Why is this Adoption Taking So Long?

I was asked that recently, and I suppose to some, it is taking a long time. Afterall, we got our referral for Khalil on May 4th, and wow. . . that is 3 and a half months ago, and here we are, still waiting to bring him home.

So, here is why things take so long:

1. Referrals at our adoption agency range from 4-6 months on average. Although T and I started the adoption process in June of 2009, it took us many months to finish the home study (LOTS of paperwork there) we then had to get clearance to adopt from the US government, more time still, and then we had to fill out paperwork called a Dossier that was sent to Ethiopia. Also, a TON of paperwork. We didn't get on the official waitlist until around November 2009, and were on the waitlist for 5.5 months before getting our referral. So really, that was right in line with what our agency predicted.

2. We received our referral 1 week before the laws in Ethiopia were about to change. When we started the adoption process, families only had to travel once to Ethiopia, and that was for the Embassy Appointment, which was when we'd get to bring our child home. Now parents must also travel for court. We unfortunately missed the deadline for 1 trip. Court was really backed up at this time, because Ethiopia was trying to get everyone court dates before the law changed on May 9th. So, that is why it took us 3 months from our referral to our court date. I just consider ourselves lucky that we beat the court closure due to the rainy season. The courts closed on August 9th, and they don't open up again until October. We JUST squeaked by!

3. Now we are waiting on the Embassy Appointment. The way I understand it is that after passing court, all of our paperwork is then sent to the US Embassy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. This will allow us to bring Khalil into the US. Our agency quotes that once you pass court, on average, you get your embassy appointment 6-8 weeks later. We are now at 2 weeks, so I really hope we at least hear about that date SOON. Today perhaps???

4. A LOT of people are currently adopting from Ethiopia. A LOT. Taher was telling me that when he was in Ethiopia, there were a lot of French couples adopting also. Yes, not just Americans adopt, but people from all over the world. T also told me that when he was boarding his flight from Addis Ababa to Amsterdam, there were SO many couples leaving with little Ethiopian children. T told me half jokingly that he thinks Ethiopia's main export is there children. So, just the huge number of Ethiopian adoptions make getting court dates and embassy appointments that much longer. I'm not the only one adopting from that beautiful country. . . many many many others are as well.

I am still estimating that Khalil will be home in September. . . early October at the latest. And if that holds to be true, our entire adoption from start to finish will have taken 15 months. Do you know how FAST that is for international adoption? That is very very very fast. There are some countries where adoptions are taking almost 5 years. So, 15 months is considered a very quick adoption.

So, that is where we are at now. Next week, I look forward to sharing a guest post from T about his travels to Ethiopia and meeting our son, as well as some pictures from his trip. :)