USCIS Update

I follow a lot of blogs and adoption forums, and it seems like many families have been having issues with getting their I-600 approved by the U.S. government in a timely manner. I decided to be proactive and email the National Benefits Center (NBC) that processes the paperwork. I sent a message to their general email address, politely asking if they had everything they needed for approval. I didn't really expect an answer since it was just a general email address. Well, 24 hours later, I got a response! It said my email would be forwarded to the officer assigned to our case. The next day, which was yesterday, our officer emailed and said she should get to our application next week, and if everything was there, which it looked like it was, then she would approve it next week. She also suggested I email her back next Friday to check in. Wow! So, now I have the name, email address, and phone number of the officer assigned to our case, so if there are any problems, I can contact her directly. If our I-600 is approved next week, then we can expect to get our travel call within 2 to 4 weeks after that!

8/23: Gotcha Day!

8/23/10



8/23/09

8/23/08 - The day we became a family!

Seoul, South Korea

Dear DW,

I can't believe you've been home for 2 years! You have changed from a cute, drooly baby to an active, talkative, fun little boy. You are so observant and curious about new things. You can count from 1 - 20, say the ABC's, identify shapes and colors, and remember the names of everyone you meet. You even tell me which way to turn when I am driving! You like anything having to do with Thomas the Train, except for the DVD's. You are very sensitive and get scared easily, especially when the trains wreck or make scary faces. One of your favorite things to say right now is, "I do it!" You are a very independent little man and get frustrated when you can't do something by yourself. You always want to help when we leave in the mornings by turning off the lights, the tv, the radio, putting on your shoes, locking the door, and most importantly, reminding mommy not to forget my coffee! You also like to carry around coins and know the difference between a penny, nickel, and quarter. You have charmed many people at church into giving you their extra change, and each Sunday you come home with a pocketful for your piggy bank. You are also thoughtful, and sometimes you put your change in little brother's piggy bank. You are going to be such an awesome big brother when HJ comes home. What joy you have brought to your daddy and me! We are so thankful that God chose us to be your parents. We love you so much!

Love,

Mommy and Daddy

What Happens Now?

I am always asked if we know when we are going to travel or what is going on with our adoption. Well, here is the *simplified* version of what happens in Korea and in the U.S. to allow us to bring our son home. Thanks to one of my forum friends for the step-by-step information!

STEP ONE: Receive official Referral Acceptance paperwork, sign, notarize, and return it to our adoption agency (7/1)

What Happens in Korea?

Our adoption agency sends the official acceptance paperwork to the adoption agency in Korea (Social Welfare Services/SWS) to start the Emigration Permission (EP) process. EP grants our son permission to leave Korea. (7/2)

Visa interview is scheduled and medical visa exam and Class B waiver (medical acknowledgement form) are taken to the US Embassy in Korea. This step can be done before or after EP Submittal (8/5)

EP Submittal: SWS submits EP to Korean government (our agency is not informed of this date)

EP Approval: Korean government approves and issues EP (usually takes 4 – 6 weeks, again, we are not informed of this date)

PP Approval: Passport is issued. This is actually a one-way travel certificate from Korea to the U.S. (usually takes 1 -2 weeks, again, we are not informed of this date)

All paperwork, EP, and PP go to the U.S. Embassy in Korea

***We think the Korean side is either complete or very close based upon the timelines of other families. ***

What Happens in the United States?

Adoption agency receives “legals” which include the child’s birth certificate and guardianship information. (7/13)

File Form I-600 with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services; includes legals and home study (7/13)

USCIS receives I-600 to start Visa process. Our son must have a Visa to enter the U.S. (7/23)

Fingerprints are taken and then sent to the FBI for processing. (Most families do this while they are waiting for their child referral, but we did not since we chose our son from a waiting child photolisting and did not have to wait for the agency to match us with a child.) (8/20)

USCIS sends approval of I-600 called I-171 (takes 1 – 6 weeks) ***This is what we are waiting for***

The I-171 is sent to the National Visa Center in New Hampshire, and then forwarded to the US Embassy in Korea (usually takes 1 – 3 weeks)

Once the Korean passport and US I-171 are at the Embassy, the Visa is issued, and is inserted into the Passport/Travel Certificate.

TRAVEL CALL!!!!! We can make travel plans to go get our son!

So, as you can see, we are just weeks away from meeting HyungJoon! It could be a few weeks away, or it could be a few months away. It all depends on how fast our wonderfully efficient government takes to process our fingerprints and then issue our I-600 approval. Please pray that the USCIS issues our I-600 approval quickly!

We Love Our Shirts!

