The Switch

I terminated the San Diego agency and hired the Oregon agency. They were very nice about it – and I am still retaining them for post placement reports. Ethiopia requires 3 follow up reports by a licensed social worker at 3, 6 and 12 months after adoption. Reports are then due annually until the child is 18 years old; however, those will be submitted by me. Both agencies are currently working together to transfer paperwork.

The new agency (Adoption Avenues Agency) tells me I will have a referral within 2 to 4 months of dossier submittal. Once I accept the referral, all the Ethiopian paperwork will begin and a court date will be set. One to two months after the referral is accepted by me, I will travel to Addis Ababa for one week. I also have the option of having the child escorted to the USA; however, it is recommended I travel to Ethiopia in order to begin bonding with the child in her own environment. Also, should it be discovered the child has major medical problems while I am there, or if there are any other difficulties, I would be able to get another referral. I plan to go there as I want to see where my child came into the world. And God bless my sister-in-law Kathy who still plans to travel with me. She really wanted to see Russia and I’ve bounced her all over the world. Kathy, was Ethiopia high on your list of places you really wanted to see?

For those of you not familiar with what a dossier is – it is a ton of paperwork that needs to be completed, notarized, authenticated and translated prior to being sent to the country of adoption. I was very near completion for Kyrgyzstan, so hopefully Ethiopia wants the same type of paperwork. It contains very detailed information regarding my medical history, assets, family, employment, police clearance/fingerprints, birth certificate, guardianship, home study/recommendation, and verification of residence, just to name a few of the required documents.

As fate should have it, my I-600A USCIS (Immigration) form had not been approved yet, so I do not have to file an Amended form. Apparently the individual who live scanned me input the incorrect birth date, holding up approval and saving me about $200. When the revised home study is complete, it will be sent to USCIS to be matched up with the I-600A. That gives me the permission of Homeland Security to bring an adopted orphan into the USA.

There you have it – the current status on my road to motherhood.

“Whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers, you do unto me.”