What Now?

Thanks to all of you for sharing in our excitement! Many of you have since asked about what happens next. In short, we wait 6-12 weeks for our TA (travel approval), and we leave for China within 2 weeks from then. 

As of a few months ago, the wait was 6-8 weeks. However, with some changes just put into place that added extra steps, and with the Chinese New Year holiday (Feb. 14-28) which closes down their offices, our wait will probably be much longer. It's disappointing, but there's nothing we can really do about it. We're hoping to leave end of March, but we might have to wait until April.  We're praying for favor and expediency!

For those of you who want all the nitty gritty details, here are the steps leading up to TA:

1.  We signed the LOA yesterday and turned in relevant paperwork (I-800). Our agency overnighted it all to the USCIS office (branch of Dept. of Homeland Security), where they will approve Virginia Grace's file. (We ourselves have already been approved by them to adopt, but the US now requires the actual child being adopted to be approved.) It is currently taking between 15-20 days from the day you send in your I800 to get approval. It may take up to 2 weeks for you to be logged in to their computer system. Once you are in, you will be approved within 48 hours.

2. Once our I-800 is approved, the National Visa Center will 'cable' (send) our approval to the American Consulate in Guangzhou about one week after our I800 approval.  They will also send us a letter letting us know our paperwork for Virginia Grace was approved...we must turn this into our agency. They then send it to the American Consulate too. (Why the consulate needs two copies to proceed, who knows? But it slows down the process.)

3. While we're waiting for our I-800 to be approved, we've filled out the form DS230.  This is the application for the visa for our daughter to immigrate to the US. This, along with our signed LOA indicating that we accept the child, will go back to China.   

4.  When our cable gets to Guangzhou along with our signed LOA and additional copy of approval letter, our Article 5 is signed in 2-3 weeks.  This is the American Government giving us final approval to adopt our child.

5. Our paperwork will then be taken to the CCAA (China Center for Adoption Affairs) again, where our Travel Approval is issued between 1-4 weeks later.

The nice part about this phase of the process is that we'll receive notifications along the way of specific approvals.  And now you'll understand what I'm so excited about when I post about being cabled and Article 5 being signed! :)

Please continue to pray for Virginia Grace as she waits. At her young age, every additional month in foster care and the orphanage can lead to more significant development and attachment issues.  Parents, imagine your child being taken from you at 18 months...imagine your child's confusion and devastation.  Please pray for God to protect her heart and prepare her for such a big transition. 

Much love,