On Thursday, September 7, 2006, 19 days after being fingerprinted for the third time, we received our approval to adopt from the Office of Homeland Security in the form of an I171H (see page 2). Tom faxed the approval to our agency, and by that evening, we got an email letting us know we are number 9 on their wait list for a baby girl from Guatemala. Woohoo!
So now what? Well, we are told to expect that it can take anywhere from 3 weeks to 3 months for a referral. Once we receive a referral, we will begin the adoption process in Guatemala. The baby will be placed with a foster mother, and the baby and birth mother will be supported by a social worker through the adoption process.
After the DNA match is successful, we will be able to visit our daughter in Guatemala. Visiting her once before the pick-up trip ensures she can come in on a particular type of visa that will guarantee her citizenship when we bring her home.
The process from referral to homecoming can take anywhere from 4 to 22 months. Our agency has a reputation for getting babies home on the 4 month end of the timetable spectrum. Cross your fingers.
Photo credit: Nancy Wiles. San Francisco Ferry Market Building: Cowgirl Creamery. What number did we get in the line? 9
No comments:
Post a Comment