I contacted Wide Horizons (after Gladney verified they were no longer accepting single mothers) for an application in mid December and as of today I've completed everything and only waiting on immigration clearance to be put on the official wait list. The paper chase process for baby boy has been MUCH MUCH easier than for LT. A big part of that is that I've done it before and kept good files and saved extra official documents and just felt more knowledgeable. Another big part of it was that I wasn't dealing with changing my name back to my maiden name (after my divorce) like I was the first go around. Truthfully the name change was more work that the adoption paperwork if you can imagine that. And the other big part is that my homestudy was considered an update as opposed to creating a new one and that really quickened the process.
If I could give any tips to others in the paperchase (who are trying to move through it quickly)...I would say keep asking, keep verifying, use friends, yahoo forums, stalk other people's blogs, and be persistent. One example is the CIS has changed their protocol when submitting the I600A. They ask you mail everything through Texas now. All I can say is I would HIGHLY recommend going directly to your field office in person and dropping it off, ask for a fingerprint appointment on the spot and make copies and get receipts of everything you submit. There is SO MUCH that is completely out of our control when it comes to International Adoption that when I can push things through...I try.
At this point I believe my wait for a referral will be somewhere around a year, once I'm on wait list. I know that other agencies are moving much quicker than this but I'm happy with this timing as LT will be around 3 1/2 when Yared comes home and he'll be around 1-2. While we all know that anything can happen to the program (especially singles) and timing is ONLY hypothetical, I am living in the space that it will manifest as it should.
All I can say is TGIF and release a big sigh of relief that I no longer will be making Kinkos & Fedex my home away from home anytime soon.
6 comments:
Congrats! I didn't know you were with WHFC this time, that is the agency I used and I really love them. Good luck with your wait!
Excellent news!
I am so thrilled for you and love following your journey...Thank you for the very helpful tip. We'll be doing that.
You are going to love being a mama to a boy!
I'm a little behind in blog reading, so just caught this and the news your are in process for a little boy - such good news!!
CONGRATS MS. AMY!! IM SO HAPPII FOR YOU!!! GOD BLESS YOU!
You and I seem to be at the exact same stage of things. I've now had 2 fingerprint appointments which I've not been able to go to since we were in Ethiopia for both, so I'm waiting for another date. Once that's done, we'll be on the wait list, yay! I'm also with WHFC. It'll be fun to wait together (until I get aggitated!)
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