Ethiopian Facts and Figures

Life expectancy: 42 years old

Population subsisting below $2/day - close to 80%
Average births per woman: 6.14
Deaths from pregnancy/abortion related: 1 in 7
Women dying from TB is 96 per 100,000

Children dying from AIDS: 1 in 16
Percentage of AIDS cases in the world: 7%

Female genital mutilation: >80%
Women experiencing rape: 25%

Newborns dying before age one - 1 in 10
Children dying before age 5 - 1 in 6
Orphans - 4 million
Children under 5 stunted from malnutrition - >50%

Literacy 41%
for women 26.4%
High school attendance for females 8.5%

-source

The Timeline

1/3/08 - Homestudy Agency (Partners for Adoption) application sent.

1/10/08 - Officially establish relationship with HS agency

1/13/08 - First Contact with our Social Worker

1/17/08 - Application to Placement Agency (Adoption Avenues)

1/17/08 - I600A form mailed to USCIS

1/17/08 - Livescan fingerprinting for HS agency

1/23/08 - Livescan again for Department of Justice for State police clearance letter for our Dossier

1/23/08 - First homestudy visit

2/1/08 - Second homestudy visit

2/21/08 - Homestudy complete

2/29/08 - Police Clearance Letter arrived from DOJ

3/3/08 - Homestudy mailed to USCIS

3/4/08 - Received our USCIS FBI fingerprinting appointment

3/11/08 - Dossier is Complete

3/11/08 - FBI fingerprinting done for USCIS

4/2/08 - I600A approved

4/9/08 - Actual I171H (approval form) in our hands

4/14/08 - Authentication of documents completed

4/14/08 - The dossier has been sent to placement agency

4/16/08 - The dossier received by the placement agency

4/21/08 - The dossier has been sent to Washington DC.

4/28/08 - I171H being sent to Addis

5/6/08 - The dossier sent to Ethiopia

5/7/08 - I171H at the embassy; case number assigned.

5/22/08 - Registration of dossier in Ethiopia complete - Officially waiting for a referral!

7/7/08 - Referral

7/23/08 - Assigned a court date of Oct 7, 2008

8/6/08 - 9/30/08 - Court Closure

10/7/08 - Court Date #1 (postponed)

11/6/08 - Court Date #2 (successful)

12/12/08 - Travel date

12/15/08 - US Embassy Appt. in Addis Ababa

12/17/08 - Visa issued for baby by US Embassy

12/20/08 - Home from Ethiopia with Hana

03/2009 - 3 month post-placement report complete

07/2009 - 6 month post-placement report complete

07/20/09 - Readoption Complete!

12/2/2009 - Certificate of Citizenship application mailed
12/2/2009 - Social Security Number/Card applied for

12/7/2009 - Social Security Card Arrives.
12/7/2009 - Passport Application sent.

12/15/2009 - 1 year post-placement visit complete.

01/15/10 - Passport Arrived; Post-placement report complete.

3/4/2010 - Certificate of Citizenship obtained. Citizenship ceremony complete.

Final Documents needed in Addis Ababa

• US Dept of State Visa Services Overview
  
• Forms and Fees
  
• Form I600 - Petition to Classify Orphan as an Immediate Relative (no additional fee)
  
• The Form I864 - Affidavit of Support (no fee if done abroad)
  
• The Form I864A - Contract between *other* household members and the immigrant (supplement to I864 if needed) - no fee
  
• Form DS-230 - Application for Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration ($355)
  

Information for Travel and Health

• Useful Information for Travel to Ethiopia*
  
• US embassy referrals for medical care in Addis
  
• opinion: what to bring/timeline
  
• Vaccines for travel - one POV
  
• CDC travel to Ethiopia information
  
• MD Travel Health
  
• MDtravelhealth.com
  
• Travel information - health
  
• Orphan Allies - medical travel kits
  
• Orphan Doctor - things pertinent to Ethiopia
  
• Pediapak for travel
  
• The Humanitarian Mission Experience
  
• Susan Parr Travel Agnecy
  
• Travel docs - to obtain the tourist visa?
  
