Timeline...

So after waiting almost 6 months for our referral and then finally hurrying through all of our acceptance paperwork... we find ourselves...

well....

waiting again!

However, this time I have a "due date"!! After what is equivalent to waiting through 2 pregnancies (18+ months), there is finally an end in sight! We have finally made it to the "third trimester"!!

So what is our next steps? (Somehow this reminds me of third trimester doctor appointments!!)

I-171 APPROVAL:
This is a very important government paper. The I-171H is the form issued by US Customs and Immigration with the long but informative title, “Notice of Favorable Determination Concerning Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition.” So the I-171H is a notice of favorable determination. Not exactly sure what they are approving... but hey... it needs to be approved. This may take up to 12 weeks, but it is ongoing as other things are happening...

LEGALS:
Well, right now we are waiting for legals. These are official papers sent from Korea. Most of them will still be in Korean, but they are all the legal-shmeegl stuff. They will be originally sent to Spence-Chapin in New York, then Spence-Chapin will send them asap to our local Michigan agency.

ADOPTION PETITION:
This is purely a Michigan thing. Many other states get to skip this step... but we're Michiganders so we need it. Since adoptions of Korean children are processed and finalized in the US, Michigan is one of the few states that requires filing the adoption petition prior to the child's placement. Basically, our local agency in Michigan (FAC) will send the legals to the ICPC Office in Lansing for a signature and then to our county court. ICPC usually turns it right around as soon as they receive it. The court usually sends it back within 1-2 weeks. When it is returned, it needs to be sent back to New York to be included with our 1600 (see next step)...

I-600:
The I-600 form is a part of the international adoption process for some countries. It classifies an orphan that has been or will be adopted by a U.S. citizen as an immediate relative to that citizen. The I-600 allows the child to enter the United States. Once this is approved...

NVC in/NVC out:
One of our final steps after our I-600 approval is our daughter's visa. The NVC (National Visa Center) will receive her information, have interviews with the foster family and give Adelyn a final physical before issuing her passport. When we hear that these steps have been done, we will be VERY close to our travel call.

TRAVEL CALL!
When all the documents are in order in Korea, they will contact Spence-Chapin who will call us to tell us we are good to travel. We have to travel within 2 weeks of that call. EEEEEK!!!!

So.... confused? Us too!

One day at a time!!! Our agency will keep us posted on how things are going and where we are in the process. We of course will keep you posted!

Right now... we need our legals. Come on legals! Get here soon!!!!!!!