How to Adopt from Eritrea Part 2

Panorama of Asmara at night.
Source: Wikipedia.org.

This page is for step 4 of How to Adopt from Eritrea. For steps 1-3 please read How to Adopt from Eritrea. For steps 5-6 please read How to Adopt from Eritrea Part 3.

4. Adopt or Obtain Legal Custody of Child in Eritrea

The process for finalizing the adoption (or obtaining legal custody) in Eritrea generally includes the following:

• Role of Adoption Authority: The Ministry of Labor and Human Welfare facilitates and oversees both domestic and intercountry adoptions involving children in Eritrea. The Ministry of Labor and Human Welfare signs the adoption contract as the guardian for the children, and verifies that prospective adoptive parents satisfy the conditions for adoption.
• Adoption Application: Most children in orphanages are “abandoned” children, meaning they have no living parents or relatives to care for them. The Ministry of Labor and Human Welfare has custody of abandoned children and the authority to place these children with prospective adoptive parents. In these cases, the application is made to the Ministry of Labor and Human Welfare. However, some children residing in orphanages also have surviving parent(s) and/or distant relatives. For such children, as well as for adoptions conducted directly between the birth relatives and the prospective adoptive parents, the application can be made to any court before proceeding to the High Court for final approval of the adoption contract.
• Adoption Fees: Under Eritrean law prospective adoptive parents are required to retain an attorney for adoption proceedings. Adoption fees paid to the attorney vary. There is no specific fee for filing an adoption application with the Ministry of Labor and Human Welfare. In private contracts, the parties may be required to pay service fee to the person who prepared the contract, which normally does not exceed $70. This amount may be larger if the contract is drafted by a lawyer. The court fee is nominal, at present $2. The fee to obtain the birth certificate may not exceed $7. If the adoptive child is younger than 18, the passport fee is $200. If the child is 18 or older, the fee is $270.
• Documents Required: The following are required documents:

1. A written statement from the prospective adoptive parents explaining why an Eritrean child is preferred;

2. Original birth certificate(s) of the prospective adoptive parent(s);

3. Original marriage license/certificate, if applicable. NOTE: If originals are not available, certified copies must be authenticated in the United States;

4. An original Eritrean police clearance for each of the prospective adoptive parent(s) including those residing outside Eritrea;

5. A medical certificate/clearance for each of the prospective adoptive parent(s);

6. An original home study prepared by a qualified social worker, which specifies the following:

a. Personal and family status;

b. Character and personal qualities;

c. Educational background;

d. Duration and stability of marriage;

e. Financial and medical situations;

f. Present address and U.S. address;

g. Condition of home in country of residence;

h. Address and names of family of origin (i.e., parents); and

i. The agency's recommendation regarding the prospective adopting parent(s) suitability as an adoptive parent with an original translation into Tigrigna. NOTE: The agency that conducts the home study and issues the recommendation must have approval to do so in the parents' state of residence. If adoptive parents establish residency in Eritrea, they may submit an Eritrean home study instead;

7. Evidence of economic status, which must include a letter from prospective adoptive parents' employer showing salary, date of employment, position in the organization and a bank statement. Proof of life insurance and health insurance, and other proof of income or assets may also be submitted;

8. Three letters of reference from friends, relatives, church, or other sources qualified to assess prospective adoptive parents' character, the stability of their marriage, and their ability to parent;

9. Two passport-size photographs of the prospective adoptive parent(s);

10. If the prospective adoptive parent(s) do not come to Eritrea together to oversee this entire process, then they must execute a power of attorney for their adoption agency. If only one parent will travel to Eritrea, the other parent must execute a power of attorney for him/her. That power of attorney must be authenticated by the Eritrean Embassy in Washington, D.C. This applies to all prospective adopting parents living in the U.S. - Eritrean nationals and non-Eritreans alike.

11. "Obligation of Adoption or Social Welfare Agency" signed by the adoption agency handling the adoption, or, for private adopters, from the organization that provided the home study, or by the parents' employer, in which the parent(s) agree to allow follow-up visits by a U.S. social worker, and to submit regular progress report to the Ministry of Labor and Human Welfare on the child's (or children's) adjustment to/development in the adoptive home. These visits should be scheduled three months, six months, and one year after the adoption and annually thereafter until the child reaches 18. This form must be forwarded together with the psychosocial study/home study and an original translation into Tigrigna, by either the parents or the adoption agency; and

12. Verification by the adoption agency or home study organization on the child's qualification for naturalization under the laws of the parents' country of residence with an original translation into Tigrigna. NOTE: Additional documents may be requested.

• Authentication of Documents: You may be asked to provide proof that a document from the United States is authentic. If so, the Department of State, Authentications Office may be able to assist.

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