Comprehensive Instructions for Beginning Your Search

Please be aware that searches can take a long time, and due to caseload we already have, we aren’t usually able to start right away. There can be a delay of six months in starting new searches.

Read This: Before registering we urge you to read our SEARCH PROCESS and an EXAMPLE REPORT. It will most answer many of your questions as to what you get and how it works.

Adult Adoptees: We believe adoptees are entitled to their full adoption documentation and information about their first families, with connection and reunion whenever possible. We are a non-profit organization which means we do not profit from this. However, searching and researching in Ethiopia does cost money. It takes time, expertise, dedication, and sometimes even bravery. Governments, adoption agencies, and orphanages have not taken responsibility for providing these services to adoptees. We do this because it is the right thing to do, we are able, and we want to do it. That does not mean we can finance searches in Ethiopia for every adoptee or even most adoptees. We do not have the backing of a foundation; we are volunteers who cannot personally finance searches, as much as we would love to do it. Our team in Ethiopia must be compensated for their hard work. So, yes, there are fees for searches in Ethiopia. If you have financial need, please let us know. We will do our best to work with you.

Travelers: We sometimes get requests to search with clients during a visit to Ethiopia. We do not do this. Why? Because a search is tedious, hard work. Having to translate everything will slow us down. Moreover, we are not tour guides. We recommend doing a search before you travel. We’ll provide you with a detailed report which you can use to have a wonderful visit with found family or continue your research in person. You must sign up at least six months before your trip to make this happen, preferably sooner.

Who Can Start a Search? Search requests are accepted from the adoptive parent/legal guardian of the minor child in question or the adult adoptee in question. Social workers, friends, and relatives may not sign up on behalf of an adoptee except in certain situations where the adoptee may be a minor and not have adoptive parents. With permission from the adult adoptee in question, another person may be included in correspondence.

Disclaimer: Beteseb Felega offers searches throughout Ethiopia. Comprehensive, detailed reports are provided for all searches. Careful and diligent effort will be made to find your or your child’s Ethiopian family. It’s important for clients to understand that not all searches are successful. Regardless of outcome, you will be provided with written and photographic documentation of your search.

We will not work with any other searcher. If we find that you are doing two searches at the same time, we will immediately stop your search.

Signing Up – Please follow all the instructions! We really struggle when folks are excited and rush through (yes it’s exciting!) because it makes a lot more work for us.

You must these rules when signing up. If you don’t, you make a lot more work for those of us processing your search, and it will be rejected.

  1. Gather all the information you have about your adoption. This is the first step. This must be done before beginning the sign up process the form.
  2. Every file must be CLEARLY LABELED beginning with the CHILD’S ETHIOPIAN NAME, as such: Mimi Court Docs, Mimi Referral, Mimi Birth Certificate, Mimi Police Report, etc.
  3. Every search request must include ADOPTION DOCUMENTS IN ALL LANGUAGES YOU HAVE.
  4. Documents must be readable in Microsoft. Do not send PAGE files etc.
  5. Put all your documents/photos/notes in a Google Drive folder and share it with [email protected].
  6. On your form, very question on the form must be answered. “See Documents” is not an acceptable answer. Put your Google Drive Share Link inside the form where asked.
  7. If you need to add additional details or information later, you will put it in your Drive Folder and notify us. We get a ton of emails and we cannot guarantee we will find your extra information buried deep in our email box.

A $50 registration fee will enable us to review your adoption information and provide you will a quote for your Ethiopian family search. After you’ve made your registration payment and prepared your Google Drive folder, you will provide your adoption search information through our easy to use website form. You will be able to save the form and return later for up to 30 days if needed (be sure to follow the instructions), and when you submit your data, you will receive a copy via email. We do not provide soft quotes.

When answering the form questions, please make every effort to present your case in a clearly-organized and labeled manner. We volunteer our time helping many clients, and you know your child’s story better than we do. We don’t have the resources to devote to organizing a jumble of files into a coherent story. We ask that you present us with well-organized documents and that your request and priorities are clearly stated. We will absolutely work with you and give input on your search, but we can’t do it if your information is incomplete or unclear. “See documents” is not a answer we can work with.

But wait! Did you gather your documents, photos, and notes; put them in your Google Drive folder; and share with [email protected]?

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