of having the attentive care of the staff at Social Welfare Society during your stay in Korea. This is a wonderful program for families who meet Korea’s eligibility requirements and live in NC, NJ, SC, & VA. Interested families should call and speak with the CAS Korea Program Coordinator, Heather Gordon, to learn more about this program.
July 2010
One family just received their I-600 approval and is awaiting Korea’s official approval to travel! Referrals of two beautiful baby boys have also just been received! Referral wait times continue to be 8 to 10 months from the time the program packet goes to Korea. Families continue to travel 3 to 4 months after the acceptance paperwork is complete. Families enjoy a short stay in Seoul, Korea, where they meet their foster family and child. The trip is just 4-7 days, but there is time to sightsee and enjoy the rich culture of South Korea. We encourage families interested in this program to talk to Heather Gordon, Korea program coordinator, about applying.
June 2010
Activity in the Korea program has been steady since the beginning of the year. Referrals continue to be received about 8 to 10 months from the time the program packet goes to Korea. After the acceptance of the referral, the children continue to be ready for travel between 3 and 4 months. We have one family expecting to travel in the next few months.
There have been changes in the processing of immigration paperwork. USCIS is now processing all of the new I-600A and I-600 applications (as of April 1, 2010) from a central location in Missouri called the National Benefits Center (NBC). Your paperwork will be sent to a lock box in Texas, logged in and then forwarded on to the NBC for processing. This is a new office; however, after training of the new officers, we feel this will expedite the I-600A and I-600 process, thus allowing families to travel to Korea in a timelier manner.
The political difficulties that continue to be present between North Korea and South Korea have had no impact on the adoption process. If we are apprised of any changes, either from our networking agency, Family & Children’s Agency or our state department, please be assured that we will contact you.
If you are interested in the Korea program contact Heather Gordon.
May 2010
The Korean adoption program is a wonderful program for families who meet the eligibility requirements. The Social Welfare Society has an excellent foster care system; babies enter the reception hall where they are nurtured and cared for until they are placed into a private foster home. The foster families provide excellent homes for these babies as they wait for their forever family. The babies receive outstanding medical care and attention. When families travel to Korea to meet their child, they are able to meet the foster family, who often has helpful tips regarding the baby’s routine, likes, dislikes, etc.
The Korea program continues to move along nicely. One family recently accepted a referral! From packet completion to packet submission to Korea is currently 3 to 4 months. The wait from packet submission to Korea until referral remains between 8 and 10 months. After acceptance paperwork is complete, the time to travel is between 3 and 4 months. Contact Heather Gordon to learn more about adopting from Korea.
April 2010
The Korea program continues to move along well. Two families recently came home with their beautiful baby boys! The wait from packet submission to Korea until referral remains between 8 and 10 months; however, a few referrals were received in March for families whose packets were submitted in August. After acceptance paperwork is complete, the time to travel is between 3 and 4 months.
April is Earth Month. April 6 through April 18, 2010 is the Yeouido Spring Flowers Festival. The royal azaleas and forsythias will be in full bloom in mid-April. The festival includes performances and art exhibitions. But the King Cherry Trees that line Yeouido’s roads, alongside the Han River, in hundreds, are what truly make the festival.
March 2010
The Korea program continues to move along well. One family received a referral in February and two families are closer to getting their travel calls! Timeframes remain the same: The wait from packet submission to Korea until referral is between 8 and 10 months. After acceptance paperwork is complete, the time to travel is still between 3 and 4 months. Join us for the Adopting From Korea Webinar on March 15, 2010. Register today.
Koreans celebrate Independence Movement Day on March 1st, one of four major national holidays. They are also celebrating their beloved figure skater Kim Yu-na, who won the gold medal in the Ladies Single Figure Skating event for the Olympics. Kim Yu-na, age 19, made world records again and outdid all her rivals by nearly 23 points.
February 2010
Two families recently returned home from Korea with their little boys! Two families are waiting for travel! The Korea program is busy and exciting.
The wait from packet submission to Korea until referral is between 8 and 10 months. Fortunately, the wait from packet completion to packet submission to Korea has decreased and is now about 4 months. After acceptance paperwork is complete, the time to travel is still between 3 and 4 months. The Korea program is an excellent program and remains a very viable option for families who meet the program qualifications.
Camp Moo Gung Hwa will have a culture camp this summer and has exciting events planned! Camp Moo Gung Hwa is a nonprofit, Korean Culture camp for Korean adoptees, their siblings, and families. The Children’s Day Celebration will be May 1, 2010 and Camp will be July 21-24, 2010. Please visit their website for details and more information: www.koreanculturecamp.net.