• US Passport application
  

Adoption Avenues Families

• Road to Ethiopia - Camino a Etiopia*
  

  Ethiopian New Year’s Celebration - Another Ethiopian New Year is coming and as always there will be celebrations around the US. In my town, Portland, OR, the local Ethiopian Community will g...

  9 hours ago
• Wherever you go, go with all your heart.- Rachel
  

  Tutorial: How to Hand Sew a Quilt Binding - I've come to find that my favorite part of sewing a quilt is hand sewing the binding to the quilt backing. Perhaps it's because I'm finally *so close*to...

  3 days ago
• To Ethiopia and Back - Tania*
  

  A YEAR in review - Wow, I knew I was behind on blogging, but a year? A WHOLE year? I guess I have some catching up to do. So, here goes, from August 6th of 2010 to present......

  2 weeks ago
• My Couture Life - Leah*
  

  The Weekend Flew By.. - Sunday already..wow the week has flown by so fast, and has thrown me some obstacles to over come, and I am still trying to figure them out. I saw this pict...

  3 months ago
• A growing family's journey - Donica and Paul
  

  Captiva Spring Break: photo book.... - Captiva 2011 | Make Your Own Book

  4 months ago
• Set Apart For Him - Joy*
  

  Join Us for One Day Without Shoes - Join Us for One Day Without Shoes

  5 months ago
• Special Delivery
  

  The Fruits of My Labor... - ...bit me in the a*$ today! Today is a sick day in our house. I have a sinus infection. Addia's stomach has seen better days. After the doctor's office...

  5 months ago
• Blessings from Ethiopia - Boyds*
  

  Ayana soooo Tired! - I haven't had time to post in a while but I couldn't help but share this. I am probably a terrible mom for posting this but I can't help it, it's soooo fun...

  7 months ago
• life is a journey
  

  We’re Home! - After an exceedingly long journey we are home! My little darling is safe in my arms and is busily making her demands known…Who am I kidding? I have to fi...

  8 months ago
• Okrasinski Family Addition - Jeanne*
  

  Life down south - We have had some wonderful days lately. I can't tell you just how much Eli and Ru have exploded in their language skills. I gave Eli a cookie for d...

  10 months ago
• Thoughts from the Teahouse - Lisa
  

  Nostalgia - Remember when I first started blogging and I used to post the *'What's for Dinner?*' section and even included the next day's meal? That was great.

  1 year ago
• MOE's adoption
  

  Another anniversary - One year ago, four weary travelers arrived at the Indianapolis airport and greeted an excited family. I can't believe it has already been a year, but I als...

  1 year ago
• The World of Weeks
  

  What a Day **Updated** - I was so excited at the start of my day. We received word that our Just Love Coffee Roasters storefront was open so we could begin our "Bring Naomi Home" f...

  1 year ago
• The River to Africa - Jesi and Joe
  

  Everyone needs a laugh sometimes - Ok, so my brother emailed this to me and I was really laughing as I read through this. And, since I felt like I really needed that laugh, I figured there ...

  1 year ago
• Mona +one
  

  Trip To Seattle - Last month my sister-in-law called and told me she missed Janissa - so would I please visit. Since I wasn't working and won't be able to take a vacation fo...

  1 year ago
• The Lowery Clan
  

  Thanks everyone! - Amy and her husband were also very generous with their donations and will hopefully help us lug the goods over when they go to pick up their children! :)

  2 years ago
• Zeltins Family*
  

  another growth spurt? - Ok, I'm up at 5am and not lovin' every minute of it... Seems Weredesh is going through another growth spurt? She's wanting to eat like CRAZY a few times in...

  2 years ago
• St. Clair*
  

  Jan 2008 - Time for the potentially boring life details that I need to keep track of. Feel free to skip ahead to the pics below! We just had Paige's 2 year appt. She ...

