Adoption processing in China - Part 3

Travel/ Final Adoption/ Home:

It takes approximately 30-60 days to complete the travel arrangements, confirm government appointments, travel visas, etc. before the families actually travel to China. Once there, families typically stay for two weeks; this time is necessary for the Chinese government to finalize the adoption locally in the province and for the US Consulate to finalize the adoption and citizenship of the child.

The parents, and whomever they bring with them, travel to the child’s location first. There they meet and take custody of the child and the province legalizes the adoption for China. This takes a few days and can involve long travel. China is a very big country!

Once the adoption is approved by the province the new family travels to Guangzhou, China. This is where the US Consulate is located and where the family processes the paperwork finalizing the adoption in the eyes of the United States. The child will have a medical exam to verify there are no health issues that would keep her/ him from entering the US. Finally, the child is sworn in as a US citizen and is legally part of the family in the eyes of both countries.

Then comes the long flight home, with a child who has only known you for two weeks, is in a strange place and dressed/ fed/ cared for differently, and can be in one of many, many moods as you leave China. Once the child steps on US soil, meaning where ever in the US the plane lands first, she/ he is legally a US citizen. BeachBaby stands a good chance of becoming a US citizen at the Newark, New Jersey airport. Either way, when we all step off that last plane, everyone will be glad to be home, but not necessarily happy and cheery.

When I am matched with BeachBaby, I will let you in on the details of the trip and happenings scheduled in China. Until then, here’s keeping all our fingers and toes crossed for the speedy completion of this long process. And please keep good thoughts in your heart for the parents ahead of me in this process; may everyone’s dreams of a new family come true as fast as Heaven will allow.


m

Nursery progress

I haven't worked on the nursery for a while; the more distant the adoption felt, the less enthusiasm I felt for planning.

After helping a friend paint her soon-to-be adopted little one's room, I decided I needed step up my efforts.

For the last year or so it's felt like everything about the adoption had become paperwork, websites and stress - no fun to be found.

But a few weeks ago I purchased some bedding (!), and last weekend I bought a crib. The pets found the assembly process very entertaining.

The pictures leave a lot to be desired, but here they are:

Latest stats from the CCAA

That's the China Center 0f Adoption Affairs, to all you novices.

A batch of referrals came through yesterday, for families whose dossiers were received on or before March 8, 2006.

That's a 37-month wait. And I am faaaaaaaarther down the line.

m

Another milestone

My second set of fingerprints expire today.

I wonder if the Columbus Citizenship and Immigration Services office has a 'buy two, get one free' discount?

m

Things to do while I wait

It seems that progress is just as slow this year as it was in 2008.

I need to keep myself busy.

I decided to finish off the Master's degree I started. I hit a wall last year when I began researching my thesis topic and realized I wouldn't be able to collect valid data.

I had to take time off until I came up with a new topic. I start back to classes March 2.

If all goes well, I will be finished at the end of November. If my referral comes before that I'll have to adjust the school timeline.

Wish me luck and pray that I am quickly interrupted by that referral.

m

Latest CCAA stats

Referral matches have been completed for all families with log-in dates (LID) on or before:

March 2, 2006.

That means there are 114 possible LIDs before mine.

m

GoGo has left us

The house is a little emptier this weekend. GoGo, my blue point Siamese, passed on.

GoGo was a rescue from the humane society and lived to an amazing 21+ years. I won't go into her decline, or how she was at the end. I prefer to remember her as the sweet-tempered, comfort-loving companion she was to me for a long time.

I don't know if my other cat, and the puppy, realizes that she is gone but I certainly do.

The vet's office was wonderful and supportive. They even sent flowers the next day.

Now, before you say it, or do it - No one bring me any kittens or other cute, furry critters. I want all of us (cat, dog, me) to settle into this new life. We will have another big change once BeachBaby joins the family.

m