What is a referral?

So as most of you know, we are waiting for a referral. Since one of the most common questions I get is "What exactly is a referral?" and/or "What exactly is it that you are waiting for/what is the next step?" I figured I would answer that question.

So a referral is basically when a family is matched with a child. i.e. A child comes into care that fits the profile that we have established with our adoption agency and they determine that we would be the best family for that child. When Holt matches us with a child, we will get a phone call (well probably a bunch since they try to reach you on like every different number they can) where they will tell us a bit about the child and then photos and more medical information will be emailed on to us. On average, from the time you get your paperwork in with our agency, the wait time to a referral is 6-9 months. However, when we got our paperwork in to our agency and offically got on their waiting list earlier this spring/late winter, our agencies waiting list was much smaller than it usually is (economy?). That being said, it still could take longer than 9 months for us to be matched with a child, but it could also take less time given how small the list is.

So what happens once we get the referral? Well, offically we will have to accept the referral (which is usually done within a week) after having the medical information reviewed by our pediatrician/international adoption physician.

And then of course, once we have accepted the referral, we wait again!

This time we are waiting for our paperwork to be submit to the Ethiopian courts and eventually for us to find out our "court date" for our adoption with the ET government. We do not have to be present for this date, but once we "pass" court, in the eyes of the ET government, the child is legally ours.

And then of course, once we have passed our court date, we wait again!

Ha. This time we are just waiting for an invitation to travel, which usually comes very quickly after you hear about passing court and travel to pick up the child happens within 3-6 weeks from passing court. This date is all dependant on and scheduled around a US Embassy aptmnt in ET that we have to be present for to get a visa for the baby to travel home with us. Actual US citizenship, formal adoption in the US, etc all happens once we are home with baby.

Any questions? Basically it all involves being matched with a child and waiting!

Here's to more waiting!