Here We Go!

Here we go!  The process is starting to spin faster and faster, but it still seems the days last forever-trying to get through the minutes of researching the next process, obsessing trying to guess what our time frame might be, wondering what Zoey is doing and if she knows she has a whole family out in Middle America eagerly waiting for her to come join them… 

Yesterday we received word that immigration issued our I800 approval! This is basically our approval from USCIS (United States Immigration, Department of  Homeland Security) to adopt the soon-to-be-known-as-little-Miss Zoey B.
So-we have both countries in agreement-China approved us with our LOA, and now the United States approved us with action on our I800!!!

Apparently this is kind of a done deal, but I am still a little tense that all will go well.  Having a little set back a couple years ago with a certain agency going bankrupt brings a little anxiety into the picture that it will happen again…or that something might produce a hiccup, but we have faith that all will work out.  There is more paper shuffling that has to be done for the next 8 or so weeks-we are looking to have our approval cabled to the US Consulate in Guangzhou, China, then our Article 5 letter will be issued by the U.S. Embassy, basically signing off on our visa application for Zoey stating that it meets the qualifications for an immigrant visa, and then the US Embassy signs off that everything is in order for the adoption to be completed.  THEN, China gives us travel approval (the coveted TA!!)-and we leave 2-4 weeks from that point.

Luckily, with the exception of figuring out who is going to travel, setting up travel plans, getting visas, packing, doing the room, shopping for clothes and a car seat, etc…, most of the paperwork is done.  Whew.  Never thought we’d get this far.  We have a lot of people to thank for all of the support they have given to us-especially since we seem to need a Paperwork 101 class. 

Bottom line: if my estimates are correct, I’ll be in China in less than 3 months!  (Actually, the way that things are moving, might be sooner!!)

Another important piece of the puzzle also arrived yesterday-Nikon has fixed my camera and returned it to me in working order.  With my new 16GB card, I am ready to go!

Gotta go-that nesting thing happens even with adoptions, too.  :)