Thursday, August 25, 2011

NEWS FLASH - Priority EP Processes for Korean-Americans Announced

The Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) has just sent out an official notice to the three intercountry adoption (ICA) agencies in Korea (Holt, Eastern, and SWS) that MOHW will now provide priority Exit Permit (or Emmigration Permit) service to Korean-American couples.  MOHW has determined that the definition for Korean-American couple to include couples where one is a Korean descent.  This also includes adoptee as well.  It is MOHW's belief that children being adopted to Korean-American couples will experience less identify and cultural adjustment issues, thus priority service should be given to expedite Korean-American adoption. 

The agencies are to notify the cooperating agencies in the US on this new policy and provide a feedback to MOHW by September 30, 2011. This new priority service will go into effect immediately.

21 comments:

  1. What a good news for the Korean American families! I am more than happy to hear this news.

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  2. While I am so thrilled for those APs of Korean American descent, the reason given for this decision makes no sense. If children adopted to KAs have an easier time adjusting, wouldn't it make sense to send children home earlier to non KA families as well, as their adjustment would be easier if they came home at a younger age? Also, does this mean that other children will be waiting even longer in order to give this priority status thus making their adjustment even more difficult? Or does it mean that more EPs will be granted in order to facilitate this new priority status?

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    1. It means that other children will be waiting longer in order to give priority status to Korean Americans thus making their adjustment even more difficult. And, apparently sibling referrals hold no priority. But, that's just been my experience. I have been waiting for my son since June 2011 & he's 1 1/2 now.

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  3. So the children going to non-Korean American homes are now going to be punished for it? If Korean children in white families already have a difficult time of it (according to the Korean government), why make it MORE hard on them by delaying their placement? This is backwards thinking.

    Does this mean the last of the EPs are going to be gobbled up by Korean Americans and everybody else will have to move to the back of the line?

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  4. This is great news for Korean American families. Is there anything in the announcement about whether their EPs will count toward the quota?

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  5. As a non-Korean waiting mom (we received our son's referral in Nov-2010), I'm eager to hear how this change will be implemented. I understand why the Korean government wants to give preferential treatment to Korean-American families, and I don't argue with that reasoning. But I would hate to think that the EP of my son and other children who are waiting to go home to non-Korean families will be penalized for it.

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  6. I understand the frustration that many of you feel towards this decision. However, I would not interprete the decision by the Korean government (MOHW) to mean that they are punishing or penalizing any non-Korean heritage families. I would view more in terms of them preferring to place children and make it easier for Korean-Americans to adopt as they consider this type of adoption to be more closely related to domestic adoption.

    At MPAK, I have advocated for many years to MOHW to exempt Korean-American adoption from the quota. This would open up more adoptions by non-Korean heritage families. It would also put no boundary for Korean-American adoption. But so far MOHW has not granted this request.

    Exempting the Korean-American adoption adoptions from the quota would be wonderful as there are so many children that need homes and there are so many wonderful and loving non-Korean heritage families that are willing to raise them. If it was up to me, I would abolish the quota system altogether.

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  7. Can you define Korean-American couple? I ask because I am half Korean (husband is white) and we are in the process of adopting. I assume we would not qualify, but am grasping for hope of when we may bring our son home.

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  8. Thanks again Steve for this news. I am a Korean-born US citizen (Korean American) and although it is great news, I am equally discouraged that the Korean government would not consider the best interest of the child (length of time it has been taking to come home). I also hope that these KA EP quotas will be separate from their other quotas and not prolong these families from receiving their child...I remember so clearly how hard this waiting period is/was. I pray for all the families that the peace of God that transcends understanding would guard them.

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  9. Do you know if this includes siblings? We received a phone call that our son has a biological brother in Korea and we are in the process of adopting him.

    Thanks

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  10. Steve: Thank you for working so hard on behalf of all KAs who are adopting.

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  11. Steve said: "I understand the frustration that many of you feel towards this decision. However, I would not interprete the decision by the Korean government (MOHW) to mean that they are punishing or penalizing any non-Korean heritage families. I would view more in terms of them preferring to place children and make it easier for Korean-Americans to adopt as they consider this type of adoption to be more closely related to domestic adoption."

    Steve, you can "view" it any way you want, but no amount of "viewing" changes the fact that children going to non-KA families are penalized. It's not morally responsible to simply accept the intentions of policies. The outcomes must be scrutinized.

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  12. I couldn't agree more with the prior posting. These are all Korean babies regardless of who they are being adopted by and they have the right to be with their family irregradless of parent ethnicity as soon as possible. Our daughter is caught in this EP backlog and we have been waiting a long time already, I hate to think how much longer this may extend our wait and our crucial time to bond. The long term implications of this decision must be evaluated closely.

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  13. Steve: Thank you for all the work you do. I find myself agreeing with other posts. We received the referral of our daughter in March of this year. We have not yet been submitted for an EP and we are not Korean. We should be in the next group (provided there is one). Now, with Korean Americans getting priority, we may not be in the next batch. I have tried to be so patient and this change is extremely hurtful to those of us that have been waiting through all of the recent changes. I understand that it may be best for Korean Americans to get referrals faster, but this should hold no bearing on EPs. We have tried to be patient and I feel like this is yet anther step backwards for our family.

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  14. I have a problem with the use of the word "penalized." No one is being punished. We are all on the same page in terms of wanting the best for the children. Can't we support one another? A source told me that the ratio of Korean-American families to non Korean-American families is quite insignificant; 5 KA families within 100 families. My sources tell me that Korean-American families will be taken out of the quota system and be treated like Korean families who live in Korea and adopt domestically. I have observed the discussions on the Holt boards after the MOHW information was released. I was shocked by the racist and divisive reactions of non-Korean individuals. They need to check themselves and look at their own prejudices. Anything that is said harshly against the Korean government is not looked upon favorably and inevitably can affect how the Korean government perceives you as well as how you treat your future children, your Korean children. I advise those who hold resentments, get them out now so that you don't pass it on to your children. Just a reminder, Korean adoptees read the Holt boards and these boards. Please have compassion for your fellow families- Korean or non-Korean families. We all want love and bonding with our children.

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  15. Has anyone heard any updated on this program change? I am a KA in process and my agency seems clueless about the policy change. I was wondering if it was the same everywhere or just my luck.

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  16. Steve's reply to the last Anoymous comment... Due to this year's EP has already been submitted for approval and the quota already filled, there will be no priority process for KA couples. We will just have to see what happens in 2012.

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  17. I am a KA in process. I know I will be in the 2012 group. It would be nice to know if I am expidited to January. My agency still hasn't heard anything from the Korean agency on any changes to the EP policy for KAs.

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  18. Thank you, Steve!
    We are still in the early stages of our adoption (final homestudy is today!) - this news is bitter sweet. As a KA, I'm thrilled with the news, but at the same time, very upset some families have waited or are still waiting to bring their kids home. When we adopted our son from Korea 6 years ago, we waited 3 months for our EP and I thought I was going to die from waiting so long! So, I can't even imagine what these other families are going though, waiting much longer than 3 months!

    Is there anything we can do? You do some much for the Korean adoption community, how can we help bring a bigger voice to the people who make these decisions in Korea? These kids need love, a home and a family! And the families here need THEM!

    Thanks!

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  19. What is the current update on EP Processes for Korean-American now with the long delay of the EP

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  20. This is the first that I've heard of this. We were referred in June 2012 and are waiting for EP. My husband is Korean, born in Seoul with his mother and father Korean descent. Our child also is an older child and has special needs. Is this priority EP process still in effect, and if so, what can one do to implement it?

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