Well, we are waiting on the final INS review. I received a voice mail at work last week from an INS agent that said she needed our A #s. Of course, I had no idea what she was talking about and she either gave me the incorrect number - or most likely, I transposed the number. I could not contact her and could not retrieve the number from my voicemail, so we went on a wild goose chase to get the phone number - which we never got by the way.
Tim and I both became frustrated because the 1-800 numbers that we called claimed that they did not have the phone number for the Greer office and did not even have an email for them. The info the representatives gave us was the info that we could find on line. Finally, I was given an email address to the Charleston office and emailed them while Tim mailed a letter to the Greer Office - where we had mailed our I-600A, etc. And...guess what they wanted...our alien number! OK - ummmm.... we don't have one because we are Naturalized USA Citizens! Then, on the 800 #, they asked Tim for the A# for our children....after he had explained that we are applying for adoption.
After all of this.....we find that all of our files have been transferred to the Charleston Office. I knew that DSS had sent their study/approval to Charleston, but everything on the USCIS site said to send everything for the I-600A to Greer!
The good news is that the INS has everything that they need and our request is awaiting final review. Whew........
Now we just have to do a couple more things and will be ready to submit to Cathy Harris, our advisor. The SDA in Ukraine has recently made some changes and Cathy has found out what they want. We have to get a certified Tax Assessment of our house and a certified Deed. Plus, the employment statements that we got are not good enough. They now want a copy of the 2008 W-2 forms that are signed by our employer and notarized. We should have all of this done and ready to submit to Cathy by the time we get our INS approval.
Keep the prayers coming that nothing else drastically changes. I heard a rumor that Ukraine may put a moratorium on adoptions, but it is unfounded. I think someone misread the info from an interview with a Ukrainian official concerning Ukraine joining the Hague Convention.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Fingerprints Done!
We left home at 7:00 am on Saturday and arrived at the processing center at 9:15 am for our 10:00 am appointment. There weren't many cars there, so we went on in at 9:20. We had to complete a form and then were taken straight back for our fingerprints. They got Tim's right off, but had a problem with one of my "pinky" fingers because it is bent. I noticed about a month ago that I cannot straighten it completely. I know...I am getting old.
Anyway, we were finished and out of there by 9:45. We headed back to Gaffney to hit the Prime Outlets and hit the storm about the time we got there. We shopped a little and then headed home. We got home around 2:00 pm, just when the hard rain hit here and the thunder and lightening followed about 30 minutes later.
We are still waiting on my passport which I applied for on 02/25/09. Tim applied about a week earlier and receives his about a week ago, so it should be here any day now.
After that, we just have to mail those copies to INS and then wait for their response from that and the fingerprinting, etc.
We have been tossing some names around, but nothing settled yet. We will most likely follow what most people do and give the child(ren) and American first name and keep their Ukrainian name as the middle name.
Will update when something new comes along.
In my last post I asked for prayer for Cornethia and Jim Bob as they were going to their 3rd referral. They are applying to adopt the 7 year old boy & 8 year old girl that they met at that referral. Please continue to keep them in your prayers.
God bless
Anyway, we were finished and out of there by 9:45. We headed back to Gaffney to hit the Prime Outlets and hit the storm about the time we got there. We shopped a little and then headed home. We got home around 2:00 pm, just when the hard rain hit here and the thunder and lightening followed about 30 minutes later.
We are still waiting on my passport which I applied for on 02/25/09. Tim applied about a week earlier and receives his about a week ago, so it should be here any day now.
After that, we just have to mail those copies to INS and then wait for their response from that and the fingerprinting, etc.
We have been tossing some names around, but nothing settled yet. We will most likely follow what most people do and give the child(ren) and American first name and keep their Ukrainian name as the middle name.
Will update when something new comes along.
In my last post I asked for prayer for Cornethia and Jim Bob as they were going to their 3rd referral. They are applying to adopt the 7 year old boy & 8 year old girl that they met at that referral. Please continue to keep them in your prayers.
God bless
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Fingerprint Appointment
We received confirmation of our INS fingerprinting appointment last Thursday. We are scheduled to go on 03/28/09 at 10:00 am. The office is near the Charlotte Airport. We were surprised to get a Saturday appointment because we had expected to have to take a day off work to go.
Our pastor recently returned from a mission trip to Ukraine. They visited the Zhitomir region and said that at one of the orphanages, there were several children ages 3-6 who were available. He also said that last year, that area only had 10 adoptions, but had already had that number adopted out so far this year. It was explained to him that last year, Ukraine had an "International Year of Adoption" in which they focused on adoptions withing the country, but that this year, there should be more children adopted to parents who reside outside Ukraine.
Thanks to everyone for your support and prayers. Thanks to all of those who are currently in Ukraine or have adopted in the past and who are sharing their experiences via blogs. A special thanks to Staci and Damon for their account of their adoption of precious Wesley. Please keep them in your prayers as Wesley faces surgery in April. Thanks for the email, Staci. Also, please keep Cornethia and Jim Bob in your prayers as they are in Ukraine now and about to go for their 3rd referral. Your faith is an inspiration to me.
Until we have something else to update......
