Factsheet, Page 2
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PATTERNS OF IMMIGRATION OF ADOPTED ORPHANS TO THE U.S.: Recent U.S. immigrant visa statistics reflect the following pattern for visa issuance to orphans:
| Fiscal Year | Number of Immigrant Visas Issued |
FY 2005   | 440 |
FY 2004 | 289 |
FY 2003 | 135 |
FY 2002 | 105 |
FY 2001 | 158 |
FY 2000 | 95 |
ADOPTION AUTHORITY IN Ethiopia:The government office responsible for adoptions in Ethiopia is the Adoption Team in the Children and Youth Affairs Office (CYAO), which is under the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (MOLSA). The head of the Adoption Team can be reached at (251)-11-550-5358 to request information about approved orphanages caring for children in need of permanent family placements through international adoption.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR ADOPTIVE PARENTS:The Ethiopian government prefers to place children with married couples who have been married for at least five years. In general, single persons under age 25 may not adopt; nor may openly gay or lesbian individuals or couples. However, the Ethiopian government has occasionally approved cases involving persons in all of these categories.
There is no statutory maximum age limit on the adoptive parent; however, Ethiopian practice is to limit the age of the parent to no more than 40 years greater than that of the adopted child.
RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS: There are no residency requirements for prospective adoptive parents.
TIME FRAME:Adoption agencies will advise adoptive parents approximately how long an adoption can take. Recent adoptions have taken between 6 and 24 months.
Once the Ethiopian adoption process has been completed, it normally takes about an hour to apply for an immigrant visa for an adopted child for families working through approved adoption agencies. Approved visas are typically picked up by the agencies the following morning. It may take months for private adopters, depending on the completeness of the application and the need for follow-up investigations.
Credits: U.S. Department of State
