With Patience Comes News
Finally...My I-171H arrived in the mail today. The Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services sent my approval via a Notice of Favorable Determination Letter. I have been waiting for this letter since January 4, 2008 when the application was filed.
With that news, I called my caseworker at my agency only to find out I am officially #18 today on the girl's list and I remain #5 on the sibling list. Two places...not bad after seven weeks at #20.
So...what's next?
Below is an overview of an Ethiopian adoption process from the time my agency receives adoptive parents' completed dossier and home study.
Agency Sends Dossier for Authentication and Translation Check!
Agency will forward adoptive parents’ dossier to the U.S. State Department and the Ethiopian Embassy for authentication. Once processed, the agency will forward the dossier to our staff in Ethiopia where it is translated
Referral Process Check!
Once the dossier is in Ethiopia, adoptive parents can wait six to eight months for a referral of a child. Once referred, the agency will send the adoptive parents referral photos, medical information and the child’s background information, including any known family history. Upon acceptance of referral, the agency's foreign staff will submit adoptive parents’ dossier, with the referred child’s documentation to the Ministry of Women’s Affairs (MOWA).
Ministry of Women’s Affairs (MOWA) Reviews Documentation Check!
MOWA is the branch of the Ethiopian government that reviews all documentation submitted by the adoptive parents and on behalf of the referred child recommends the adoption to be finalized to the Federal Court of Addis Ababa.
Federal Court Date November 11, 2008 Check!
Once MOWA recommends the adoption to be finalized, a court appointment is scheduled. At this appointment, the judge can either finalize the adoption or ask for further documentation and set another court date. Once the adoption is finalized, the court decree, new birth certificate and passport are issued, and the adoptive parents can travel.
Travel December 6, 2008 - December 11, 2008
Adoptive parents should be ready to travel within two to four months after accepting a referral. One parent is required to travel and the in-country stay in Ethiopia is five to seven days. During this time, adoptive parents will complete the U.S. Embassy Immigration appointment for the adopted child, which is necessary to bring the child to the United States. The agency's in-country staff will accompany each family throughout their entire stay in Ethiopia.
Post-Adoption- Until the child turns 18 years old In Process
In Ethiopia, an adoption is finalized before entrance into the United States. Upon arrival, post-adoption reports are due at three, six, and 12 months on the anniversary of the U.S. Embassy appointment date. After the first year, family authored self reports are due every year until the child reaches 18 years of age.
4 comments:
Welcome to the bloggin' adoptive mommies group, Melissa! Now we have another thing that we can share. :-) Love the photos you've chosen for the blog...lovely, indeed.
I'm so glad to hear your news that you've moved up to #18...yippee!
Pamela
Congrats on that official movement! I am glad for the policy change, so you could get on the list w/o your FDL.
Amy
Congrats on the FDL. 2 places is great! Hopefully there will be more to come soon.
YIPPPEEEEEEe
You are movin' on up!
Post a Comment