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!