How long does the surrogacy process take from start to finish?

Answer: The process can take upwards of 12-18 months from the initial consultation to us establishing parentage for you in court. This is assuming that you will be utilizing the service of both an egg donor and a surrogate.  The reason for the additional 2-7 months is that this process is very personal in nature. Therefore, it requires locating the perfect egg donor that you would like for your child to share genetic makeup with. Further, many intended parents require that they have the opportunity to get to know and bond with the egg donor and surrogate, which may take additional time. Finally, we make it our mission to protect your pecuniary and parental interest, therefore, we make sure to pay particular attention to each word of any and all agreements, to ensure that this is an effortless and enjoyable experience to you, our clients.

 

How do I begin the process?

Answer: Surrogacy Concierge delivers a full-service program starting with a free consultation. At this consultation, you will speak with one of our experienced attorneys as well as a case manager. The goal of the consultation is to insure that you are well informed, and understanding what our program entails. The consultation can be conducted in person, via phone or online via one of the many social media services (e.g. Skype or WeChat).

 

Why choose surrogacy in the United States, as apposed to abroad where cost may be significantly lower?

Answer: As one of the trailblazers in surrogacy laws and reproductive technology, many states in the U.S. have advanced technologies which are highly regulated to lessen the risk of physical risk to the surrogate mother or child. Further, California law is one of states that has the most liberal surrogate laws, providing for additional protections for intended parents. It is for this reason that when face with such high emotional and economically high stakes, that one would choose to pursue this journey not only in the United States, but in California.

 

Can I chose my own doctor?

Answer: Yes, if you already have a Fertility Specialist assisting you, you are welcome to continue using this doctor. We will contact and coordinate the cycle with your Fertility Clinic.  However, if you do not already have one, we will arrange for you to meet with doctors in our network so that you can find the one that you feel comfortable undertaking this journey with.

 

Can I be a parent if I’m single?

Answer: Absolutely, we are proud to work with intended parents of diverse backgrounds-single individuals, same-sex couples, and heterosexual couples.

 

Can I be a parent if I am or partner is HIV+?

Answer: Yes, because of advances in Assisted Reproductive Technologies, it is possible for babies to be born to parents with HIV without any significant risks to the baby or surrogate. Please contact us if you would like to learn more information about surrogacy for HIV+ intended parents.

 

How many visits will I have to make to the United States if I currently live abroad, but would like to undergo the process in the United States?

Answer: For international intended parents, it may be necessary for you to come to the U.S. at least 2 times for the creation of the embryos at the IVF clinic and for the delivery of the child. This is assuming that you will be using your own sperm or eggs. If you are not doing so, you will only need to come to establish parentage post birth.

For those who wish to carry their own child, it is common to visit the U.S. approximately 4 times during the process. The first visit is to have the medical screening conducted at the IVF clinic, the second visit is to complete the IVF procedure and embryo transfer, the third visit is for the 20-week ultrasound scan, and the final visit is for the delivery of your child.

 

How long should I expect to be in the United States during and after the delivery?

Answer: The time varies based on the process of the legal work and procedure required, including any DNA testing, court proceeding, the issuance of birth certificate, and the application for any visas and passports. Generally, we recommend our international intended parents to plan 2-4 weeks for these processes. Under the assistance of our experienced attorneys, you may go home sooner than expected.

 

If I don’t live in the United States, how will my child get a passport?

Answer: Regardless of the citizenship of the intended parents, United States law provides that a baby born in the U.S is automatically deemed a citizen of the United States, and is therefore entitled to a U.S. passport. Our immigration attorney will assist you in getting the U.S. passport and returning home with all proper documents.

 

How can we get Egg Donors/surrogates?

Answer: If we are unable to match you with one of our in house egg donors, we have an extensive network of egg donor and surrogacy agencies throughout the U.S that can help us locate the perfect match for you. You tell us what you are looking for, and how soon you are looking for it, and we make it happen.

 

How long is IVF cycle and how are the eggs retrieved?

Answer: It takes about 4-6 weeks to complete one cycle of IVF, which includes ovarian suppression, ovarian stimulation, egg retrieval and the creation of the embryo. The egg retrieval cycle takes around 2 weeks. The actual procedure will take approximately 30 minutes, with 1-2 hours recovery time.

 

What happens to any remaining frozen embryos?

Answer: Frozen embryos are stored at your IVF clinic. Your IVF clinic generally will ask and advise you of your options for the future of your embryos in the beginning of the IVF cycle. If you would like, you may also use the stored embryos for your future surrogacy needs.