  2 years ago
• Finding Baby Opie - Holly
  

  7 months and beyond... -

  2 years ago
• Blogger: Login to read
  

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Link List

• Full List of Ethiopian Adoption Blogs by Agency
  
• Ethiopian Embassy in DC - Authentication
  
• U.S. Department of State - Federal Authentication
  
• US Dept of State Intercountry Adoption
  
• CA Secretary of State - Authentication Information
  
• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
  
• USCIS email inquiry process
  
• information about the USCIS paperwork
  
• Office of the Attorney General - Department of Justice
  
• Our Homestudy Agency - Partners for Adoption
  
• Our Placement Agency - Adoption Avenues
  
• The Toukoul Orphanage - the place our agency uses
  
• adoption.com - packed with info
  
• AdoptionBLOGS.com - packed with info
  
• African Child Forum - useful info regarding ET
  
• AFRICAN CRADLE
  
• FAQ
  
• Some Ethiopian History
  
• The Language - Amharic
  
• Obama - We are the ones with Zoe Kravitz
  

Other adoption blogs

• Waiting for Isa
  
• The Perfect "Princess Parker"*
  
• The Hyman Adoption Journey*
  
• The Howletts
  
• Precious in His sight
  
• Our Story
  
• Our Plus One
  
• Our Journey to Addis Ababa*
  
• Our Family Expansion
  
• Our Ethiopian Adoption Story
  
• Our Cradle of Civilization
  
• My little sweet potato
  
• My Ethiopian Princess
  
• Lil Jen - The Life of a Mom
  
• Life with Maya
  
• Life of the DeYoungs
  
• klepac community
  
• Julia MacMonagle
  
• Journey to family - f/the Valley
  
• Jayme and Jon's Adoption Journey
  
• Harvard to Housewife
  
• Habeshahouse
  
• guzo: ethiopia*
  
• Girl from Ethiopia
  
• Fully Operational Battlestation*
  
• Ethiopian Princess
  
• Ethiopian Child Adoption Journey
  
• Ethiopia - Here we come*
  
• Drew Carey Show
  
• Destination: Ethiopia*
  
• Dandies in the Sunshine
  
• Bringing Home Baby Ian
  
• Blue collar adoption
  
• Bekah's Story
  
• All of these reasons*
  
• Adopting Morgan
  
• ...ramblings on the adoption of (Quint and) Keira
  
• Ethiopian Tripletland
  

Adding perspective

• An article
  
• My Sisters Adoption Essay
  
• transracial korean adoptee...
  
• Twice the Rice
  
• Transracial Abductees
  
• Swerl
  
• Harlow's Monkey
  

LeToukoul Orphanage - the orphanage our placement agency uses

LeToukoul Orphanage

The Process Overview

-First you decide to adopt.

-International vs. domestic

-Decide on the country.

-Find homestudy (HS) agency - needs to be licensed in your state to conduct homestudies in your area.

-Find Placement Agency - there are no California placement agencies for Ethiopia. Actually, there are only a handful licensed in Ethiopia to conduct adoptions in America. So, you have to find one of those...and establish a relationship with them.

-Fill out out the I600A application for advance processing of orphan petition. Accompanying this application you'll need: birth/marriage certificates, proof of employment, proof of health insurance coverage for an adopted child, and of course a fee.

-Complete the homestudy - consisting of interviews, lots of papers, letters from friends, fingerprinting with child abuse index check, and an actual inspection of your home.

-Send completed homestudy to USCIS to complete the I600A application - and wait for FBI fingerprinting appointment.

-If the USCIS approves you, you get the I171H form (after the fingerprinting and review of the documents)

In the meantime...

-Completion of the dossier - papers that are required to go to the Ethiopian Government for referral of an orphan. (including the I171H form).

-Notarize the papers you've collected for the dossier. These papers include a positive homestudy report and a state police clearance letter.

-Then take/send the notarized papers to Sacramento for Authentication (where they verify the authenticity of the notary stamp and signatures, and in doing so places the Great State Seal on the documents).

-Then send Dossier with a notarized copy of the I171H (the I600A approval) to the Placement agency.

-Be sure the I171H form goes to the US Embassy in Addis so you can get a case number.

-The Placement agency overnight sends the papers to Washington DC for Federal Authentication - this is where our federal government authenticates the Great State Seal....by placing the Great Seal of the United States on the documents. This is hand carried by an Agency representative in Washington DC.

-Then, the Ethiopian Embassy in Washington DC, recognizing the US Seal, accepts the documents. They are sent back to the Placement Agency, who then sends them to Ethiopia.

-Once Ethiopia has our documents they will be legalized, registered, translated - then we will then be eligible to get a referral.

