Our agency has given us a general timeline that includes many milestone checkpoints along the way. Many of you may remember last summer, when we wrote about the new PAIR process that was being implemented into this international adoption process. The PAIR process is basically extra red tape and safety precautions put in place to ensure ethical adoptions. Overall, I think it could be a good thing, but it will probably make things take longer. When we initially heart about it, we were very disappointed that it seemed it was going to significantly slow down our process. It did take longer for us to get matched than our agency initially estimated, but that could be due to a number of reasons--not necessarily the PAIR process.
Fast forward to now. We received our referral (matched with our baby boy) just over a month ago. Right now, our agency is working to get us past the first checkpoint. Listed below are the checkpoints/time estimates. To be honest, as the PAIR process is still pretty new, our agency's estimates are really just guesses. Things could move more quickly or much more slowly. It's really impossible to tell at this point. Plus, each case varies depending on the circumstances.
So you ask what's next...this is what we're waiting for over the coming year:
TIMELINE TO BABY COMING HOME
Sign referral acceptance form and pay Foreign Fee- Our agency will gather the PAIR paperwork (estimated 8 weeks)
- USCIS reviews documents and issues PAIR approval letter (estimated 6-8 weeks)
- They may ask for additional documents
- When they are satisfied with the info, they issue PAIR approval letter
- Our agency sends PAIR letter out (makes its way through governmental agencies), eventually gets to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (estimated 2-3 weeks)
- Our agency in Addis submits our file to ET courts (estimated 2 weeks)
- Judge issues First Hearing/Court (estimated 2 weeks)
- First Hearing/Court
- Judge is determining if case is ready to move forward, so he will review the documents and interview people (birth family, orphanage director, our agency director)
- Hopefully, MOWA will already have given approval letter for this hearing. If the letter is not there, then we just wait until it arrives before the judge issues our court date.
- If the judge is satisfied and everything is there, the judge will issue the Adoptive Parent court date (this is the court date that we travel for!!!!)
- First Hearing Court Decree Issued (1 week after First Hearing)
- It usually takes the judge about 1 week after the First Hearing to issue an Adoptive Parent court date. The Adoptive Parent court date set for 2 weeks later.
- Adoptive Parent Court Date-WE TRAVEL TO ETHIOPIA (generally 3 weeks after First Hearing)
- Judge will give an official decree usually within days for us.
- Apply for New Birth Certificate (estimated 2 weeks to get)
- After Birth Certificate is received, Apply to MOWA for 2nd Approval Letter (estimated 2 weeks to receive)
- Use MOWA letter to get ET Passport (estimated2 weeks)
- Embassy Medical Exam (done 1 week after passport is given)
- Takes estimated 1-2 weeks to get Doctor’s report from exam
- Submit to Embassy
- When all above are complete, you get submitted to Embassy.
- This is usually about 8 weeks after AP Court
- Embassy gives clearance-WE TRAVEL TO ETHIOPIA TO BRING HIM HOME!! (estimated 1-2 weeks after submitted)
WE CAN COME AND GET HIM AS SOON AS WE HAVE CLEARANCE FROM THE EMBASSY!!!
Whew! So that is all what we are waiting for!! So next time you ask me, "What's next" or "When do you travel?" and you notice that I get this glazed over, kind of confused look on my face--that's why. :) A lot has to happen. I don't know why it takes so long--just lots and lots and lots of red tape. Hope the info is helpful!
So, for our prayer warriors...you can pray specifically for each step if you'd like. We will try to keep you posted on our progress. For now, please pray that our agency will be able to quickly gather the paperwork needed to submit to USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services). When they submit it, please pray that USCIS moves quickly and does not need random extra information; but rather, that all of our information given would be clear and sufficient. Then we will get our PAIR letter--which is like our golden ticket to move forward within Ethiopia with our adoption.
I will put this checklist on a separate tab for our website (timeline to home), just so that it can be a quick reference for those who are wondering and praying. :)
