Adoption Update

So, we are moving right along with our adoption process, and honestly it has been a lovely experience so far.  We have had our second and third home study interviews, compiled loads and loads of paperwork, and are now waiting to finish our final training sessions.  Then our social worker can write up our home study so that we can send it to immigration.

A lot of people have asked specifically what the process looks like so I'm going to try and explain the steps ahead of us.

1. We receive our completed home study (takes 6-8 weeks).

2. We send it along with paperwork to officially request US immigration to bring a child into the country as a citizen (takes 2-3 months).

3. We send our immigration approval and home study to China along with our dossier.  The dossier is basically a lot of paperwork that China requires us to have, as well as the official request to specifically adopt Zachary. The dossier gets "logged in" and we wait for China to review it  (takes 1 month).

4. We receive our LOA, which is the official approval of our request to adopt Zachary. (takes 2-3 months)

5. Apply for a visa for Zachary through immigration (takes 1 month).

6. Wait for an appointment with the US Consulate in China and official travel approval (takes 2-3 months).

7. Travel to China to go get Zachary!!! (takes 6-8 weeks after travel approval to actually travel and then 2 weeks in country to finalize the adoption).

Some of these steps can be longer or shorter.  A lot of it just depends on unforeseen delays and how quickly the various governments get things done.  There are so many unknowns and so we just have to be prepared for anything.  Please pray that the process continues to unfold smoothly, that our home study would be approved on a quick time table, that immigration approval would go smoothly and we get assigned a competent and kind officer, and that we would have patience as we wait.  It is hard to wait when you know the name and face of the child who is waiting for you.  Twelve months seems like an eternity, but we know that God will use this time to prepare our hearts, and hopefully Zachary's heart, for the changes ahead and to grow our faith.