YES! We received the "official" letter from USCIS aka Homeland Security today - they received our application to get a Visa for the child we want to adopt. I had the text message a few days ago - but we are officially in their system. Now we wait for the application process to start and then we get the next letter to tell us we need to show up "here are this time" to have biometrics - the fancy term for fingerprinting done. NOT bad - we'll take it!
YEAH - another step forward in the Dossier paperwork that gets sent to Ethiopian Government for their approval.
Showing posts with label Adoption General. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Adoption General. Show all posts
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Friday, November 19, 2010
USCIS has report - November 17, 2010
Well at about 1:30 pm this morning we recieved the much anticipated text message that the USCIS recieved our paperwork to start processing. YEAH.
Unfortunatley woke us both up out of a sound sleep! I had my phone in our room with the alarm set as we had lost power briefly last night and I wanted to have a backup to make sure I got up for work.
Very excited - now we just have to pray all the documentation is there and we get an appointment for biometrics (a.k.a finger printing) in the next few weeks! Then we'll wait some more.
Until then - getting more of the paperwork ready so that we're good to go when its all said and done!
Unfortunatley woke us both up out of a sound sleep! I had my phone in our room with the alarm set as we had lost power briefly last night and I wanted to have a backup to make sure I got up for work.
Very excited - now we just have to pray all the documentation is there and we get an appointment for biometrics (a.k.a finger printing) in the next few weeks! Then we'll wait some more.
Until then - getting more of the paperwork ready so that we're good to go when its all said and done!
Still Waiting - November 16, 2010
I'm sure this title will be famliar over the next number of months. Still waiting to see if our USCIS Paperwork was accepted. I filled out and submitted a form for them to email AND text me -but nothing yet. Afraid we won't have all the documentation - so that will be a pain in my rear - for being so neglectful -but we shall see.
I was able to donate 12 cans of formula for our agency contact to take this week - so I was happy. And some friends are sending more - so hopefully another family can take over to our contact person in ET one of these days! I can't wait.
New yahoo groups too - i've found some very intersting Yahoo Groups - one was a lot of complaining about agencies and I didn't like that - I love AAI and just didn't like all the negative stuff. I guess there are bad ones out there - so its good to know. But not much useful for us. So besides our agency one which I LOVE and meeting so many new people - I found a few others with people in similar stages.
Even met a new friend that's out there in Washington - we are at the same point! So that's exciting - we are hoping we can maybe travel together!
I'm so excited to get the paperwork done. We had a nice friend this weekend notarize a lot of our documents. Craig's doctor didn't follow the instructions and we're waiting on my doctors - argh - but we knew this would happen.
It will be totally worth it in the end - I dream of our child and what our family will be like. Finding new websites and groups for mixed families as well and books. I think that will all be helpful.
Not much else - preparing for the holidays and work.
Thanks for following.
Gail
I was able to donate 12 cans of formula for our agency contact to take this week - so I was happy. And some friends are sending more - so hopefully another family can take over to our contact person in ET one of these days! I can't wait.
New yahoo groups too - i've found some very intersting Yahoo Groups - one was a lot of complaining about agencies and I didn't like that - I love AAI and just didn't like all the negative stuff. I guess there are bad ones out there - so its good to know. But not much useful for us. So besides our agency one which I LOVE and meeting so many new people - I found a few others with people in similar stages.
Even met a new friend that's out there in Washington - we are at the same point! So that's exciting - we are hoping we can maybe travel together!
I'm so excited to get the paperwork done. We had a nice friend this weekend notarize a lot of our documents. Craig's doctor didn't follow the instructions and we're waiting on my doctors - argh - but we knew this would happen.
It will be totally worth it in the end - I dream of our child and what our family will be like. Finding new websites and groups for mixed families as well and books. I think that will all be helpful.
Not much else - preparing for the holidays and work.
Thanks for following.
Gail
USCIS paperwork mailed - November 9, 2010
Well good news - Craig picked up the Home Study reports yesterday and we were able to get the USCIS paperwork into the mail today! I just decided to pay to get it there by 10:30 am on Wednesday - it was less than $10 more than having it there by Thursday. so its in. Now we just have to pray that the process moves fast. We need to get the rest of our paperwork done so that we can have it all ready, notarized, etc.
Exciting - just need to get it all moving! At least that was a big step! Fee's for the USCIS (United States Custom and Immigration Services) were increasing a lot in just 2 weeks! Anyhow - they will do "biometrics" on Craig and I - fancy way to say fingerprinting and then we'll await Visa's for us and applied to get a Visa for a child from ET (Ethiopia from posts here on out)when we adopt one!
