Many of you have been amazed to learn that we started doing paperwork already in January of 2006. I will go over the basics of what is involved - specific to an adoption from China. Each country has their own process, and it has been further complicated by new rules and regulations called The Hague which are now going into effect. There will be much media coverage about those requirements in the next few months, so everything is subject to change. Here is how it went for us....
We researched several adoption agencies, compared their services, and asked around about their reputations. We finalized our choice in late December of 2005 and moved forward with them in January of 2006. They are based on the West Coast and do international adoptions for several countries, not just China. Each step hinges together, so as you get one task done, you can move forward with another. Other things we did as sort of an undercurrent and were a constant work in progress.
We began compiling items for our dossier which included - a letter from our local police department saying that we were not a risk; photos of each individual residing in our home; pictures of each room in the house plus several shots of the exterior; a certified original marriage license; certified original birth certificates; extensive health examinations; letters from our employers stating our salary, job duties, and likelihood of continued employment; financial statements; copies of passports; agreement forms to state that we would complete the process; etc. We also had to have a home study done. China requires specific topics be covered and certain wording be in the document, so it took some time. The home study process also requires elements of its own - multiple background checks, reference letters from family and friends, financial reports, etc. We had a wonderful social worker from a nearby community do that for us.
We also had to go through our USCIS Office about six hours away and apply for our daughter to have citizenship as she entered the country. They also did our FBI fingerprints. The sad part is that the fingerprints are only valid for 15 months (like your fingerprints ever change) and the Immigration Approval lasts for 18 months. During our wait, we've had to re-do the fingerprints once already as they expired. The most frightening thing we face right now is that our Immigration Approval will expire in early December. We had been told that we'd have our daughter before December, so not to worry about it, but because of all the delays, we must go through the hoops to get it renewed afterall. We ask for your prayers that the processing is speedy and without a hitch because it could REALLY REALLY REALLY goof everything up if it doesn't work fast.
Anyway, once we compiled all those items and had them notarized, our agency sent them to our State Government. They checked to see that the notaries we used were in fact a true notaries and then signed off on them. They they went to the Consulate for another review. Once that was done, our agency forwarded this large packet known as the dossier to China, where they were received at the CCAA. The date they were mailed to China is called DTC (Dossier to China/Date to China). Its an important date for families doing adoptions through China. When the CCAA logged the dossier into their system you reach another milestone known as LID or logged in date. For us, the DTC was June 28, 2006 and our LID was July 12, 2006.
Since then, its been a roller coaster ride with lots of hoops, twists, and turns as I know is true for any family on this journey. Our dossier was translated into Chinese, it was also reviewed with a fine toothed comb to be sure that we met all the requirements set forth by their government to adopt a child from their country. The biggest thing though, is that you wait.... and wait...
When we found our daughter this summer, we submitted what is called a LOI (Letter of Intent). It stated that we had researched her physical condition, located doctors who can provide her with the special care that she needs, and that we want her to be our daughter. We also had to send them updated information about changes in our situation since our paperwork had been sitting their office for nearly a year. Our LOI was submitted on July 13, 2007 - one year and one day after our LID.
We then waited for the CCAA to review our dossier more closely and return to us a LOA (Letter of Approval/Letter of Acceptance). Our LOA arrived at our adoption agency on October 2, 2007. They sent it on to us. We signed that document, did more forms, and those have all been returned to China. Now, we wait for TA (Travel Approval) and a CA (Consulate Appointment). In the meantime (here is an undercurrent), we scramble to renew our home study in order to meet requirements to have our Immigration Approval extended (as I stated above). That particular task is what worries me more than the TA.... but, we know that God has held our hand and led us all this way, He will most surely help us through this thorny part of the journey and lead us safely to Miss E, in China. We will have her home, hopefully soon!
I hope this helps you see a little bit of the process. I know I have skipped many parts, but it does get confusing and garbled - even when you're doing it!!
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