[ruthieclaire]

Hi! Just wanted to hear positive and negative stories about the process of adopting from Ethiopia. We sent our dossier to China on April 13, 2007 and we are looking at a 3+ year wait (yikes!). Our large China-only agency said we could pursue another international adoption as long as we have one year between getting the other baby home and leaving for China. I certainly wouldn't want to start the Ethiopia adoption and have it turn into a 2+year wait. We would be open to either gender but would want 0-12 months old. By the way, we're wanting two children...it's not like we're just impatient with China! Any thoughts would be appreciated! Thanks!
ruthieclaire

[ocracoke]

I completed my adoption in 11 months -- start to finish. As the Ethiopia program gets more popular I think some times will increase. However, I don't think most agencies are near the 2 year mark. I also think if you picked one of the newer agencies it could be really quick since their client base is not huge yet. I found Ethiopia to be clear, easy and straight forward. I have heard that the dossier for Ethiopia is one of the easiest for international adoption but I have nothing to compare it to since I have only adopted from Ethiopia. 3 years sounds like a long time to wait. I do know of one couple who will be bringing home children from Ethiopia this summer and then one from China in the winter so it is possible to do. Best of luck to you.

Samantha

[dajnda]

ruthieclaire -
i'd double check with your agency about adopting while waiting for china. Since you'll have to redo your I-171h while you wait, that'll change your eligibility. Also, there seems to be some discussion and confusion if intirim adoptions (while waiting on china) are allowed. We started with China, and plan to adopt again (not thru China). I adore our daughter, but if i knew then what I know now I probably would have adopted a sibling group. This adoption will be our 5th child, and since China's not an option, we'll have 2 daughters from different races (and that's cause for concern with some family and friends). anyway, starting to babble, but i'd look into it, if China's the way to go. (Rumor queen has quite a heated discussion on the Private Forum Page regarding this issue).
Good luck,
-Amy (and hubby)
sons ages 8,9,10
daughter adopted 11/8/06

[ruthieclaire]

Thank you all for your responses. Amy, I will check out RQ's discussion about that. Our large China-only agency acted like it would be fine but we definitely don't want to do anything to interfere with our China adoption. I'll keep nosing around. Thanks!
rc

[dajnda]

Hi ruthieclaire -
today, RQ posted her analysis about concurent adoptions. . . pretty interesting stuff, I think. Let us know how it turns out and good luck on your china adoption.
-Amy

[mclenning]

I am having the same thoughts. Our LID to China is 4-15-07. The thought of waiting 2 or 3 years even just doesn't seem bearable. I wonder all that you have to do to switch countries. Our agency is just starting with Ethiopia, but haven't heard back from our contact person at our agency. I am really confused, but my heart keeps leading me to Ethiopia after just a few weeks ago hearing all about my sister-in-laws adoption form Ethiopia. They had such a fantastic experience, and the children were all so loved and so well take care of. I am rambling now, just not sure about heading down the paperwork trail again.

[teranga]

The paperwork trail is really not bad for Ethiopia. Nothing like China. You can complete it (at least with the agency we used) in one week. That's right--one week. Not at all a big deal. Our process was 6 months start to finish, although I hear the process is closer to a year now. But that's from day one to wonderful baby in your arms...so still not too long! Good luck with whatever you decide!

[ruthieclaire]

We are having trouble finding an agency that does Ethiopia adoptions that will work with us while we continue to wait for China. They tell us they don't do that. If anyone has the name of an agency that will work with families on an Ethiopia adoption while you "stay in line" for the China adoption, could you please let me know? Many thanks!
ruthieclaire

[Alice-in-Wonderland]

Hello Teranga,

could you please pm me about your agency?

[ssirc]

We are in a similar situation. We submitted our Dossier to China 1/07 and are being told by our China only agency that wait time for referral is still another 13-15 mo. away. We are considering Ethiopia. Does anyone know the process for getting the I-171 H amended from China to Ethiopia, or do we need to submit a whole new I-600 A? Having trouble finding anyone at USCIS who knows. Also, anyone know if our local social worker could contract with our new agency to update our current homestudy from China to Ethiopia rather then start from scratch?

Also, any suggestions on forums to hear the experiences of white families raising an African child in the US? Would like to hear the feedback from other families who have experienced first hand. Thanks!