We had our fingerprints done on Valentine's Day. Tom's went perfectly, they had a little bit of an issue with my mom's, and a big issue with mine. They had a hard time getting mine to read on the scanner.
I was in there about 10 minutes longer than anyone else. They just kept redoing them, smashing my fingers around on the scanner. I don't care what they did to my fingers, as long as it comes out alright. The woman that did it said that she got them to a point where they pass on her end, but if the person who is running the background check is picky, I may have to go back. Things just don't want to go smoothly with my prints. I had to go back again at the local level, too.
If I have to go back, I just hope it's quick.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Monday, February 4, 2008
Thursday, January 24, 2008
The Wait - Revisited
I've been avoiding the Adoption.com forum for a while now, as the rumors about the wait are beginning to get to me.
As I said in an earlier post, there are rumors that the wait could go as high as 5 years (which is just crazy!). There are rumors that the CCAA will close down during the Olympics, increasing the wait time.
Even though every step we take is a step closer to the wait for the referral, I feel like they are stepping back on the other end, and taking our baby with them. I know everything happens for a reason and I should just keep that in mind, but 5 years?!? 21-24 months is bad enough.
What has helped has been visiting Tiff's blog and the China adoption blogs I have links to here. It helps to see people who are home with their babies. They are beautiful and happy and had to wait a long time, too. Thanks to all of you.
As I said in an earlier post, there are rumors that the wait could go as high as 5 years (which is just crazy!). There are rumors that the CCAA will close down during the Olympics, increasing the wait time.
Even though every step we take is a step closer to the wait for the referral, I feel like they are stepping back on the other end, and taking our baby with them. I know everything happens for a reason and I should just keep that in mind, but 5 years?!? 21-24 months is bad enough.
What has helped has been visiting Tiff's blog and the China adoption blogs I have links to here. It helps to see people who are home with their babies. They are beautiful and happy and had to wait a long time, too. Thanks to all of you.
Friday, January 4, 2008
Home Study
We got our draft home study by email last night. Thank you Miriam. It looks good and only needs a couple of corrections. Then it can be sent to Great Wall and Immigration. Then we can get fingerprinted again.
Thanks to Bonnie, Dave, Sandy, Tiff & Squid for their letters of recommendation.
UPDATE: 1/9/08 - Great Wall wants changes and Tom got a new job (Hallelujah!!), so we need changes as well. Of course, this is going to cost us. There will be an additional fee on top of the $800 already paid. I don't have a problem with it, except I hope she's not lumping in the information that she keeps asking me - which I've given her at least 2-3 times already.
At least we're getting closer. That's what I have to keep telling myself.
UPDATE: 1/13/07 - Got the revised home study. Still a couple of changes. One step closer every day. Sending back my revisions today.
UPDATE: 1/16/08 - The changes have been made and revised home study is off to the NY license agency for signature. Then we'll get it back and send 1 original to CIS to attach to the I600 (then hopefully we'll be fingerprinted in the not to distant future), 2 originals to Great Wall and 1 original for us. The bill for the changes was very reasonable. One step closer.
UPDATE: 1/24/08 - I spoke with Jan at Baker Victory (the NY licensed agency that oversees the Social Worker) yesterday. She said the home study was due to be sent back to me yesterday. Another step closer.
Thanks to Bonnie, Dave, Sandy, Tiff & Squid for their letters of recommendation.
UPDATE: 1/9/08 - Great Wall wants changes and Tom got a new job (Hallelujah!!), so we need changes as well. Of course, this is going to cost us. There will be an additional fee on top of the $800 already paid. I don't have a problem with it, except I hope she's not lumping in the information that she keeps asking me - which I've given her at least 2-3 times already.
At least we're getting closer. That's what I have to keep telling myself.
UPDATE: 1/13/07 - Got the revised home study. Still a couple of changes. One step closer every day. Sending back my revisions today.
UPDATE: 1/16/08 - The changes have been made and revised home study is off to the NY license agency for signature. Then we'll get it back and send 1 original to CIS to attach to the I600 (then hopefully we'll be fingerprinted in the not to distant future), 2 originals to Great Wall and 1 original for us. The bill for the changes was very reasonable. One step closer.
UPDATE: 1/24/08 - I spoke with Jan at Baker Victory (the NY licensed agency that oversees the Social Worker) yesterday. She said the home study was due to be sent back to me yesterday. Another step closer.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Update
A few people have asked where we are in the process, so I figured I'd post an update.
Not much is going on, really. Our letters of recommendation are out (thanks to Tiff & Squid, Bonnie & Dave and Sandy for their help). The home study draft won't be ready until those letters are back to Baker Victory and the social worker.
Our fingerprint clearances were received by Baker Victory, so I guess I got re-fingerprinted for nothing. Well, not really for nothing. They charged me, but at least I have some on file in case it has to be done again.
We're done with our Hague classes.
