An Adoption Story
A Pakistan Adoption Story of Faith, Patience, and Family
Hand in Hand International Adoptions
Yusuf and Tanya proudly and officially welcomed their Dream Baby into their family last week when their daughter Ruqaiya’s adoption was finalized following a three-year journey. Ruqaiya was placed with them when she was just a month old and they are already quite the family unit, having traveled back to the States together from Pakistan almost a year ago. But this family’s journey was anything but ordinary.
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OUR STORY
How Yusuf and Tanya Began Their International Adoption Journey
In 2017, Yusuf and Tanya decided to build their family through adoption and began researching the options available to them. The Muslim couple from Colorado found an agency in New York that specialized in adoptions from two Muslim countries, Morocco and Pakistan. Yusuf and Tanya then selected Hand In Hand as their home study and post-placement agency. In April of 2018, after 13 months of work, they traveled to Pakistan to start the trip that would make their dream come to life.
What Adopting from Pakistan Actually Looks Like
Things in Pakistan work a little differently than typical international adoptions. Yusuf and Tanya were directed to visit a local orphanage and meet with the Director to explain why they should be chosen as parents to an orphan. After their initial visit, they were told to visit or call an orphanage every day to check and see if there was a baby matched to them. As the weeks went by, Yusuf and Tanya continued to wait without a match.
When a Government Hold Paused Their Adoption
During this process, the US Government unexpectedly placed a hold on adoptions from Pakistan and put the entire Pakistan program under review. For over 2 months, Yusuf and Tanya waited in Pakistan, unable to be matched. When the review was finally completed, and their adoption process could resume, Yusuf and Tanya were advised to try another less-known orphanage. They decided to give it a shot, feeling hopeful, as they had nothing to lose.
The Moment They Were Matched: “We Have a Baby for You”
From the moment that Yusuf and Tanya visited the new orphanage, something felt different. For a couple hours they sat through interviews with several people, the Director and Board Members to name a few. Suddenly, in the middle of the third interview, the orphanage leaders turned to them and said, “We have a baby for you.” With those 6 words, their lives were instantly changed. While this orphanage had never made a same-day decision, the family learned that there is a first time for everything. Moments later, they met their daughter. They felt instantly connected to her and suddenly their seemingly endless journey towards parenthood made perfect sense.
Bringing Ruqaiya Home: Paperwork, Patience, and Finalization
Life threw lots of challenges in Yusuf and Tanya’s way, and it didn’t stop once they were matched with Ruqaiya. Once she was placed with them, it took 8 months to get the paperwork completed to obtain permission to return to the United States. It took another year for her adoption to be finalized in Colorado. Tanya summed it up well, saying, “All along it felt like it was taking forever and there was no end in sight. And then we literally got our Dream Baby. We got the perfect baby for us at the perfect time for us.”
Congratulations to Yusuf, Tanya, and Ruqaiya
Congratulations, Yusuf, Tanya, and your beautiful Ruqaiya. Thank you for letting Hand in Hand be a part of your journey!
Frequently Asked Questions About International Adoption
How long does a Pakistan adoption typically take?
For Yusuf and Tanya, the process took about three years from their initial decision to adopt in 2017 to their daughter Ruqaiya’s finalized adoption in Colorado — including a 13-month preparation period, a 2-month government hold, and roughly 8 months to secure permission to return to the US after being matched.
Why was there a hold on adoptions from Pakistan?
During Yusuf and Tanya’s adoption process, the US Government temporarily paused the Pakistan adoption program while it conducted a full review. Their process resumed once the review was complete.
What does the matching process look like for a Pakistan adoption?
In Brazil, orphanages are called abrigos, or children’s shelters. They are government-supervised facilities caring for children who have been placed in state custody. Children in shelters have been legally cleared for adoption by Brazilian authorities before they are available for international placement.
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