The Adoption Process

Families should receive a referral in 12-14 months* (or longer if you are requesting siblings) from the time the dossier is submitted to Ethiopia; potentially less time for children over the age of 4. The waiting time from referral to travel is 3-4 months. Applicants will wait the longest who limit their request to twins. Families are needed for children over the age of 5 years, sibling groups and children with minor to major special needs.

1. Apply to Children's Hope
   Download Application Here

2. Get a Home Study
   Children's Hope will arrange it.

3. Collect Your Papers
   Your CHI personal adoption consultant will direct you in preparing a dossier of documents Click here for list.

4. Send in CIS Form
   Your consultant will assist you to get advance USCIS approval for the adopted child to enter the US. Document download here.

5. Send Papers and Wait
   When all the documents are ready, we will check the dossier and send it to Ethiopia for submission to the government.

6. Referral
   Usually it takes about 3-6 months to get your papers collected to send to Ethiopia. The wait time for a referral is currently 12-14 months for infants and up to 16 months for siblings, after all paperwork has been received in Ethiopia. (Your wait time for an older child may be shorter.) Upon your acceptance of the referral, it will be 3-4 months before you travel. You will be in country about 5-7 business days.

7. In-Country Process
   You will be represented by the in-country representative of Children's Hope who obtains the legal documents, represents you in court, applies for the child's passport, provides the medical exam, and appears at the US Embassy for a Visa, prior to your arrival.

8. Travel
   You will be accompanied and assisted the entire time you are in the country by a bi-lingual Children's Hope staff person.

9. Upon Return Home
   Your personal consultant will advise you of any procedures for citizenship, applying for the $12,150 tax credit (2009) and any other necessary steps.

General Information

A photo and available medical information is provided upon referral of the child. All children are tested during the process for HIV, Hepatitis B, tuberculosis, and venereal disease.

* Referral times can change at any time during the process and as more families submit applications to adopt from Ethiopia.