Exciting - its a big step - making it more and more real.
Next big thing - besides all the paperwork - applications for loans and grants to help finance this. Please keep us in your prayers that it all works out - it would stink to get all the way to the end and can't pay - but Craig and I have faith it will just work out. The funny thing is - what we calculate as apprxoimately what we have left is about what the tax credit is - so we'll get it all back and pay it off pretty quickly - so we'll see.
I'll keep everyone posted - once things slow down I'll start trying to post info on the kids and the country - do some research - its fun.
Oh and Nate tried the left over ET food we had over the weekend. Ha - didn't go over very well - but he's also very animated around us - so it was a big show of trying to spit it all out and not liking it - pretty entertaining. I think if it were fresh he'd have enjoyed it more - but he was just determined he was't going to like it. I told him his brother/sister isn't going to like our food immediately JUST because they live here - and we'll have to eat this more often then not just to help them adjust and becuase we will all have Ethiopia as part of our culture now.
Enjoy the day everyone.
Gail
Exciting - just need to get it all moving! At least that was a big step! Fee's for the USCIS (United States Custom and Immigration Services) were increasing a lot in just 2 weeks! Anyhow - they will do "biometrics" on Craig and I - fancy way to say fingerprinting and then we'll await Visa's for us and applied to get a Visa for a child from ET (Ethiopia from posts here on out)when we adopt one!
Exciting - its a big step - making it more and more real.
Next big thing - besides all the paperwork - applications for loans and grants to help finance this. Please keep us in your prayers that it all works out - it would stink to get all the way to the end and can't pay - but Craig and I have faith it will just work out. The funny thing is - what we calculate as apprxoimately what we have left is about what the tax credit is - so we'll get it all back and pay it off pretty quickly - so we'll see.
I'll keep everyone posted - once things slow down I'll start trying to post info on the kids and the country - do some research - its fun.
Oh and Nate tried the left over ET food we had over the weekend. Ha - didn't go over very well - but he's also very animated around us - so it was a big show of trying to spit it all out and not liking it - pretty entertaining. I think if it were fresh he'd have enjoyed it more - but he was just determined he was't going to like it. I told him his brother/sister isn't going to like our food immediately JUST because they live here - and we'll have to eat this more often then not just to help them adjust and becuase we will all have Ethiopia as part of our culture now.
Enjoy the day everyone.
Gail
Nate's first grade picture - NOv 7, 2010
Well this is our son Nate - he's six and in the first grade. This is his first grade school picture. I was told to keep it - stain on the sweater and all - because that's "just who he is - a slob sometimes" - but he smiled great and is an awesome kid.
Home study is done - November 5, 2010
Well unfortunately we didn't recognize the phone number on thursday when the agency called to tell us the home study report is done. I could just KICK myself over and over right now - because I had today off and could have gotten it (well in between setting up for the Mom2Mom sale - long day). But the good news its done- hopefully Craig can take some time on MOnday to go and pick it up! WE shall see. I'm hoping he can.
Fingers crossed- then the paper work for the USCIS can be submitted ASAP on Monday - nice to know the 24hour post offices!
Its great news though.
And we had Nate's 1st grade Parent Teacher Conference today - went very well - He's VERY good in math - go figure - he's my kid! Ha - I love math. And shy and quiet - oh he may look just like Craig - but he's so much like me its not even funny!
Time to relax - been at the school from 9:30 am - 2 pm and then again from 4 - 7 pm! And back tomorrow to help out - argh!
Fingers crossed- then the paper work for the USCIS can be submitted ASAP on Monday - nice to know the 24hour post offices!
Its great news though.
And we had Nate's 1st grade Parent Teacher Conference today - went very well - He's VERY good in math - go figure - he's my kid! Ha - I love math. And shy and quiet - oh he may look just like Craig - but he's so much like me its not even funny!
Time to relax - been at the school from 9:30 am - 2 pm and then again from 4 - 7 pm! And back tomorrow to help out - argh!
Home study - waiting for signatures - Nov 2, 2010
Ok - lots of posts in one night - things are happening for some reason.
I heard from our social worker - she put us down for 0-3 years of age - they don't do months. So that is just fine. But she's done and we are waiting on signatures. Now we have to pay more - not exactly sure how much that is - but hopefully this week I can get a check and maybe borrow some money and get it started.
I can't apply for a loan until I have the home study done - so its a little bit a double edge sword. But God's gonna get us through and we believe it will work out - we feel this is meant to be!
I'm excited - maybe we can do the local police stuff this week.
