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Our Adoption Journey Journal
This is essentially a timeline from when we have applied to our adoption agency through the paperchase and the long wait to referral and finally traveling to China!
July 2004
We attended two informational meetings on International Adoption. One was with a large agency (Adoptions from the Heart) and they discussed several different country programs, the other was with a smaller agency (Pearl S. Buck Welcome House Adoptions) that was focused on China adoptions. We learned about the different programs and fees and heard from families that have been through the process and met some wonderful adorable children as well. We sort of put the idea of adopting in the back of our minds and gathered information from each agency that was licensed in Delaware that did international adoptions. Ordered Copies of our Birth Certificates and Marriage Liscence.
August 2004
Spent alot of time researching adoption from China online. We got Ron a passport!
October 2004
After learning a bit more about international adoption, we found out that you did not have to utilize an agency that is licensed in your state, so we requested information packets from a variety of adoption agencies from Florida, to Texas, Massachusets to Oregon and Colorodo. All in all we gathered information on 15 different agencies. Currently we're weeding through what is what with each of them and contacting references.
November 2004
We've applied to our Home Study Agency, so the process is underway! As for the Adoption Agency - We've narrowed it down to 2 agencies, a local agency that is licenced in Delaware, and based in Colorodo. Decision will be made soon....Yipee!!!!
December 2004
We've been accepted by our Home Study Agency as well as our Adoption Agency! We're working with Child and Home Study Associates for the home study portion of this adoption and Chinese Children Adoption International. So, we have officially started the paperchase! We've been fingerprinted for our background checks, have our employment letters and references are on the way....*dances about*
January 2005
We've gotten quite a bit done this month:
- Home Study Education Sessions
- Lab work and physicals completed
- Adoption Petition completed
- Financial Statement completed
- Employment letters completed
- Police Clearance forms came in
- Submitted to BCIS the I600A form and was fingerprinted
- Birth Certificates and Marriage Certificate State certified from MD and NJ
February 2005
We had our final home study visit this month, and it was amazing, 6 days later we had the draft report in our hands to review and it was soon sent it off to BCIS...
March 2005
Less than two weeks after our home study was submitted to BCIS, we received our I797C from Philly! So, the remaining documents have been State Certified and are now off to the US Department of State and Chinese Consulates for the final authentications! All of the documents have been gathered, notarized, certified and authenticated...whew! We are sending them all into our Agency for critical review and translation March 30th.
April 2005
We've passed critical review and we're being translated as we speak. Hopefully we'll hear soon that our dossier is being send on over to China!
April 14th...Our agency has informed us that they are mailing our dossier today! We'll be getting the blow by blow updates on where it is until it is logged in with CCAA. That is the important date, that is the date we commence the waiting phase from.
April 19th...CCAA is in posession of our dossier! Our agency reps in Beijing walked our paperwork, along with 7 other familes to CCAA...now, about that LID (Log In Date)...
May 2005
We have our Log In Date - April 27th So, we probably expect a referral, if the timeline stays true, in October or November (most likely November). Yes!
June 2005
Our Agency really is taking good care of us...We've received a bunch of newsletters, preparation DVD's and documents...I've been really impressed with their professionalism!
July 2005
As you can guess, we're waiting...and waiting...and waiting. Actually, we're not doing too much waiting, we're running all over the place, going down the shore, visiting family, travelling for work...Actually, I'm going to REFUSE to wait! I'm just going to work on all of the stuff that would be more difficult working on with a little one about. Maybe get the house painted, gardening, what the heck, I'll even work on finishing my thesis research! No waiting here!
August 2005
Well, time keeps passing...rumors are swirling as to when we should be getting our referral and when we should be traveling. They are both annoying while at the same time addicting! We started to clean out the room that the baby will have, but haven't made it very far yet in setting it up. There's something to do in September!
January 2006
After a couple months delay...we have our referral!
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