Our pastor recently returned from a mission trip to Ukraine. They visited the Zhitomir region and said that at one of the orphanages, there were several children ages 3-6 who were available. He also said that last year, that area only had 10 adoptions, but had already had that number adopted out so far this year. It was explained to him that last year, Ukraine had an "International Year of Adoption" in which they focused on adoptions withing the country, but that this year, there should be more children adopted to parents who reside outside Ukraine.
Thanks to everyone for your support and prayers. Thanks to all of those who are currently in Ukraine or have adopted in the past and who are sharing their experiences via blogs. A special thanks to Staci and Damon for their account of their adoption of precious Wesley. Please keep them in your prayers as Wesley faces surgery in April. Thanks for the email, Staci. Also, please keep Cornethia and Jim Bob in your prayers as they are in Ukraine now and about to go for their 3rd referral. Your faith is an inspiration to me.
Until we have something else to update......
Monday, March 9, 2009
And the waiting begins
Our information was submitted to INS approximately three weeks ago. We now wait until they notify us of an appointment for finger prints which will be in Charlotte, Atlanta or Charleston. We requested Charlotte since it is closest and we can do that in a day, no problem. I, personally would love to go to Charleston, but I do not want to use any un-neccessary ETO time. I need to save it for the trip and for bonding time when we get back to good ol' USA.
Speaking of fingerprints.... we had a SCLED background check and a DSS background check, plus a medical form completed by our physicians which included testing for HIV and Syphilis, but no drug screen. I just find that extremely odd. I would like to think that they US and Ukraine would like to rule out drug use in adoptive parents.
I will update when we get the finger print appointment. Until then, we wait..........
Speaking of fingerprints.... we had a SCLED background check and a DSS background check, plus a medical form completed by our physicians which included testing for HIV and Syphilis, but no drug screen. I just find that extremely odd. I would like to think that they US and Ukraine would like to rule out drug use in adoptive parents.
I will update when we get the finger print appointment. Until then, we wait..........
Monday, January 26, 2009
More Steps Completed
We had our home visit on 01/17/09. It went well and we love our Social Worker, Teresa. She was so helpful and really cared about us and our adoption. She emailed the rough draft on 1/23/09. We are currently in the process of proofing it and will then return it to her. After our final approval, it will be sent the the Department of Social Services and they will forward on to INS.
We both had our passport photos made this week and hope to apply for passports this week as well. I do have to check with our advisor, Cathy Harris of Ukrainian Angels to see if we should to ahead and file with INS and make appointment for fingerprints since we do not know exactly when the home study will reach them. I will do that via email tonight.
We are now know at church as "the couple adopting from the Ukraine." We joined the church last March and it is not a huge church, but we do have two services and sometimes we know people by face, but not by name. We are excited to have our church family and friends praying for us.
We both had our passport photos made this week and hope to apply for passports this week as well. I do have to check with our advisor, Cathy Harris of Ukrainian Angels to see if we should to ahead and file with INS and make appointment for fingerprints since we do not know exactly when the home study will reach them. I will do that via email tonight.
We are now know at church as "the couple adopting from the Ukraine." We joined the church last March and it is not a huge church, but we do have two services and sometimes we know people by face, but not by name. We are excited to have our church family and friends praying for us.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Moving Right Along
Well...we have been very busy getting all of the paperwork ready for the home study. We have almost all of it completed and returned to Teresa. She emailed on Christmas Eve and said that she will contact us this week to schedule the home visit. We both still have to have our doctor's visits to complete the medical form. my statement from my employer (have, but have not mailed yet), rabies vaccination for the cats (who live outside), a photo of ourselves (taken, but not printed) and the dimensions of the bedroom for the child (done, but not sure if Tim included this in the last mailing.) We still have at least one or two personal reference checks waiting to be returned to Teresa as well.
Next, we have to apply for our passports. After we receive passports and home study, we can apply to the INS. Most of the other paperwork that needs to be included for translation has been already obtained while working on the home study. Some just need to be notarized which will not be a problem. There will be a lot of duplication!
Will update when there is something else to tell.....
Next, we have to apply for our passports. After we receive passports and home study, we can apply to the INS. Most of the other paperwork that needs to be included for translation has been already obtained while working on the home study. Some just need to be notarized which will not be a problem. There will be a lot of duplication!
Will update when there is something else to tell.....
Monday, December 1, 2008
Social Worker Chosen & New Requirements
Not much to report. We have decided on a Social Worker for the Home Study. We will be using Teresa Smith of SC Adoption Home Studies. We had narrowed down to two and even though there is another person who lives closer and cost a little less, we feel good about Teresa and after prayer, we decided to go with her. I have just emailed her and hope to receive a packet from her soon so that we can get to work obtaining all of the necessary paperwork.
I received conformation from our Adoption Advisor, Cathy Harris today. There have been some changes in the Ukraine, effective today. We have to have additional copies of some of the required documents and now a deed to our home that shows how many bedrooms and total square footage. I am not sure this is on the deed, but we will get that information from the tax records and include, as well as a photo of the home and the room for the child(ren.)
Keep the prayers coming!
I received conformation from our Adoption Advisor, Cathy Harris today. There have been some changes in the Ukraine, effective today. We have to have additional copies of some of the required documents and now a deed to our home that shows how many bedrooms and total square footage. I am not sure this is on the deed, but we will get that information from the tax records and include, as well as a photo of the home and the room for the child(ren.)
Keep the prayers coming!
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