When is Elie coming home?

I get asked this question on almost a daily basis.  And the shortest, most honest answer is we really have no idea.  International adoption goes through so many ups, downs, stops, starts, and this wierd twirly pattern where you have no idea which way is up.  It is, for sure, anything but boring.  This type of non-plan really annoys most schedule oriented western world people.  We are looking for a date.  I think most people would feel better if i could answer with something like, "Well on August 2nd at 10am we will meet our daugther and I have it scheduled in my day planner and you can now write it on yours as well."  We have a estimate, but it is only that - just an estimate. And this estimate is subject to change at any moment due to things like lost paperwork, holidays, people not showing up for work, laws changing, weather, disease  or any other number of odd things that can happen.  

That being said, I thought it might be helpful to explain our next steps to give a glimpse into what we are waiting on to travel.   We just mailed off our Dossier to our adoption agency today!!!  

1.  Dossier sent to China (DTC) - this is a large stack of papers decorated with shiny stickers from lots of governmental agencies.  It includes our home study ( a document explaining in detail who Kevin and I are and why China should let us adopt one of their children), police clearances, doctor's exam and blood reports, our financial reports, employment letters, a letter to the China Center for Children's Welfare and Adoption or CCCWA of our intentions to raise our adopted child as our own, birth certificate, marriage certificate and the I 800A (which we are currently waiting on).  Written out it seems like no big deal, but this was months of lots of checks written, hours and hours of hard work and a few tears.  

2.   I-800  approval from USCIS (u.s. immigration) - this document gives us advanced approval for immigrating an orphan 

3.  Receive a LID (= Login date, the date CCCWA logs our dossier into its system) This will be about 1 to 3 weeks after arriving in China, we will receive word of the LID after about 4 weeks

4. CCCWA issues Letter of Seeking Confirmation from Adopter (also known as the 
LOA); this will take about 2 - 4months .... after receiving this we can send Elie a small package!!!!  

5.  Wait for issuance of I-800 provisional approval, NVC letter and US Consulate’s 
Article 5 document. Our agency rep submits Article 5 to CCCWA immediately.  Hopefully if the timing all works out, we will already have our Article 5 ready and waiting for the moment we receive LOA

6.  CCCWA issues final Travel Approval (TA)allowing our agency to request the Consulate 
appointment. Once the appointment has been confirmed (within 2-4 business 
days), our travel dates are established.  TA happens about 1 month after the CCCWA receives the article 5. 

7.  Book tickets to China!!!!   Our travel date will be set for about 2-4 weeks after #6.  

8.   Spend 2-3 crazy weeks in China and become a family of 6!  Woohoo!!!  Then the adventure really begins.     

If things speed along  and everything happens the fastest possible, we will be in China by May.  If things take longer to process it could be as late as September.  So there you go.  Yes, it is confusing and there are way to many acronyms to memorize.  We may have to wait until this fall to travel to China, but we are pressing forward around here like it could happen sooner.  We have lots of fun home projects to complete before Elie comes home, so if you drop by for a visit bring a paint brush.  

Comments

  1. Your blog popped up on my reader today. Cool to hear you are adopting another one. Maybe ill see you at vbs again. I bet your mom helps you a lot!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Well thanks for finally narrowing it down. At least we now know the weather will be warm. :)
    What a crazy and long process. But you do it so gracefully !

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi Sonya,
    We met briefly at BCC - I am friends with your mom and have been following your blog even before you brought home your first daughter. We adopted our little girl from China about 2 and a half years ago. It's exciting to watch you bring home your little Elie - I will continue to keep you in my prayers as God brings you to mind.

    As I read your timeline, I couldn't help but think it will be on the longer side of your wait instead of the shorter. We were over a year from Dossier to Gotcha Day... not said to discourage, only to help you prepare your heart as you wait.

    If I can help you in any way as you prepare to travel, please don't hesitate to ask! Blessings to you!

    ReplyDelete

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