We'll start with the hang-ups! Publicizing our blog! This was my first major hang-up, but I made a promise that as soon as we received USCIS approval we would go public with our blog. This was made to keep our friends posted on our adoption, but it's also helped me let off anxiety, so please excuse ramblings. So as you can guess??? WE RECEIVED APPROVAL TODAY!!! If you look over to the right, you'll see how the timeline works (in a perfect world that is). Sometimes it takes longer and by God's Grace (such as now) it comes sooner.
People ask us: Where are you at in the process? How much longer before you get to pick a child? Boy or girl? How long now? How old? Why does it take so long? How can you afford? and hundreds more.
Believe it or not, we don't mind the questions. You know why? Because that was US asking those same questions over the last 5 years! Information given is knowledge gained. Who knows, maybe someone asking the questions may be the next family to give a child a home with a mom and dad and a future. What we have to say is it may not be for you...yet...or ever, but there is ALWAYS something you can do. You can pray, you can sponsor a child, you can become a big brother or big sister, you can volunteer at a center where kids go when their parents cannot afford after-school childcare, you can do so many things, but the main thing to remember is the YOU CAN part. It doesn't have to be overseas, over anywhere, it can start in your own community, the need is there, just look and I'm sure many will be blessed.
I'm sure you've heard of the old adage, "pay if forward". Do for another without expecting anything in return and they in turn do for another and it keeps going. Through our family being able to ask so many questions of others adopting (and being blessed by them giving us answers), we are adopting ourselves. So please, ask away, if something is too personal to post, I'll contact you privately, but if not, I'll give you any of the answers as they are pertaining to our family.
Blessings to you,
Francine
Zander's Homecoming
Our Blessing's Timeline
07/11/11 Our journey to adoption begins with agency selection.
11/15/11: *Home study Completed
11/25/11: *I-800a to USCIS (12/6/11, Ltr. from USCIS recv'd application) 12/10/11 Fingerprint date rec'd, 1/3/2012 Fingerprinting.
1/19/12: *LOI sent
1/23/12: *Immigration app. rcivd from USCIS (2-3 mon.).
2/1/12: *Pre-Approval for Zander - We're Matched
2/13/12: *Dossier docs. certified/authenticated. (2-3 wks)
2/15/12: *Dossier sent to China (DTC)
2/23/12: *Ammendment to home study sent to USCIS to include Zander's specific special needs
2/27/12: *Log-in date rcvd (LID) from CCCWA (3-4 wks after DTC)
4/30/12: *Letter of Acceptance (LOA) rcvd from China (2-3 mon. after LID) 62 Days! Woo Hoo!
5/8/12: *800 paperwork submitted to USCIS.
5/21/2012: *800 provisional app. rcvd. (3 wks after submission)
5/25/2012: *Info. for visa sent by USCIS to National Visa Center. (NVC)
6/4/12: *Info. for visa cabled to the US Embassy in GZ by the NVC. (App. 2 weeks after information sent by NBC to NVC)
6/18 *Article 5 letter received. (2 weeks from cabling)
6/19: *Article 5 letter couriered to the CCCWA.
7/3/12 *Travel Approval received from CCCWA (3-4 weeks from being received by CCCWA)
7/3/12: *Apply for Consulate Appointment
8/14/12: *Receive Consulate Appt. (Appt. 2 business days after app.)
7/31/12: *Travel (2 weeks after receiving TA)
No comments:
Post a Comment