Uzbekistan, a former Soviet republic and now an independent nation in Central Asia, offers attractive options to adoptive parents.
Wait times can be shorter, and, instead of a court appearance, the final adoption decision is made by the hokim, or local mayor.
In many locations in Uzbekistan, drug and alcohol use are not accepted for cultural reasons, so fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) and drug related problems are rare in these areas.
The Uzbek adoption procedure makes it possible to complete an adoption in a single trip.