We're making progress!

I originally posted this blog in March and was incredibly overwhelmed at the time by the amount of paperwork that we would have to get together.  A couple months into the process, we are just about done with the paperwork chasing and it wasn't so bad after all.  So, here's an update on where we stand:


Your Checklist for the Ethiopia Adoption Process: Track progress by dating each step as you complete it:

1. Pre-Adoption

• Application to Holt Done!
  
• Acceptance to the Ethiopia Program Done!
  
• PIP classes modules 1 & 2 (Or classes provided by home study agency) Done!
  
• Instructions are made available to families who wish to get a “head start” on putting dossier together Received 3/26
  
• Home Study is completed. It will be submitted to Eugene office for review and approval. Done!
• Family is invoiced for dossier fee when home study is received and approved Paid!
• File I 600A Done 6/1
• Finger Print Approval
• Home Study is sent to USCIS to complete I-600A application Done 6/1
• I-600 A approval (I-171H or 797C) received. Fax your I-171H approval (once you receive it) to the Holt Eugene office. It must be received prior to travel.
  

2. Dossier Preparation - We have all the necessary paperwork to submit our Dossier except for photocopies of our passports, which we should receive within the next two weeks.  We just need to have everything notarized, and off it will go!

• Eugene Office sends dossier completion instructions (enclosed with this packet of information) to family
• Dossier submitted to Holt for review and final processing
• Because families are required to travel to complete their adoption, it is necessary that they have a current passport. If you do not have one, apply for one now! Done!
• Holt will forward the dossier to the U.S. Department of State and Ethiopian Embassy in
• Washington, D.C. for authentication.
• Authenticated dossier will then be sent to Holt staff in Ethiopia for translation and preparation for court.

3. Child Referral

• Holt refers a child to family. The referral comes in the form of a child study (with photo) and medical report
• Family consults with pediatrician, social worker, and others as appropriate and informs Holt of decision
• If the family accepts the referral of this child, the family will be sent a placement agreement and an invoice for the program fee.

4. Ministry of Women Affairs (MOWA) Approval & Court Process

• Dossier is received by Holt staff in Ethiopia
• When the family is matched with a child, a petition for adoption and copies of the dossier will be filed with Federal Court
• Holt staff in Ethiopia will submit dossier and child referral information to MOWA for review
• When MOWA grants its approval, the paperwork proceeds immediately to the Ethiopian court
• Court hearing is held and court issues order of adoption

5. Child Visa to enter U.S. and Family Travel

• Child’s birth certificate, Ethiopian passport, and Ethiopian exit visa are obtained by Holt
• Ethiopia staff.
• Child is taken to the doctor for final physical checkup and visa pictures are taken.
• Holt will advise when the family can confirm travel arrangements to Ethiopia; typically 3-6 weeks after court documents, child’s birth certificate and child’s passport are secured
• Travel to Ethiopia: Family will be provided travel information by Holt.
• Completed Affidavit of Vaccination, I-600 and I- 864 documents are hand-carried to Ethiopia.
• Rev. 3/10 4
• File visa paperwork and fee and interview with US Embassy in Addis Ababa. Holt staff will assist and schedule.
• Family obtains necessary transit visa for countries you pass through en route to US (if necessary)
• Child is issued U.S. visa and family can travel home

6. Post-placement requirements and schedule

• Post Placement visits with Social Worker at one, three and six months after arrival.
  
• Family to finalize adoption in the U.S. and send copy of decree to Holt, Holt will send copies to Ethiopia
• Family to obtain Naturalization (citizenship) affidavit (form N-600) and send copy to Holt. Holt will send it to Ethiopia
• Family to submit post-placement reports annually (12 months from placement date) to Holt. Holt will send to Ethiopia. This is required annually until child is 18 years old

So, that was the entire process...beginning to end. The following is what we're working on right now: (The (N) means we have to have it notarized. The (C) means it has to be a certified copy.)

MAIN DOSSIER

• Dossier Family Profile Summary form Done!
• A short type-written statement from parents addressed to the Ministry of Women’s Affairs stating why you are interested in adopting from Ethiopia; please date and have each adoptive parent sign (N) Done!
• 2 passport size photos of each parent Waiting on Matt's passport.
• Home Study Report (with Home Study Update, if applicable) (N,C) Done!
• Agency licenses (one from Home Study agency if different from Holt, Holt will add its own) (N) Done!
• Power of Attorney for adoptive parents (N,C) Done!
• Certified Birth Certificate of each parent. Issued as a “certified copy” with raised seal, no notarization needed. Done!
• If you are a Naturalized US Citizen, Certified Copy of Certificate of Naturalization, and notarized, color copy of US Passport N/A
• Certified Marriage Certificate and Divorce Decrees (if applicable) Issued as a “certified copy” with raised seal, no notarization needed. Done!
• 2 Letters of Recommendation (New and separate from what you’ve previously submitted for home study; must be dated, addressed: To Whom It May Concern, and signed (N) Done!  Thank you Deuels and Midthuns!
• Police clearance for each parent from local law enforcement agency (N) Done!  Whew!
• Medical certificates from Physician - one for each parent; use template included., Copy onto clinic’s letterhead first (N) Done!
• Employers' Letter (including any benefits and Life Insurance coverage in letter) (N) Done!
• Most recent Income Tax 1040 (1st 2 pages) (N) Done!
• Attestation and Declaration of Personal Condition (Form included) (N) Done!
• Bank Letter (N) (Sample Included) Done...and this was a toughy!
• Certificate from Parents re: Post Placement Agreement Reports (Form Included) (N) Done!
• OTHER REQUIRED DOCUMENTS TO SUBMIT
• In addition to the above listed original documents, one full photocopied set of those documents is required. No staples in the photocopied set! We suggest you make a copy for yourself too.
• I-171H document from USCIS. (the approval of your I-600A) This can be submitted separately if above items are ready.