How to Adopt From Ethiopia
In 2005, 441 children were adopted from Ethiopia into American families. This number has been increasing over the last few years as more families have become familiar with adoption from Ethiopia. While adoption from Ethiopia is a beautiful way to build your family, it is an involved process, requiring the completion of several steps before you'll bring your baby home. Read on to learn what those are.
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Instructions
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Select an agency that is licensed to facilitate adoptions from Ethiopia. Be sure to select your agency carefully. Ask for references from several families who have completed adoptions from Ethiopia using the agency.
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Determine if you are eligible to adopt from Ethiopia. Generally prospective adoptive parents (PAPs) must be married couples or heterosexual single women. PAPs should be at least 25 years old and no more to 49 years old to adopt an infant. PAPs should be in good health and able to show sufficient income to parent the child. Check with your agency for additional requirements.
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Gather the paperwork necessary to complete your dossier. You'll need birth certificates, a marriage certificate, divorce decrees, police reports, medical reports, financial statements, employment letters, references, request to adopt, copies of passport photos and photos of you and your home. Check with you agency for additional paperwork required for the dossier.
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Work with your social worker to complete a home study. Then send the home study with an application for the I-171H form to the local office the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. Wait to receive your I-171H in the mail.
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Send your completed dossier to your agency. Staff at the agency will make sure your dossier is complete and then forward the completed dossier to Ethiopia.
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Wait for your referral and then determine if you are going to accept the referral. Once you have accepted the referral, you'll need to wait an additional 1 to 2 months before you are cleared to travel to Ethiopia.
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Travel to Ethiopia to meet and bring home your child. Some families may have the option to have their child escorted to them; however, agencies often discourage this practice.
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Tips & Warnings
Families waiting to adopt boys through international adoption from Ethiopia have a shorter wait than families waiting for girls. Also, families waiting for older children or children with special needs, will have a shorter wait period.
