Adoption Process Update

Let's get one thing out of the way first - Yes, I'm a slacker!  I have been so wrapped up in life and paperwork that I have not done the decent courtesy of keeping people posted as to how Fiona's adoption is coming. 

Without further procrastination, here it is!

We are now 4-9 weeks from traveling to China to bring our baby home!  (Still a big range, isn't it?)

Here's what's happened with getting Fiona approved to come here (since that is the harder part - there is actually a separate process getting US approved to go THERE, and I'll talk about that separately): 

On August 4 (as I was standing in the parking lot at the church waiting for the Young Women to get picked up from our week at camp) we got our LOA.  LOA is the "Letter seeking confirmation from adopter".  I know, it doesn't shorten nicely to LOA, but the acronym is based on a nickname for the document, "Letter of Acceptance" - meaning, yes, we accept this child. 
We copied, signed, notarized, and sent the document back immediately. 

After getting our LOA, we were allowed to proceed with the last part of the process - getting Fiona's immigration approval.  First, we filled out and sent in two documents - the I-800 application (Petition to Classify Convention Adoptee as an Immediate Relative) which has to go through USCIS, and the DS-230, which is Fiona's immigrant visa application.  That goes to the US Consulate in Guangzhou. 

On August 23 we got our provisional approval for the I-800, which means we were cleared to send off the DS-230.

On August 27, the DS-230 was received by the National Visa Center (NVC), checked over, and sent on to the US Consulate in Guangzhou.  We got our notification on August 29.

So, here we are!  Fiona's immigration file is being reviewed in Guangzhou. 

From here, the process looks like this:

• In 2-2.5 weeks from the NVC letter - some time between September 12-15 - the USC will issue and Article 5 (don't ask me what that particular step means, but it's another "green light"), which is sent to the Capital in Beijing and the CCAA (China Center for Adoption Affairs).
• Some time between September 26-October 13 (2-4 weeks from Article 5 issuance) we will get our Travel Approval.  This means, "You're ok to come here, but hurry up about it!"
• Our actual travel to China will happen between 10-21 days from Travel Approval - Between OCTOBER 5 AND NOVEMBER 3.  :D  So happy!!!  Of course, we have heard of travel happening in as little as 5 days from Travel Approval, which could push it right to the beginning of October, but that is not likely to be the case (and saves me a couple coronaries).  

The travel dates are a coordination dance between the CCAA, the US Consulate appointment for Fiona to get her immigrant visa approved, and the adoption agency (ie- when do they have a travel group going). 

So that's it!  In all likelihood I may have my baby in my arms and safely back in Colorado before my birthday (Oct 22).  If not, I'm still extremely unlikely to be gone for Thanksgiving and Erik's birthday the following day.