I just want the custom and immigration stuff in before the prices jump soon!
Yeah! Something positive.
I heard from our social worker - she put us down for 0-3 years of age - they don't do months. So that is just fine. But she's done and we are waiting on signatures. Now we have to pay more - not exactly sure how much that is - but hopefully this week I can get a check and maybe borrow some money and get it started.
I can't apply for a loan until I have the home study done - so its a little bit a double edge sword. But God's gonna get us through and we believe it will work out - we feel this is meant to be!
I'm excited - maybe we can do the local police stuff this week.
I just want the custom and immigration stuff in before the prices jump soon!
Yeah! Something positive.
New updates by courts - November 2, 2010
Our agency sent some information this week on changes with the Ethiopian court systems. I'm going to hang onto the fact we can probably meet our childs family! There is a 50% chance they are alive - so that will be awesome.
1) Court Procedure- When the court process changed in May of this year, two court hearings were being scheduled. The purpose of the first one was to have the birth parent's testimony approved and to obtain approval from MOWA. The purpose of the second one was for the adoptive parents to verify that they have met their child and wish to proceed with the adoption. The adoption was then finalized.
As of last week, there is only one hearing automatically being scheduled. This hearing will include all aspects that that the two hearings originally covered. We are not sure exactly what this will look like but assume that the birth parent will complete their portion and then the adoptive parents will complete theirs after the birth parent has left the court room.
There are at least two benefits to this change. First of all, this will move the process along and ultimately allow your children to come home sooner because you will not need to wait for that second hearing. Secondly, the meeting between you and the birth parent would take place in Addis, at our AAI office, after the court hearing. This means less uncertainty with whether or not the birth parent meeting can take place than if you met them in the South.
The negative or risk with traveling to Ethiopia and attending this hearing is the slight possibility of the case not being approved and the permanently closed. This would be extremely rare, however, the risk is there.
If, for example, MOWA did not submit their letter of consent on time for the court hearing, this will be accepted later and neither the birth parent or the adoptive parents will need to re-appear in court. This result of this would be a possible delay in the case, although, this delay would typically be not more than a couple weeks.
If the adoptive family is not comfortable with the risk involved with having just the one hearing, the court is allowing, as of now anyway, a second hearing to be scheduled.
It will be at the time that you accept your referral that we will ask if you would like to attend the one hearing or if you would prefer that two hearings be scheduled.
2) Meeting Birth Parents - A couple months ago we were informed that, due to government restrictions and safety concerns, a birth parent meeting was not possible if your child was from the South and residing at EnatAlem or Africa Orphanage. We are pleased to tell you that in most cases, this meeting will be possible, afterall. As stated above, if you attend the court hearing the same day as the birth parent, this meeting will take place at our AAI office in Addis, after court. If you do not attend that hearing, we will do everything possible to make this meeting possible when you travel South on your trip.
3) The courts are requiring that both parents, if applicable,attend the court hearing. We were told initially that there would be exceptions to this requirement, but they would need to be extreme situations, such a inability to travel due to medical condition. The courts are now allowing "less extreme" exceptions. An example would be if you currently have 5 young children at home and it is very difficult for both parents to be away from home. There is not a set list of exceptions that will be accepted; it will need to be determined on a case by case basis.
1) Court Procedure- When the court process changed in May of this year, two court hearings were being scheduled. The purpose of the first one was to have the birth parent's testimony approved and to obtain approval from MOWA. The purpose of the second one was for the adoptive parents to verify that they have met their child and wish to proceed with the adoption. The adoption was then finalized.
As of last week, there is only one hearing automatically being scheduled. This hearing will include all aspects that that the two hearings originally covered. We are not sure exactly what this will look like but assume that the birth parent will complete their portion and then the adoptive parents will complete theirs after the birth parent has left the court room.
There are at least two benefits to this change. First of all, this will move the process along and ultimately allow your children to come home sooner because you will not need to wait for that second hearing. Secondly, the meeting between you and the birth parent would take place in Addis, at our AAI office, after the court hearing. This means less uncertainty with whether or not the birth parent meeting can take place than if you met them in the South.
The negative or risk with traveling to Ethiopia and attending this hearing is the slight possibility of the case not being approved and the permanently closed. This would be extremely rare, however, the risk is there.
If, for example, MOWA did not submit their letter of consent on time for the court hearing, this will be accepted later and neither the birth parent or the adoptive parents will need to re-appear in court. This result of this would be a possible delay in the case, although, this delay would typically be not more than a couple weeks.
