[karla-k]

Hello, we are waiting to bring our son home from Kyrgyzstan and thinking about our next adoption. I am really interested in Ethiopia.

What is the wait like for a young infant boy? Longer, shorter, same as an older child?

Cost for everything, including travel?

Time frame from dossier submission to bringing baby home?

One trip, correct? So baby needs to be readopted in US?

We are anticipating beginning next fall, most likely and would really like to have the process wrapped up by the end of 2010. Based on today's timelines, is completing the process in 14 months possible or likely?

Is there a waiting period from homecoming to readoption in the US? What is that timeframe?

Thank you very much,
Karla

[ocracoke]

What is the wait like for a young infant boy? Longer, shorter, same as an older child?

This depends heavily on the agency that you use. Some agencies currently have a waiting for referral time frame of about 3-6 months and others are closer to the 12-18 month range. Generally speaking the longest wait time will be infant girls, then infant boys, then older children. Keep in mind that some agencies do not allow for gender preference (although some will allow you to specify a boy even if they will not let you specify a girl).

Cost for everything, including travel?

My adoption, including everything, was about 20k. Realistically I think you need to plan on the 20-25k range.

Time frame from dossier submission to bringing baby home?

This, too, seems to differ between the agencies. I brought my daughter home 8 weeks after referral (and I got my referral 11 weeks after submitting my dossier) but that was 2 years ago. I think it is typically in the 3-5 month range after referral to homecoming. Keep in mind that the Ethiopian courts close every year from early August to late September so if you court date is not done by July then you would be waiting longer. I have seen as long as 18 month aftrer referral for a child to come home but that was with agency problems and paperwork problems.

One trip, correct? So baby needs to be readopted in US?

You only do one trip. You can do 2 or you can escort. So typically the children come home on the IR4 visa which requires the readoption and applying for the Certificate of Citizenship.

We are anticipating beginning next fall, most likely and would really like to have the process wrapped up by the end of 2010. Based on today's timelines, is completing the process in 14 months possible or likely?

Depending on the agency you pick it may be very possible.

Is there a waiting period from homecoming to readoption in the US? What is that timeframe?

I think that is state dependent. You would need to check locally to see what your state requirements are. You have agency post placements due at 3, 6, and 12 months. I was required to not move for the readoption until the 2nd post placement visit was done.

Samantha

[karla-k]

thank you Samantha our agency is working on adding an Ethiopia program and we can't wait to check into it more.

Karla

[makarios79]

I'm also considering ethiopia for my next adoption...

I would greatly appreciate if anyone can PM me info on their experience with their agency, cost, current referral times...

More info on me...

I'm single

Age 28...almost 29

Mother of 2 boys that I adopted in Nov 2007 from foster care..ages 2.5 & almost 4...will most likely be 4 & 5 by the time I want to start process....

I want to adopt a girl age 12 months or younger...

I know that some agencies aren't allowing applications from singles at this time and some don't allow you to specify gender...

Any info that anyone can send me would be great...

[ocracoke]

Makarios,

Just took a quick glance at your blog. I will always encourage people to adopt from Ethiopia. I loved adopting from there and would love to return. I am not yet ready to adopt again but if I can I will. I am also single so I worry about the possibility that they will close to singles. Some agencies have already made the decision to no longer (temporarily or permanently) not accept single applications. I think we will have a better idea on the status of singles once their courts open again in a few weeks.

As you are aware some agencies allow you to pick gender and otheres don't. Some that generally don't might be open to you selecting because you already have 2 boys at home. I know that you are concerned about attachment issues - and they do happen in Ethiopia as well. My daughter was 21 months and it took about 2.3 seconds for her to attach to me -- just kidding, it was more like 48 hours. I am not a baby person so I would never ask for an infant however, here is food for thought. If you ask for an infant you are basically getting a blank slate with very little information. I know several people who adopting children with developmental or medical issues that were previously undetected. They were sometimes undetected because of the young age of the children. On the other hand my daughter had passed some significant milestones in her life and therefore there was more information as to where there might be some issues present (none). She was old enough to walk -- so was she? She was old enough to talk -- so was she? She was underweight. Was she attaching to her care givers? Just something to think about.

Samantha

[makarios79]

I know that you are concerned about attachment issues - and they do happen in Ethiopia as well. My daughter was 21 months and it took about 2.3 seconds for her to attach to me -- just kidding, it was more like 48 hours.
I am not a baby person so I would never ask for an infant however, here is food for thought. If you ask for an infant you are basically getting a blank slate with very little information. I know several people who adopting children with developmental or medical issues that were previously undetected. They were sometimes undetected because of the young age of the children. On the other hand my daughter had passed some significant milestones in her life and therefore there was more information as to where there might be some issues present (none).
Samantha

SAMANTHA!!!

My son who has attachment issues is VERY attached to me....He is not RAD (Thank God)..his attachment is moreso "anxious attachment." He is EXTREMELY clingy and EXTREMELY needy and plus I'm pretty sure he's ADHD..although we have no official diagnosis...he requires a lot more attention than the "normal" 4 y/o child....I'm a foster parent and I have had more than one infant at a time and all my infants combined didn't require as much care as my son does.

I wouldn't trade him for the world and I know a lot of people who have children who have issues that are WAY more difficult to deal with than my son, but I am not sure if I could handle another child who is as needy as he is.....Of course there are no guarantees.....

Also in foster care (or at least it's been my experience) that sometimes you get very little history as well.

Right now, I am just researching.....and an infant is my preference (RIGHT NOW) ....My preferences before were 1 (maybe 2) GIRLS only and I ended up adopting 2 boys and I have fostered 5 boys and 1 girl....and in the beginning I said I would ONLY foster girls....so you never know what will happen....

[Yomomof2]

We are looking at right at a year start to finish. The only thing that could make the process longer is if you get caught up in the Ethiopian court closures from Aug -Sept. We are looking at right around 20K total. We will travel once to pick up our son. Expect to stay 5 days. This is a great and growing program. I have loved the process!

Feel free to contact me with any questions.
Tracy
Our story for HIS glory!!