Basically, it's just a waiting game right now. Wait for the recommendation letters to get to the social worker...wait for the social work to include them in the home study...review the home study for any errors...wait for Great Wall to review the home study...give our comments (hopefully few) to the social worker...wait for the revised home study...send packet 2 to Great Wall...then...more waiting.
Not much is going on, really. Our letters of recommendation are out (thanks to Tiff & Squid, Bonnie & Dave and Sandy for their help). The home study draft won't be ready until those letters are back to Baker Victory and the social worker.
Our fingerprint clearances were received by Baker Victory, so I guess I got re-fingerprinted for nothing. Well, not really for nothing. They charged me, but at least I have some on file in case it has to be done again.
We're done with our Hague classes.
Basically, it's just a waiting game right now. Wait for the recommendation letters to get to the social worker...wait for the social work to include them in the home study...review the home study for any errors...wait for Great Wall to review the home study...give our comments (hopefully few) to the social worker...wait for the revised home study...send packet 2 to Great Wall...then...more waiting.
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Fingerprints...The Sequel
Well, I guess it was bound to happen. We've had a couple of small hurdles in the road to getting our home study draft.
1. Tom's birth certificate was missing the Letter of Exemplification. We took care of that this week. In fact, the NYC Dept. of Health is so organized, we now have 6 certified copies of Tom's birth certificate and 4 Letters of Exemplification. I sent one of each to Great Wall.
2. My fingerprints were rejected by the NYS Office of Children & Family Services. Why, you ask, when we haven't gotten Tom's or my mom's back (yet)? Maybe because the nice policeman who printed me spent more time looking at my chest and flirting than printing me? Could be, but at least he didn't charge us. ;o)
I had to go back this morning (after they took all the prisoners to arraignment) and get printed again. That's in the mail to Albany.
We're still shooting for February or March for the dossier to go to China. I would LOVE to see the draft of the home study, but they need all the clearances in order to give it to us.
We did hear that 2 of the 3 people that were sent the letters of reference received them. They're also needed in order to have the info blended into the home study.
1. Tom's birth certificate was missing the Letter of Exemplification. We took care of that this week. In fact, the NYC Dept. of Health is so organized, we now have 6 certified copies of Tom's birth certificate and 4 Letters of Exemplification. I sent one of each to Great Wall.
2. My fingerprints were rejected by the NYS Office of Children & Family Services. Why, you ask, when we haven't gotten Tom's or my mom's back (yet)? Maybe because the nice policeman who printed me spent more time looking at my chest and flirting than printing me? Could be, but at least he didn't charge us. ;o)
I had to go back this morning (after they took all the prisoners to arraignment) and get printed again. That's in the mail to Albany.
We're still shooting for February or March for the dossier to go to China. I would LOVE to see the draft of the home study, but they need all the clearances in order to give it to us.
We did hear that 2 of the 3 people that were sent the letters of reference received them. They're also needed in order to have the info blended into the home study.
Sunday, December 2, 2007
The Wait
We haven't even begun the wait yet. we're still in the paperchasing stage. We were told by Great Wall that the wait is currently 21-24 months from LID.
I read somewhere that some are predicting the wait may go as long as 4 - 5 years. 4-5 years?!? I can't fathom it. I just cannot imagine waiting 4-5 years. As it is, 21-24 months seems like forever.
I read somewhere that some are predicting the wait may go as long as 4 - 5 years. 4-5 years?!? I can't fathom it. I just cannot imagine waiting 4-5 years. As it is, 21-24 months seems like forever.
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Birth Certificate
We got a call this week from the adoption agency. Tom's birth certificate was not the "long form" with a letter of exemplification attached.
Apparently, if you were born in the five boroughs of NYC and are adopting internationally, this is needed.
So, Tom had to reorder his certificates. No big deal, thankfully, since we're still waiting on the home study draft. they came today, so they will be sent off to Great Wall on Monday.
Apparently, if you were born in the five boroughs of NYC and are adopting internationally, this is needed.
So, Tom had to reorder his certificates. No big deal, thankfully, since we're still waiting on the home study draft. they came today, so they will be sent off to Great Wall on Monday.
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Where to Blog?
We have a free blog through our adoption agency, but it is very basic and doesn't allow for the add-ons I want to do (at least I haven't been able to figure it out and they don't respond to email requests, apparently).
This site allows for more personalization, but all of my posts are over there. I started adding the posts here, but it doesn't hold the dates.
What to do? What to do?
I've decided to stay with Blogger. They have a feed that will redirect everyone to this site, and I left a post sending everyone here.
It's much easier to use.
This site allows for more personalization, but all of my posts are over there. I started adding the posts here, but it doesn't hold the dates.
What to do? What to do?
I've decided to stay with Blogger. They have a feed that will redirect everyone to this site, and I left a post sending everyone here.
It's much easier to use.
Monday, November 26, 2007
When Tom and I decided to expand our family, we felt that adoption was the way to go. Right now we're paperchasing (gathering all the required documents). It's a pretty involved process, but I'm working hard to keep it organized.
Here is a map showing the provinces of China. I wonder where our daughter will be born?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)