The End

Well it's finally the end - the end of my preadoption paperwork here in our country. That is, if they don't find anything wrong with any of it when this last bunch gets to China.

It wasn't without struggles all the way to here.  All the way to the last piece of paper that I was waiting to receive in the mail it was a fight.  I didn't get it in the mail and didn't get it, so finally got them to mail it again.  The 2nd one, from the day it actually went in the mail til I got it - 2 days! If I had gotten the first one in 2 days my paperwork would be in China winging its way through the next phase.  Now it made it to me just in time to rush it to my agency, in order to not go anywhere for over another week. It is Chin ese New Year and the whole country shuts down for at least a week to celebrate. I'm not saying anything against that, as their celebrations are great!  I'm just saying it's par for the course for me - once again.

There is just some reason that I am not to travel soon.

Anyway, I am now going into the 'Article 5' phase. My next step is for the Article 5 letter to be issued by the US Embassy. This is a step I don't have to really DO anything about.  Now I've mailed/emailed the last of my paperwork to my agency. They told me that on Monday they will forward it to their in-China representative. The in-China rep will take the NVC letter to the US Embassy in Guangzhou along with my DS-230 application and my LOA. The consulate needs to review my new child's visa application (the DS-230), make sure it meets the qualifications for an immigrant visa, and then signs off that everything is in order for the adoption to be completed. This is called the Article 5 letter. I cannot obtain custody of my child until the Article 5 letter is issued! The consulate takes a standard two weeks to complete this process (with the CNY in there mine will take at least 3 weeks from now). Once it's picked up from the consulate, it will be delivered directly to the CCC WA for Travel Approval!  On a normal timeline I believe people are receiving their TA's anywhere from 1-2 weeks after Article 5 pickup.

So I'll have some fun here ~
 - Possibly receive word on Art 5 pickup 2/13?
 - Possibly receive TA 2/29?
 - Possibly travel mid March?

Bee Funny

Bee had a friend over after school.  When I got home the little girl told me, "You know my mom.  She works in the dental office."  Yes I did know her, tho hadn't met her daughter.  When the little girl was leaving, I could see that Bee was in her deep thinking mode.  She says to her friend, "I've been thinking, when you go to the dentist, does your dad have to pay your mom?"

Her answer, by the way, was, "No, we don't go to that dentist."

I've Been Cabled...& I guess I'm really old!

Well, I've been Cabled*.  

I guess.  

That's what they tell me.  

Yeah, I probably don't sound very excited.  It is another step, but I've been anxiously waiting and waiting and WAITING for that official piece of paper that says that I am I-800 approved so that I can finish the step prior to this.  I am I-800 approved as of 1/4, just haven't gotten the form in the mail.  Finally on Friday my officer said she will mail me a new one and got it in the mail on Friday.  Of course there's a holiday in there so I for sure won't get it til Tuesday.  Hey, that's the story of this adoption, hurry up and wait! By then maybe I will also get my pdf from NVC that says I've been cabled.

*Cabled means that NVC has emailed my file (on 1/12/12)  to the US Embassy in Guangzhou, China.  This is approval of my visa petition.

So once I get the I-800 in the mail, I will send that along with my DS-230 (child's visa application) to my agency.  I also have to forward the Cabled NVC Letter to my agency.  When those steps are done I am done with my US paperwork!!!

The process is not done after that, but I'm done with paperwork.  After that is the Article 5 Process, which I won't talk about right here.

Well, I still will have to send for our visas when we get just a bit closer to travel, but as far as our little guy I will be done!

*********************

On a Bee note.  Mei was sitting upstairs looking at a magazine and commented that Br*d Pitt and Ange lina J*lie look like they're getting kinda old.  I said, "Yes, they are getting kind of old, they must be about my age."  Bee sitting at the table finishing eating, in total seriousness, says, "OH, Wow, really!?  They are REALLY, really old!"   Mei says, "Oh, gosh Bee that's really nice.  You're telling mom that she's really old!"  That was the 2nd thing at the table tonight that she had me busting my gut laughing about.

I-800 Approved Today

Today I got an email that I am I-800 approved ~

Date: Thu, 5 Jan 2012 10:54:40 -0500

Ms. Hxxxx,

I wanted to follow up with you to let you know that a provisional approval was rendered on the above-mentioned application as of yesterday evening. The case file has since been routed to the National Visa Centre (NVC) for consular processing. Please let us know if you have further questions or comments. Thank you! ce

Yes!  One more step done.