January 2010
Happy New Year! President Lee gave his New Year’s address on January 4 and spoke of the country’s goals for 2010 and onward. His priorities are economic recovery, including job creation, human resources, and better living conditions, along with climate change solutions. In 2007, Korea was ranked second out of 154 countries in the advancement of information and communications development by the U.N. International Telecommunication Union. “I hope that Korea will become the world’s greatest green tiger,” said U.N. Environment Program Secretary-General Achim Steiner.
To celebrate the Year of the Tiger under the Chinese Zodiac, many areas in Seoul are holding exhibitions and making sculptures of the tiger. Mount Inwang will create a tiger sculpture on the top of the mountain for hope and courage. Other winter festivals are happening, including the Taebaeksan Mountain Snow Festival, held on the slopes of Taebaeksan, one of Korea’s legendary mountains.
CAS continues to accept applications for the Korea program and the program continues to move along well. Two referrals were received in December, and four families are expected to travel to Korea in the coming months.
November 2009
KAAN will be holding their 2010 Conference in Hershey, PA, July 23-25, 2010. Their theme is The Road Ahead, as they will be exploring international adoption issues, racial issues and perspectives in the United States, and the current happenings with North Korea. Visit www.kaanconference.com for details and more information. KAAN has some interesting sounding educational opportunities as well. Read their latest newsletter by visiting www.kaanet.com.
The current wait from packet submission to referral is 7 to 10 months. There is currently a wait of 6-7 months from packet completion to packet submission to Korea. CAS is happy to have received the annual quota number, given for all agencies registered to work through SWS, which is projected to be 30 for 2010.
CAS continues to accept applications for the Korea program and the program continues to be a viable option for families who meet the program qualifications. For the most current list of requirements, please call to speak with the CAS Korea Program Coordinator.
September 2009
The wait from packet submission to referral has increased to 7 to 9 months. The children are still 10 to 12 months of age when they come home and the wait to travel once a referral has been accepted is still 3 to 4 months. This is still a short time frame for international adoption with young children being placed with families. One family will be traveling to pick up their child this month. Darlene Cirilli from Family & Children’s Agency (CAS networking partner) will be traveling to Korea in September to meet with the staff at Social Welfare Society. CAS continues to accept applications for the Korea program and the program continues to move along.
August 2009
The wait for referral has increased somewhat but still remains short in comparison to some other programs. Families continue to successfully move through the process. One family returned home with their baby boy last month. This program has created many happy families and is prepared to create more. CAS continues to accept applications for the Korea program. Korea continues to be an excellent option for families living in NC, SC, VA, and NJ. The program moves along consistently and has two families getting ready to travel. Please contact Heather Gordon to learn more about the CAS Korea adoption program.
July 2009
The Pohang Fire Light Festival will be held this year July 25 – July 26. This is a summer festival, held in Pohang’s Northern Beach, whose theme will be based on fire and light. Pohang is home to Homigot Beach, famous for its beautiful sunrise, as well as Posco, the world famous steel-manufacturing company. This Fire Light Festival is the largest festival in Pohang, with about three hundred thousand people expected to attend. Fireworks will be set off from several large barges afloat on the water to light up Yeongil Bay. Music and other shows will be included in the festivities. What a wonderful cultural event!
Korea continues to be an excellent option for families living in NC, SC, VA, and NJ. The program moves along consistently and has two families getting ready to travel. Please contact Heather Gordon to learn more about the CAS Korea adoption program.
Coloring Pages about Korea
June 2009
The Korea program continues to move along well with normal processing times. As mentioned in previous updates, some referrals were received 4 months after packet submission but this has not been a consistent trend, so we continue to project a 5-7 month wait for families.
Our networking agency, Family and Children’s Agency (FCA) will have a change in staff as of July 20, 2009. Kathy Sacco, who has worked with FCA for 11 years, will be leaving, and her assistant, Darlene Cirilli, will take her position as the Korea Program Coordinator. Darlene has worked very closely with Kathy and brings much adoption experience to her new role. This transition will have no impact on the program or families’ adoption process, as FCA has been working in Korea for over 20 years.
May 2009
CAS is accepting applications for the Korea program. The Korea program continues to move along with normal processing times. We have received several referrals within the past few months, and a couple of families are expected to travel soon!
As always, CAS welcomes families living in NC, SC, NJ, and VA to the Korea program, which is networked with Family & Children’s Agency (FCA) of Connecticut. Families adopting in the Korea program must meet the requirements of the Korean Social Welfare Society (SWS).
If you are interested in learning more about adopting from Korea, please join us for a webinar on this subject on May 19, register today. To talk with someone about this adoption program, contact Heather Gordon.
To view past Korea adoption program updates, please see our CAS Publications page and click on the Monthly Country Updates.