If the adoptive family is not comfortable with the risk involved with having just the one hearing, the court is allowing, as of now anyway, a second hearing to be scheduled.
It will be at the time that you accept your referral that we will ask if you would like to attend the one hearing or if you would prefer that two hearings be scheduled.
2) Meeting Birth Parents - A couple months ago we were informed that, due to government restrictions and safety concerns, a birth parent meeting was not possible if your child was from the South and residing at EnatAlem or Africa Orphanage. We are pleased to tell you that in most cases, this meeting will be possible, afterall. As stated above, if you attend the court hearing the same day as the birth parent, this meeting will take place at our AAI office in Addis, after court. If you do not attend that hearing, we will do everything possible to make this meeting possible when you travel South on your trip.
3) The courts are requiring that both parents, if applicable,attend the court hearing. We were told initially that there would be exceptions to this requirement, but they would need to be extreme situations, such a inability to travel due to medical condition. The courts are now allowing "less extreme" exceptions. An example would be if you currently have 5 young children at home and it is very difficult for both parents to be away from home. There is not a set list of exceptions that will be accepted; it will need to be determined on a case by case basis.
Final Home Study - We finally passed - October 6, 2010
HI all
I haven't posted in a few weeks - we have had a few home study visits or social worker visits with the last one being with the social worker last night here at home. It went really well. We had a lot of good discussions and all agreed we will continue with our focus on Ethiopia and a gender up to God's choice. We did decide to lower our age range to zero months up to 2 year old. We feel that is in the best interest of our family - and especially for Nate. But they will approve us for up to 3 years old but we're hoping for a younger child.
So now we have ONE more book to read and signed up for a multicultural seminar at the local agency. That's above and beyond what we need, but we feel everything will help us out at the moment.
I've been meeting more and more families online and know a lot had their court dates just this week! I'm so excited to hear about their travels. Another group brought their children home just last month so its very exciting and they have some wonderful advice for all of us "newbie" parents out there.
We have found some ET (yes that is short for Ethiopia or Ethiopian)restaurants in the area and want to check them out soon. Then we'll continue to just do our studies and read other books on the country and culture. Its a very exciting time.
The other big steps is moving our office into the basement and moving Nate's bedroom to the current office room - the bigger of the two bedrooms for the kids. That will be good for him.
Its all exciting - I know LOTS of paper work to finalize the Dossier - but we'll get there - again learning great advice from all the other families. One of these days I"ll start posting more country specific information so you can all learn a little bit of what our new family heritage will be like.
Love
Gail
I haven't posted in a few weeks - we have had a few home study visits or social worker visits with the last one being with the social worker last night here at home. It went really well. We had a lot of good discussions and all agreed we will continue with our focus on Ethiopia and a gender up to God's choice. We did decide to lower our age range to zero months up to 2 year old. We feel that is in the best interest of our family - and especially for Nate. But they will approve us for up to 3 years old but we're hoping for a younger child.
So now we have ONE more book to read and signed up for a multicultural seminar at the local agency. That's above and beyond what we need, but we feel everything will help us out at the moment.
I've been meeting more and more families online and know a lot had their court dates just this week! I'm so excited to hear about their travels. Another group brought their children home just last month so its very exciting and they have some wonderful advice for all of us "newbie" parents out there.
We have found some ET (yes that is short for Ethiopia or Ethiopian)restaurants in the area and want to check them out soon. Then we'll continue to just do our studies and read other books on the country and culture. Its a very exciting time.
The other big steps is moving our office into the basement and moving Nate's bedroom to the current office room - the bigger of the two bedrooms for the kids. That will be good for him.
Its all exciting - I know LOTS of paper work to finalize the Dossier - but we'll get there - again learning great advice from all the other families. One of these days I"ll start posting more country specific information so you can all learn a little bit of what our new family heritage will be like.
Love
Gail
Problems with Online Training - September 21, 2010
Oh - I guess this is just the beginning of problems - but its not worth stopping or messing up the process. Anyhow I took all the online training last week while traveling - but the hotel wi-fi kept disconnecting, the training courses kept getting frozen and I couldn't get much farther along. and had to stop and start. Well company that has them online basically "failed" us - and ONLY look at the one start and stop time. they refuse to look at how Craig also took them this weekend - so we can't get a certificate. They will let us retake them - but its just very frustrating. They are basically accusing us of "rushing the process" and not caring. The sad thing is the two classes this is happening on out of 5 - are the two we learned the most from! We've had more valuable discussions over the journey for us and our child and becoming a multi-racial family! I can say I honestly learned the most from those classes. its just very frustrating people have issues with their systems or computers and they won't even listen to what we have to say.
