Our Adoption Timeline

We are currently in the saving money stage and waiting stage..everything we had to complete for dossier etc is finished, we have our I71H form, approved for 2 orphans 0-7 yrs of age. We have been striking out the completed steps.

I. Summary of steps (approximate chronological order).

1. Contact AAI for information packet with application. (Completed Jan 2010)

2. Application with AAI
application fee to AAI (Completed Jan 2010)

3. Sign contract with AAI
and pay adoption processing fee of $3000 (Completed Oct 2010)

4. Homestudy — homestudy (Start to finish Feb-April 2010)
fees to AAI or local agency, as applicable (half of the $1400 fee has been
paid, last $700 due at the end of the homestudy)





5. Dossier preparation and submission to AAI-Need $2500 to send
with dossier (Completed Jan 2011)




6. Immigration – fees to USCIS $720 (Completed Dec 2010)
and also $170 for fingerprinting is due (Jan 20-21st 2011 fingerprints were done at USCIS in S.Portland)




7. Dossier to Ethiopia for translation and approval by Ethiopian government – first portion of Ethiopia program fee due. Approx $2500 (Sent Feb 17, 2011)

8. Referral of child from AAI, accept referral next Ethiopian Country Fee is
due-$4500

9. Court/new paperwork – remaining portion
of Ethiopia program fee due. (Depending on how many children)

10. AAI Escort OR Parent Travel OR Parent Travel after
documents approved by local USCIS-We must make 2 trips to Ethiopia.
Once to appear in court and legally adopt, then we leave, come back here and wait for the rest of the paperwork to be processed, then we go back to bring child/ren home. (Approx fees needed for travels will be around $13,500 for 2 trips)

11. Post-placement Reports – Agency and family reports (to Ethiopia)

12. U.S. Personal Documentation — re-adoption, citizenship, Social Security Number, Citizenship — legal fees, USCIS/citizenship fees, passport costs, etc. as indicated by related agencies.