Journey to Parenthood
We received the call on Saturday 7/15 that our letter of invitation had arrived. Our adoption journey started just over a year ago. We selected our agency and submitted our application in May 2005. This began the long paperwork process, fingerprints for state and local, INS, security clearance, first aid and CPR classes, financial statements, medical, ...all necessary for the home study and the dossier. The social worker, for the home study, met with us in July 2005, and declared that we would make wonderful parents. The final report was ready about a month later.
Documents for preparation of our dossier was submitted to the agency for translation in September 2005. Once the dossier is translated, it is then forwarded to the Embassy in Washington for approval. Well, during this time, as is customary, some of the rules were changed. More paperwork to be submitted...yes it gets frustrating, but the eventual reward keeps us going. In January 2006, we find out that the Embassy in Washington has been sitting on dossiers and none have left the Embassy in at least three months...and so we wait..and wait.
The Kazakh consular work is divided by regions. There is a Consulate in New York but because we live in Florida, the dossier is required to go to Washington. My agency has been working in the meantime with a Senator who has adopted from Kazakhstan to try to speed up the process. They also meet with officials of the Kazakh government and finally find a loophole which allows them to send it to New York for processing. After being held up for 3-4 months in Washington it is finally cleared within 3 weeks in New York. Finally...progress. Finally in May 25, 2006 our dossier arrives in Kazakhstan. It needs to go to the Ministry of Education and Foreign Ministry for approval. The next stedp is the letter of invitation which is needed for the visa.
Documents for preparation of our dossier was submitted to the agency for translation in September 2005. Once the dossier is translated, it is then forwarded to the Embassy in Washington for approval. Well, during this time, as is customary, some of the rules were changed. More paperwork to be submitted...yes it gets frustrating, but the eventual reward keeps us going. In January 2006, we find out that the Embassy in Washington has been sitting on dossiers and none have left the Embassy in at least three months...and so we wait..and wait.
The Kazakh consular work is divided by regions. There is a Consulate in New York but because we live in Florida, the dossier is required to go to Washington. My agency has been working in the meantime with a Senator who has adopted from Kazakhstan to try to speed up the process. They also meet with officials of the Kazakh government and finally find a loophole which allows them to send it to New York for processing. After being held up for 3-4 months in Washington it is finally cleared within 3 weeks in New York. Finally...progress. Finally in May 25, 2006 our dossier arrives in Kazakhstan. It needs to go to the Ministry of Education and Foreign Ministry for approval. The next stedp is the letter of invitation which is needed for the visa.
posted by Mel and Gary | 3:28 AM
1 Comments:
We are so happy for both of you...you both look radiant and your daughter is so beautiful! We had a small gathering here tonight and a special toast and blessing was given by Ted to the three of you. God's richest blessings on both of you and beautiful Kristin Alexandra!
Love & kisses :)
The Fam in Atlanta
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