There are a few HIV positive waiting children in Latvia who are available for international adoption. Latvia is an Eastern European country between Lithuania, Estonia, Russia and Belarus across the Baltic Sea from Sweden. It is a Hague country. Parents are required to travel for 1 to 2 weeks and rent an apartment where the child comes to live with you for a bonding period. If the referral is not suitable, you can request another. Once a referral is accepted, there is a court hearing, followed by a 20 day waiting period, during which you can fly home or wait in country. Total travel time is 5-6 weeks if you stay in Latvia, or you can make 2 trips. Dossiers for special needs children are given priority. The children are aged 1-16. Most adoptions take 12-18 months. Typically it takes 3-5 months for document preparation, then 1-2 months to be registered in Latvia. Unrelated children can be adopted simultaneously. Requirements:
Age Requirements: The adoptive parent should be at least 25 years old, and at least 18 years older than the child.
Marriage Requirements: Single men and women are allowed, as well as married couples.
More information about the process: Adoption.State.gov
Agencies: The following agencies have advocated for HIV+ children waiting in Latvia:
Other American adoption agencies working in Latvia include:
One World Adoption Services, All Blessings International, CCAI Adoption Services, World Links Association, and Nightlight Christian Adoptions
For people outside the United States, wishing to adopt a Latvian child, first try to find an adoption agency in your country which processes Latvian adoptions. If there aren’t any, try contacting the authority via a translator:
Latvian Adoption Authority
Adoption Division, Department of Out-of-Family Care
Ministry of Welfare
28 Skolas St., Riga, Latvia, LV-1010
Tel: 371-6702-1600
Fax: 371-6727-6445
E-mail: lm@lm.gov.lv
Internet: http://www.lm.gov.lv
Positively Orphaned 