Like our new shirts? We LOVE them! If you are interested in buying one, click here . Our fundraiser ends August 31, so order today. The money we raise will go towards our adoption travel expenses. So far, we have raised $200 from t-shirt sales! Will you help us get to $300 before the deadline? Thank you to everyone who has ordered shirts already. We would love to see you in your new shirt, so take a picture, send it to me, and I'll put it on here. :)

An Unexpected Update and Pictures!

Yesterday, we got a wonderful surprise...new pictures of HJ and an update! At 13 months, he is 23 lbs and 31 inches. He is wearing the pj's and hat I sent in the first care package back in May. His foster mom must have thought the pj's were a shorts set. :) He is able to stand on his own, and there are pictures of him holding his foster mom's hand and walking. He looks like such a big boy! We hope to meet you soon HyungJoon!!!

Getting Closer!

Things are starting to get really exciting around here. Last Thursday, we received an email from the adoption agency with HJ's "Class B Waiver." This is a paper that we sign and notarize stating his medical conditions. This means HJ has had his Visa physical in Korea, which is one of the last steps in the process before he is ready to travel. On the U.S. side, we still have to get fingerprinted on 8/20, and then wait for our I-600 approval. If I understand the process correctly, once our I-600 is approved, we will be REALLY close to traveling. So...we may be in Seoul in September! Tim and I are getting really excited and nervous.

I spent Sunday afternoon at the mall shopping for gifts to take to HJ's foster mom, dad, and social worker when we meet them. I found a cute Vera Bradley purse for HJ's foster mom on sale for $27.50, regularly $110! What a deal! I also hit up Bath and Body Works and got some hand sanitizers, soaps, lotions, reusable totes, etc. Now, I just need to find something for the foster dad. I'm thinking a nice wallet or something like that.

I've started a pile of things that are going to Korea: Ergo baby carrier, diaper bag, toys for the plane ride home, gifts, gift bags, etc. I still need to buy some diapers. I've enjoyed not buying them since DW is potty trained, and I just can't bring myself to buy any yet! My mind is racing of everything related to our upcoming trip. I'm having trouble focusing on anything else. I'm just so ready to meet my baby boy!

Time is Running Out to Order...

T-Shirts and Coffee for a Good Cause!

Only 1 month left of our t-shirt and coffee sales. Just click the links to see the awesome products we are selling. We receive about 40% profit from the sales. The money we raise from these fundraisers will go towards our travel expenses. Tim and I just ordered the Korean/English brown "Faith, Hope, and Love" shirts, and we can't wait to show them off. We have raised about $150 from the t-shirt sales, and would love to double that in the next month. $300 would pay for HJ's plane ticket home or for a few nights lodging. We appreciate your support!

Fingerprint Appointment Set, Nesting, and Shopping

Last Monday we received our fingerprint appointment letter from USCIS. Our appointment isn't until 8/20. We were hoping it would be sooner, but we're just glad it is scheduled and that our paperwork didn't get lost. Tim and I will go to the closest immigration office, which is in Fort Smith, to get our fingerprints done. After our fingerprints clear, our paperwork (Form I-600) will be approved and sent to the National Visa Center and then sent to the U.S. Embassy in Seoul. At this point, we will be getting REALLY close to being able to travel for HJ. I have been researching the timelines on an adoption forum for others who are using the adoption agency in Korea that HJ is with. From the date their I-600 was approved to the date of the official travel call was anywhere from 10 - 35 days. So, it's looking like we'll be traveling in September or October!

It's really hit me in the past few weeks that this is real, and that another little boy will join our family soon. I went into nesting mode and cleaned out the closet in the room that DW and HJ will share, and I've gone crazy making lists of everything that needs to be done before we travel. So far, the closet is organized, HJ's clothes are hung up and folded, the toys are more organized, I am about to purchase a sit and stand double stroller from Craigslist, and I've started typing instructions for caring for DW and our dogs while we're in Korea.

My next task is to finish (or rather start!) gift shopping. We are supposed to take gifts with us to Korea for the foster family, the adoption social worker, and others that we may meet. The difficult part is finding items that are made in the U.S. This weekend, my parents visited, and we took a trip to Terra Studios, which is a local glass and pottery shop. They are known for making glass "bluebirds of happiness." These bluebirds are given to commemorate marriage, birthdays, and other occasions. We watched the artist make a single bluebird, and it was amazing how easy he made it look. I bought this one for HJ's foster mom to represent the love and happiness she and HJ have shared during their time together.

The studio grounds were very unique, and I wish I would've taken more pictures. We didn't stay too long since it was soooooooo hot! There were sculptures, a gazebo with hundreds of glass bluebirds attached to it, a gazebo with large, pottery beads, a little pond with a fountain, a walking trail, a little log cabin, murals, etc.

Notice in DW's hand, there is a blue, glass coin. He carried it with him to dinner, and then to church today, and he's sleeping with it in his hand right now!