On top of it all - I go see the social worker tonight so I plan on talking to her then about this stuff. Craig met with her last week and he felt it went well. so that's always good.
I am still amazed a few times a week by Craig - how he's grown in this process. He's been meetng more people and talking to people about not only adoption but Ethiopia as well. He met a customer from there and who's daughter is as well. So they exchanged information. My taxi driver last week was Ethiopian as well - so it was interesting to hear real stories and nothing "protected" about the country. I even learned Addis Ababa the capital where we'll spend most of our team means "new flower" - how beautiful -
I keep dreaming about our faceless little one - still have little boy in my dreams with chubby cheeks and curly black hair. Even without seeing a face, he's beautiful! And we are posing for a family photo. I just can't wait.
Now we just need to get finances approved for loans or win the lottery. I should be selling personal belongings, but I just hvae this desire that I need to just give. Give things we aren't using. Becuase others really need them. I realized the other day that this may be an answer to some prayers. God's placed my giving heavy on my heart. All these devotionals I have been reading say that you can always give and you will recieve. I didn't realize all that until yesterday - I still just feel like somoene needs this coat or whatever it is.
Ok - I"m babbling. We'll keep everyone posted.
Love
Gail
On top of it all - I go see the social worker tonight so I plan on talking to her then about this stuff. Craig met with her last week and he felt it went well. so that's always good.
I am still amazed a few times a week by Craig - how he's grown in this process. He's been meetng more people and talking to people about not only adoption but Ethiopia as well. He met a customer from there and who's daughter is as well. So they exchanged information. My taxi driver last week was Ethiopian as well - so it was interesting to hear real stories and nothing "protected" about the country. I even learned Addis Ababa the capital where we'll spend most of our team means "new flower" - how beautiful -
I keep dreaming about our faceless little one - still have little boy in my dreams with chubby cheeks and curly black hair. Even without seeing a face, he's beautiful! And we are posing for a family photo. I just can't wait.
Now we just need to get finances approved for loans or win the lottery. I should be selling personal belongings, but I just hvae this desire that I need to just give. Give things we aren't using. Becuase others really need them. I realized the other day that this may be an answer to some prayers. God's placed my giving heavy on my heart. All these devotionals I have been reading say that you can always give and you will recieve. I didn't realize all that until yesterday - I still just feel like somoene needs this coat or whatever it is.
Ok - I"m babbling. We'll keep everyone posted.
Love
Gail
paper work - more and more - September 12, 2010
finally started to get through the paper work - realized I messed up when I went to my dr to get the home study stuff done - didn't' get the stuff for the dossier - argh! Oh well - live and learn - she will help out.
Craig goes to see the social worker on his own tomorrow - so hopefully his honesty pays off. we both just decided honesty is first and foremost in all of this -we have nothing to hide.
enjoy the blog - I'll update more later.
Craig goes to see the social worker on his own tomorrow - so hopefully his honesty pays off. we both just decided honesty is first and foremost in all of this -we have nothing to hide.
enjoy the blog - I'll update more later.
Social Worker Visit #1 August 30, 2010
Well last week we had our first meeting with the social worker. Needless to say I was freaking out - and Craig was nervous too. WE think it went alright. But now its all the paper work and all that. The training will not be bad at all - honestly think she picked some really good classes for us to take. And one of the books I had marked a star by that I wanted to read anyhow - figured it would be a good resource. So now we just get all the stuff down.
Still very scared - but I know our child is out there waiting - they've been waiting longer than us. I heard 5 families from the agency brought their children home this weekend - can't wait to hear from them. And two more go next week! SO exciting! I need to look up their blogs and follow them all.
OUr next steps - one on one with the social worker - Craig goes first and then me. Then its the home visit.
OUr friends Tammy and Michele really helped us organize the basement this past weekend - we now have a spot ready to move the office so that the current office will be Nate's room. We just need to have some electrical work added down there - but that's not too big of a deal.
Thanks for the prayers - we'll keep everyone posted
Gail
Still very scared - but I know our child is out there waiting - they've been waiting longer than us. I heard 5 families from the agency brought their children home this weekend - can't wait to hear from them. And two more go next week! SO exciting! I need to look up their blogs and follow them all.
OUr next steps - one on one with the social worker - Craig goes first and then me. Then its the home visit.
OUr friends Tammy and Michele really helped us organize the basement this past weekend - we now have a spot ready to move the office so that the current office will be Nate's room. We just need to have some electrical work added down there - but that's not too big of a deal.
Thanks for the prayers - we'll keep everyone posted
Gail
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