It's been a bit since I've updated and there has actually been a lot going on so thought I'd better catch you up!
So, we've been working really hard to compile our dossier quickly so that it can be sent to the CCCWA to be processed ... hopefully quickly as well!!!
What is a dossier??
Some of our readers may not know so here it is ...
... a dossier is a collection of official documents that basically tell about US, the adopting family.
The documents required for a dossier being sent to the CCCWA (which, by the way, stands for the China Center for Children's Welfare and Adoption) for approval to adopt a child (or two) from China consist of things like:
Birth Certificates on both adoptive parents
Marriage Certificate for adoptive parents
Letter of Application to Adopt - written by adoptive parents
Home Study (completed by a Hague Accredited Adoption Agency)
Employment Letters
Medical and/or Health Certifications for both adoptive parents
References
Photos
Each document has to be notarized and then sent to the State from which it was issued/notarized for a seal (pictured below, gold seal).
Then after it is verified by the State, it has to be sent to the Chinese Consulate that holds jurisdiction for that area (in our case, Chicago) to be Authenticated.
The consulate Authenticates the validity of each document and places a seal on the back of each State verification (shown below).
Once this is complete, the dossier is ready to be sent to China!!! We are nearly there!!
We are only waiting for one document ... the infamous I171H, issued from the Department of Homeland Security, stating that we are "free and clear" to pursue the adoption of a foreign child.
This approval does not come especially easily.
First, we have to submit a lengthy application that basically has to be completed perfectly (as with all adoption paperwork) to the Department of Homeland Security.
Then, we wait for the "invitation" to visit the nearest DHS office so that we can be fingerprinted in order to determine that we are N-O-T on America's Most Wanted list. (smile) Those of us in the adoption community get pretty excited when we receive this "invitation".
Then we anxiously wait for our fingerprinting date ... all the while taking extreme care of our fingertips so as not to prevent any errors or mis-reads during the process. Fingertips that have cuts, cracks, tears, callouses, etc ... can cause mis-reads and ultimately delay the process.
DELAYs make adoptive parents CRY!!!
After fingerprinting, we wait for "approval" from the DHS!! Some of us stalk the Hague Adoptions Unit in Immigration when we think our approval date is near. And as far as I can tell, they do not mind!! They are very helpful from what I have seen, heard and experienced and it is wonderful to receive the notification that your I800a was "APPROVED"!!! We were approved on June 2nd ... and now we're just waiting for the "official" piece of paper that says so.
In the meantime, we've also been given the wonderful opportunity to share our story and raise awareness and funds for our adoption via Reece's Rainbow. The mission of Reece’s Rainbow is to advocate and find families for orphans with Down syndrome and other special needs by raising funds for adoption grants and promoting awareness through an online community, media communications, and other events. They also share stories and advocate for orphaned children with other special needs as well.
You can find our sponsorship page by clicking ON THIS LINK or you can click on our Reece's Rainbow button in the right sidebar of this blog.
We are so amazed and grateful for all the support that we have received!!
We are encouraged, strengthened, blessed ... by all the many hands who have joined with ours ...
... through donations, fundraiser participation, donations of items for our rummage sale ...
LOOK AT OUR DOOR!!
Just look at all the hands there are now!
We just love adding hands and milestones to the door ... we can't wait to see what it will look like when Jonah and Rees come home!!
And, I apologize that I don't have updated photos ... I will get some shortly to show the progress on organizing our rummage sale fundraiser that will be June 11 - 13. We have received MANY donations of various items for the sale!!
We are SO THANKFUL ... we have a mountain of stuff!!!
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