it will be worth it in the end!

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Update on our Adoption Process:  

Where do we even begin???  We knew from the beginning of this journey it was going to be a long process, but I don’t think I fully realized the detailed paperwork that was involved.  Let me just give you one example: We have to order NEW birth certificates and marriage certificates.  The originals in our safe at home won’t suffice so we had to get online order new birth certificates from New Jersey (John), and Georgia (Laura).  This cost 85$ each (this is not included in our estimated adoption cost.) Mine took 3 weeks and John’s took a full month to arrive in our mail box.  Now it gets better……If this is not enough we then had to send the certificates back to Georgia and New Jersey to get State Sealed or Apostille of approval.  This cost more money and takes more time.  Each state process is different therefore more forms are filled out more phone calls are made and whew after all of the head twirling it kind of makes raising a one and three year old seem pretty easy.  Let me say the birth certificates are only 1 of 17 things included in our Dossier.  Each “thing” has its own process of obtaining as well.  I won’t bore you with all the details but now I know why they call it a “paper chase”!! 

TIMING:

7/2013 Felt God Call us to Adoption (though we had thought about it for years)

9/2013 attending our first adoption interest meeting

1/2014 submitted our formal application to Bethany

2/2014 started the home study process 1 of three visits all 2 weeks apart

6/2014 got the final approval for our home study and therefore accepted into the China waiting child program (took much longer than we anticipated)

6/3/2014 Filed out I800A- this is immigration.  Our child will be a US citizen when we bring him/her home  (more on this below)

NOW- dossier preparation.  Every Country is different but in China you can not  submit your Dossier without getting immigration approval first (I-797) we are still waiting on approval and meanwhile getting all the other legal documents together.

Goals (praying for God’s timing not ours)-

·      Hopefully submit our entire Dossier to our Agency by end of August

·      Bethany will review and submit to Washinton DC for Authentication

·      It will then be sent to CHINA!  Once China receives the entire Dossier we will get a LID(log in date).  This is actually when the clock starts…..I know crazy right.  So those first 9 months didn’t really count as waitingJ 

·      We will then be in line to get a referral.  (more on this below)

I800 A- This is a form filed to US immigration to determine the suitability to adopt from a “Convention country”.  This means countries that practice the HAGUE approved laws.  China is apart of the convention county.  This process can take up to 90 days.  During the 90 days they will send you a letter stating that you are to get Biometrics testing (fingerprinted).  They give you a time and location and you have to show up.  We received the letter 2 weeks before our appointment ,which was yesterday!  So it is almost day 30 since we originally submitting the I 800 A.  Hopefully we will have approval by end of August. 

What is a Dossier?

This is all the legal documents that we have been working on for the past 9 months.  It is everything in its original form!  This is what is sent to CHINA.  The following is included:

1.     Application Letter to China explaining why we are adopting

2.     Birth certificates- newly issued and state sealed

3.     Marriage certificate- newly issued and state sealed

4.     Verification of employment letters- notarized and state sealed

5.     Financial statement- notarized and state sealed

6.     Medical suitability- full exam including blood work- notarized and sealed

7.     Policed clearance- notarized and sealed

8.     Home study- ours is 23 pages single spaced- notarized and sealed

9.     Immigration I800A  approval- I 797- notarized and sealed

10. 3 family Reference letters- notarized

11. Doctors letter of support- notarized

12. Copy of passports

13. Photos- front of house, back of house, child’s future bedrooms, close up of mom and dad, close up of each child in home, picture of family doing an activity, and picture of other room (your choice) in home. 

14. Copy of all your Continuing Education certificates- We will have completed 30 hours of CE each.  This includes education on adopting in general, Chinese culture, adopting children with special needs, and more. 

15. License of Adoption Agency

16. Copy of Service Plan- This keeps a running track of all the dates of our legal paperwork.  The reason this is watched so closely is because each document must be renewed every year before expiration. 

17. Last is MONEY.  (I will not speak of this now.  This is going to be an entire blog post in itself). 

What is a referral you might ask? This is a child chosen by our agency that they believe will fit with our family based on what we can offer them medically, emotionally, spiritually, and physiologically.  It is basically the best fit for our family and the child’s special needs.  There are thousand of waiting children so the agency does its best to get to know us as a family and try to match us accordingly.  For example: Because we move more frequently than other families we are not a good candidate for a baby that needs weekly blood transfusions.  We never know where exactly we will move and if we are moved to a rural area it may not have the resources close enough to care for the child while not burdening the other children in the home. 

Once we receive a referral we have 48 hours to review the child’s medical profile.  This can include pictures, blood work, Cat scans, MRI and other medical history.  If we do not feel comfortable with the medical needs or feel we cannot provide for the child with the resources around us then we can decline a referral.  I KNOW.  This is heart breaking and when I first heard it I thought really who would ever decline a referral,  But the more I prayed about it the more I realized we are responsible for making wise decision for the child’s health and the other children in our home.  While John and I have NOOOOO intention of turning a referral down, we must be very upfront with our agency about what we can handle and what resources are around us before they match us.  Please pray for Bethany (our Agency).  I cannot imagine the huge task they have matching children with families.  Pray for God’s hand to match these sweet children with their forever families. 

Well that’s it.  A crazy, head twirling process!  If you haven’t noted already we call him/her Baby China.  With each of our pregnancies we have had nicknames for the baby.  Everett was BB and Nora was Peanut.  Though not very original, the name Baby China has stuck and he/she is already growing in our hearts!  Please continue to pray for us, but especially for Baby China who is most likely lying in a crib by him/herself without a mom and dad to hold!  I think when I get my arms around Baby China I may never let go!  We love you all!