The ancient home of the Queen of Sheba, and known as “the land of a thousand smiles,” Ethiopia has suffered years of war, drought, famine, flood, and disease. Thousands of children have had to be placed into institutions because their parents have died or are no longer able to care for them.
Ethiopia is quickly becoming another popular option for prospective adoptive parents. According to the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, on the web page, "Intercountry Adoption, Ethiopia," reports that recent INS immigration statistics from 2007 show that there were 1,255 adoptions from Ethiopia to the United States. This is a marked rise in Ethiopian adoptions from the mere 135 reported in 2003.
The Ethiopian Children
The Ethiopian children have beautiful dark skin, brown eyes, and dark brown or black hair. Typically, there is a fairly even mix of boys and girls available for adoption. Ages range from infant to school age, and sometimes up to 15 years old. It is common for the Ethiopian government to require that a child reside in an institution or orphanage for at least three months before becoming eligible for adoption.
General Guidelines for International Adoption
For U.S. citizens planning to adopt from any foreign country, there are three sets of laws that are relevant to the adoption process:
- The laws of the child’s country of birth. These laws apply to all activity in that country, including: which children are eligible for adoption, and who is eligible to adopt them.
- The laws of the adoptive parents’ state of residence. These laws may place additional requirements upon the adoptive parents which they must meet in order to adopt.
- U.S. immigration laws which govern the immigration of the child to the United States.
Ethiopia is not a party to the "Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Cooperation in Respect of Adoption,"of which the United States became part of as of April 1, 2008. What this means is that intercountry processing for Ethiopia will remain unchanged.
Eligibility to Adopt
Ethiopia has a much less stringent set of adoption eligibility requirements than countries such as China, which may be one reason why it is gaining popularity.
- The Ethiopian government prefers married couples who have been married for at least five years, though they have made exceptions in the past with couples married for as little as two years.
- Single persons over age 25
- Openly gay or lesbian individuals or couples are not permitted to adopt.
- There is no set maximum age limit; however, it is the practice of the Ethiopian government to not allow adoptions to parents who are more than 40 years older than the child.
Time Frame & Travel
The length of time from the moment paperwork has been submitted to referral can be anywhere from six months to two years. One or both parents will need to travel to Ethiopia to pick up their child, with the typical stay in the country of one week.
Post-Adoption Requirements
Ethiopia requires post placement reports to be submitted at three months, six months, and one year after adoption. Post placement reports are then required to be submitted every year thereafter, until the child turns 18.
Additionally, the adoption agency may have its own set of qualifications and requirements for adoptive families, so it may be advantageous to shop around before entering into an adoption contract. As always, investigate the agency thoroughly, and consult an experienced adoption attorney for any legal questions that may arise.
References:
U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, Intercountry Adoption, Ethiopia.
Adoptive Families, Ethiopia Adoption
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