Now What?

I've been getting that question from quite a few people now that we have our formal approval (LSC), so I thought I would go over the rest of the process to help make some sense of it.

We need to have our homestudy updated.  When we first met with our social worker, we discussed what we hoped for in a child.  We originally thought we wanted to adopt a child as young as possible, so she approved us for 0-24 months old.  That all changed for us very quickly as we started to look at all the beautiful children waiting and we decided we would prefer to adopt a toddler.  Sofie was 35 months old when we were matched so we need an update to our homestudy approving us for her age.  Since our social worker is no longer working with our agency, we need to be reassigned.  The agency is working with our new social worker to get this done so hopefully it will happen soon!

Last week, we dropped off our signed LSC at our agency along with a DS-230 form, which is Sofie's immigrant Visa application.  She needs that Visa to enter the U.S. when we return with her from China.

Next, we need to file a I800 form (Petition to Classify Convention Adoptee as an Immediate Relative) with U.S Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).  This is used to determine Sofie is an eligible adoptee and to finalize the immigration process.  We had already been approved to adopt a child from China and this approval is to adopt Sofie specifically. 

It will take 10 days for USCIS to process the I800.  They will then cable our approval to the US Consulate in Guangzhou (China).  The Consulate will verify all of our approvals, approve us to immigrate Sofie and issue what is called the Article 5.  The Article 5 will be picked up at the consulate by a courier and delivered to the CCAA.  We are told this process is taking 5-8 weeks.

Once the CCAA receives our Article 5, they will work on issuing our Travel Approval.  This will take about 2 weeks.  When our agency receives our Travel Approval, they will schedule our appointment with the Consulate in Guangzhou and this is the date our travel will be based on.  It will be at this point when we will know the exact dates and will book our flights.  We are told travel will be 3-4 weeks upon receipt of Travel Approval.

So that is what happens next...but none of it will happen until we get that update to our homestudy done!

***Update***

The new social worker called at 1:30 today and asked if she could come at 2:30!  She understands the urgency and is on board with getting this done a.s.a.p.!   We were told this update would not require a home visit but oh well...she just left.  She is hoping to get it to us on Friday, if the agency can review it and give her the green light tomorrow!