Pauquette Children's Services' Mexico Program is open to prospective adoptive parents, married or single, at least 25 years of age.

The waiting time for a child is approximately 9-12 months after the completed dossier has reached the orphanage.   Preparation of your formal dossier for Mexico will typically take about six weeks after you have submitted all of your documents to Pauquette.  

The adoptive parents will need to hire an attorney in Mexico.  The professional relationship between the adoptive couple and the attorney is strictly between attorney and client in the same manner as any legal service.   Pauquette does take the role of facilitator between attorney and adoptive couple in an attempt to ease the frustration for the couple in regard to dossier preparation and the adoption process between the U.S. and Mexico.  

When you are initially referred a child, you are given a very brief description of the child which usually includes the date of birth, general health, weight, and height.  You will then give your initial acceptance of the child (or decline the referral).  If you have accepted, you will then receive the child's social summary, medical report, and usually, photos.  After you review these documents, you then give your final approval.

When you are notified that a court date has been set, and if you have pre-approval from INS, you are free to travel to Mexico to complete the legal work there.  Both husband and wife must travel to see the child before the legal work can be completed.  The length of stay is approximately one week.  About three of these days will be spent in Mexico City where you will obtain the child's passport and get local approval by the US Embassy.  Then you will travel to Ciudad Juarez and to obtain final medical exam and visa from the US Consul's office there.  You will need one day to travel to Ciudad Juarez and one day to obtain the visa before you can cross the border at El Paso and return home.

Since most of the children are abandoned, health history information will not be available.  However, health and developmental history from the time the children enter the orphanage is available.  The child will also receive a required health examination before the visa is issued in Mexico.  If, before leaving for Mexico, you have additional medical concerns, Pauquette will assist you to obtain a further medical examination.  

After your return from Mexico, you will receive a post-placement packet from Pauquette which will describe your process from that point.