Spence-Chapin Services International Adoption: Colombia

Program Requirements and Specifics

At least one prospective parent must be a U.S. citizen to be able to sponsor a child to enter the country.
Applicants must have no criminal record and must be in good health. Weight restrictions apply.
Singles may adopt school-age children or children with special needs. Married couples between 25 and 38 years of age without children may adopt infants. Married couples over 38 may adopt a child who is at least 4 years of age or one who is hard to place. Married couples must have been living together for at least 3 years (including time living together before marriage).
Current wait for referral: up to two years, although families of Colombian origin may be slightly expedited
After families are matched with children, they may travel immediately.
Spence-Chapin requires that both parents travel to Colombia, although one parent may return to the U.S. after the second week.
Los Chiquitinies specializes in the placement of older children. Children placed through this program are older boys and girls or infants referred from the maternity shelter.

From Referral to Homecoming

Please Note: The U.S. State Department warns against travel to Colombia.
Included in referrals from Colombia is a detailed social summary on the birth mother, the child's medical history and lab tests, as well as photographs. Parents can travel to Colombia immediately. The trip to Colombia lasts 3-4 weeks, but one parent may return to the U.S. after the second week.

Los Chiquitines

Los Chiquitines is a facility that looks more like a day care center than it does an orphanage. Located in the rural outskirts of Cali, it has wonderful play areas and a pool. The maternity shelter is in a separate building that is a short drive from the orphanage. It offers pre-natal care as well as job training for mothers preparing to enter the workforce.

Cost Guidelines

Spence-Chapin has a sliding fee for the services provided by the agency, based on the applicant's adjusted gross income.

When adopting internationally, the sending country assesses fees separate from Spence-Chapin's service fee. Please contact us for specific information about Colombia's fees. Additionally, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service and some states assess fees, including those for fingerprinting. When you travel to Colombia, you will incur costs for airfare, hotel, food and incidental expenses. For suggestions about making adoption more affordable, please see our information in Affording Adoption.

Celebration for Los Niños

Every Spring, Spence-Chapin hosts a party for children adopted from Latin America and for those who adopt domestically through our Hispanic Adoption Program. Families come together to celebrate with traditional food, crafts and entertainment and to share their experiences with each other. Children get an opportunity to explore their common heritage. For information about this year's celebration, please contact Heather at 212-360-0274 or hluboff@spence-chapin.org.

Columbia Summer Program

Spence-Chapin is thrilled to announce that we are partnering with Kidsave for their summer hosting program for children from Colombia. As a global voice for change, Kidsave makes miracles happen for children the world has forgotten. You too can help make miracles happen this summer by either hosting an older orphaned child from Colombia in your home for five weeks or participating in social events with the visiting children to determine if one of them might make a wonderful permanent addition to your family. The deadline for applying is April 15. To find out more about this program please contact us at 212-400-8150 or internationalinquiry@spence-chapin.org.

Colombia Expense Breakdown

Adoption Fee Paid to Spence Chapin: $8,300

Intake and/or Registration ($300)

Professional Services Fee ($8,000)*

Other Costs in the United States: $830

CIS Approval (I-600A)

Translation and Document Expenses: $400

Documents (average)

Colombia Program Fee: $2,755

Attorney/ representative's honoraria, including but not limited to fees incurred while in country, such as transportation, additional documentation, etc. ($2000)

Legal/ document fees (includes child's passport, adoption decree, amended birth certificate, visa medical, visa fee, etc) ($755)

Travel Costs: $6,000

Includes 2 round triip airfares, one-way airfare for baby, hotel, food, transportation and incidental expenses (approximated and varies according to region where children come from and season)

Orphanage Donation is Voluntary

Estimated Total Costs for Colombia Adoption:
$18,285- $21,285

*Spence-Chapin's professional fee is calculated at 7% of adjusted gross income (agi) of adoptive parent(s). A family with an agi of $57,000 or less would pay $4,000, with an agi of $114,000 would pay the median fee of $8,000, and a family with an agi of $180,000 and above would pay $12,000. Updated December 2007.