-A referral - where they send you pictures and information about a child that you've been matched with based on the criteria you specified in your homestudy.


*Get travel ready during this time:
Decide whether or not you want to travel

Get Passports if necessary (the passport must be valid for at least 6 months post planned return date). Also get your children passports - both parents must be present.

Vaccinations and consultation with travel clinic.

Of course gather needed supplies and people.

Plan donations.

Plan travel details: Hotel, flight, etc.


-Get a Ethiopian Court date where your placement agency has a lawyer with power of attorney go and represent your family.

-Pass court.

-Get an US Embassy (in Addis Ababa) appointment date.

-Travel to go get child.

-Return home.

For the Placement Agency - Dossier

*all most of the documents need to be notarized: see here

Contracts and fees
Introduction letter to Ethiopina Government
Family registration form
Letter to the orphanage Toukoul
Letter to the Ethiopian Government
Financial information form
Letter from Bank
Letters of reference x2
Letters from Employer
Medical forms
Marriage certificate
Birth certificates for parents
Deed to home
Power of attorney
Passport photos (2 of each parent)
Family pictures
Ethiopian Program List
Homestudy agency license
Obligation of homestudy agency to do post-placement reports
Homestudy report
State Criminal Clearance Letter
USCIS approval I171H form

Things to gather for Homestudy Agency

Contracts and fees signed
Establish Fedex account
Autobiographies - before first homestudy visit
Authorization to release information form
Authorization for release of information form
Medical reports for each parent
Medical reports for each member of household, including kids
Employment Verification
Reference letters (4)
Livescan fingerprinting
Financial statement
Copy of financial statement to be used in dossier
Bank statements
Federal income tax 1040 form last 3 years
Housing statement
Guardiaship statement
Personal information sheet
Family photo and family of parents
Copy of birth certificates
Copy of passports
Copy of marriage certificate
HIPPA Authorization forms (ability to transfer medical info)
School performance report for each kid
Completion of education courses - book, test, online courses
Deed to our home
Criminal record statement
Explanation of incident
Certifed Court documents of the incident

Information needed to send with I600A form to USCIS

Obtaining the State Police Clearance Letter In California

Refer to this website - Office of the Attorney General DOJ. Take note of the far right hand column about half-way down - the information about "Visa/Immigration and Foreign Adoptions".

Download this form, as instructed.

Fill it out using this guideline.

Find a Livescan facility to get your fingerprints done (this is a separate livescan from the one you do for your homestudy agency; and they cannot 'save' fingerprints on the computer, so you have to do it twice, and pay twice).

They will mail you a printout to your home - no criminal record may take 1 day. Yes criminal record? Took 35 days for us.

Once the printout arrived, looking very unofficial, I called DOJ. Of course I got the run around as most of the automated pre-recorded messages are not very helpful - so I left a message. But there is one person who was tremendously helpful: (916) 227-3807, her name is Lena. She said she'd mail us a letter, on letterhead with a seal.

Two days later, a letter arrived - on letterhead with a Seal impression and signature. Attached to the letter is a printout (the same printout they initially mailed to us san the letter).

So, after getting the print-out, we had to call Lena and have her subsequently mail us the 'letter.'

See this post for more details.

Definitions

Dossier - a legal set of documents

Apostille - legalization of a document for international use under the terms of the 1961 Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents

Authentication - authentication of public official signatures on documents to be used outside the United States of America. The country of destination determines whether the authentication is an Apostille or Certification (basically legalization of a document for international use in a country *not* apart of the Hague Convention).

I600A - Application for advance processing of orphan petition

I171H - Approval of the I600A

Placement agency - Agency licensed to operate adoption procedures in a foreign country

Homestudy agency - Agency licensed in your state to do homestudies for your area.

The Referral Picture

Le Toukoul intake/referral 7 pounds and 4 months old

In Our Arms Day

10 months old; 14 pounds

One Week Home

in the hospital getting all those medical issues addressed

3 month post-placement

March, 2009. 13 months old

6 Months Home (almost)

At Disneyland Resort, 15 months old

1 year home

22 months old

Two Years Old

Home 14 months

Three Years Old

2 years, 4 months home