APPROVED! (i800a/USCIS/Homeland Security)

WE ARE APPROVED! Approved for what might you say?! TO ADOPT! If you remember from the last post, with our homestudy in hand we applied to Homeland Security (specifically the US Citizenship and Immigration Services dept) to officially adopt, and we were fingerprinted last Thursday (they must fingerprint you to finish processing your application). So lastnight, Billy opened some mail and there our approval notice was. And yes, he was watching me as I smiled ear-to-ear. Before this, we were approved so-to-speak from our social worker, agency, and we had already met all state level pre-requirements, but now we are *officially* approved to adopt by the federal government!

This was the very last piece we needed for our dossier (the paperwork that gets sent to China)!

In fact, it was the most important piece.

Also -- we're approved for one or two children (in the one millionth chance our agency would refer us twins or "foster siblings").

This approves us to adopt in general (the approval notice gives what ages we're approved for, as well as the various special needs outlined in our homestudy report). When we accept a referral or match for our Little Stump is when we have to apply again to adopt him/her specifically.

As of now, our other dossier documents are being processed by our agency (they are getting certified through Iowa and Ohio's state secretaries, and going through the Chinese Consulate in Chicago for final authentication. Authentication is basically just legalizing the documents so that they can be used in China (no way around that).

After final authentication, our documents can be sent off on their merry-lil-way to China, and oh how that will be a happy day!!

We've been on this journey already for six months, so we're so ready to have those papers in China, let me tell you. :-) 

ONE BIG STEP CLOSER! 

Romantic Fingerprinting Date for Your Hub's 30th?

(((Some of our paperwork with Little Stump's first piece of room decor:: a globe pillow)))

Me to FedEx man early yesterday afternoon:: "Those papers are my babies...sorry if I sound a little paranoid about them making it there."

Then I leave feeling less-than-confident in the FedEx man. A result of either paranoia, or genuine concern? You tell me. :-)

I mailed out our dossier paperwork [the paperwork that goes directly to China] to our agency today! They will begin getting them all appropriately state certified and authenticated -- basically China-ready.

So I get home after leaving FedEx, and immediately check tracking. Check again. Then sigh in relief that I at least see that it's in the system.

Then I immediately wonder if I have an important piece of (adoption) mail waiting in the mailbox. I let the dog out the back door, then go to the mailbox to check. Nothing there. Go back to the door and realized I'm locked out, and the backdoor is locked too. I knock on the door, kids aren't to be seen. I go to another window and knock. Nothin'. Go to another window. They see me and let me in.

Let down a wee-little seeing nothing in the box. I wasn't expecting anything too exciting, just a notice from Homeland Security showing me they've received our application. Just a receipt notice. (Why is this stuff important? I800 approval (through US Immigration and Citizenship) is the very last piece we need for our dossier before sending to China. The fingerprint appointments are the last step in the I800 process before getting final approval. Most people see approvals very shortly after their fingerprint approvals. After we get final approval, we'll still need to get that piece authenticated at the Chinese Consulate in Chicago, then it will all be "China-ready.") :-))

A bit later during dinner, I notice our mailwoman rolling up to the mailbox. It's 5:45..a little late, so I thought it was a little odd. I think..."I wonder..nah. Probably nothing. Oh bananas, forget it..I can't wait." So I throw my coat on again, go out the front door (this time propping the door open), go to the mailbox, and what should my wondering eyes appear? Not one, not two, but FIVE precious pieces of mail, my dear! One receipt notice! Ontop of that, several pieces giving us fingerprint appts set for next week! NEXT WEEK!! SAY WHAT?! That's super quick. Lightening fast. Yes, yes, I'll take it!
I told you dear reader, those papers -- they're gold. Golden!

So, starting this process I was hoping we would have our paperwork logged in on China's side on Billy's 30th birthday or very shortly thereafter. But, I guess we'll just have to settle for a romantic early-morning fingerprint date at our USCIS office instead. <3 :-)

I received an e-mail from a sweet friend of mine in the morning that said, "Have a beautiful day!!! I am praying for your little one!" ...I certainly had a beautiful day. :-)

Hurry Up, Homeland Security!!!

Newest update!!! Okay, maybe nothing overly exciting, but it's the major *last* step before sending paperwork to China.

We sent our i800a (along with a "small" check of 890.00) the other day to the U.S. Immigration Citizenship and Immigration Services (department of Homeland Security). ((I said "small" check, because in comparison to other checks you write in the process, it. is. indeed. unfortunately. small.))

So what's the i800a? 

While we've been approved so-to-speak to adopt from our homestudy agency, and we've met several state-level pre-adoption requirements -- we still, of course, need to be approved to adopt from China on the federal side of things, and USCIS (US Immigration and Citizenship) is the department that approves that.

(When we are matched with our Little Stump, we will have to file another application to adopt him/her *specifically.*)

I've been hearing in these neck-of-the-woods (er adoption community), that USCIS has been approving homestudies/apps lightning fast -- around 40 days. So that's what we're hoping for!

So, what are we doing now? 

First:: We wait to get a text telling us that USCIS has received our app and is processing the app. We then wait for them to send us a fingerprinting appointment (hopefully within a couple weeks), and we'll go have our fingerprints done (again) at our USCIS office downtown here. That's when we'll be assigned an officer who will process our application (hopefully fairly quickly!).

Second:: We have just a few things to finish up our dossier paperwork (the paperwork that gets sent directly to China). So, our goal for this week is to have our dossier paperwork sent to our agency so they can process all our documents (they will do the certifying and authenticating for us -- and this will take at least three weeks). The dossier paperwork consists of:: your home study report (report written by your social worker), police clearances, reference letters, medical exams, pictures (inside/outside of house, family pictures, individual), passport pages, family application letter, family data form, financial document, newly issued birth certificates, newly issued marriage certificate, employment letters, and the very last piece will be our I800A (which is what we're waiting on now!). 

Third:: Now that we've had our home study approved/completed/in our hands, we're beginning to apply for adoption grants. This alone is like a part-time job in itself, but ya-gotta-do-whatcha-gotta-do! 

So below is a chart I whipped up on the China adoption process. It's messy, I mean, messy -- which probably makes it more realistic. :-) 

Yea, when looking at my chart...it'd be easy to get a little depressed because we're only on #3/4. But, the first approximate 6 months is eaten up with these steps alone. So, look again, and the *REST* of the steps can happen in just 5-7 crazy months! Whew! 

If you'd like to read my thoughts on the New Year, you can read it here on my personal blog:: http://rstumpblog.blogspot.com/2016/01/new-year-and-challenge-for-all-of-us.html

再见了!

When Papers are Worth More than Gold

And the grand finale wrapping up the 13 pages of our home study report...

"It is my pleasure to recommend the Stump family, of Des Moines, Iowa for adoption from The People's Republic of China."

Our homestudy report is being reviewed by our agency currently!

Never have papers and paperwork meant so much. Recently, one of our adoption forms (completed, notarized, you name it) went flying off the car windshield as I was driving, and I shrieked pleading Micah (our son) to catch it in time. If you've been through the process, you probably understand! These pieces of paper are like gold when you're adopting. And one little mistake or error here or there can cause major setbacks.

Now that our homestudy has been written and submitted to our agency, we now wait to get it OK'd by our adoption agency so that we can get that puppy, along with our i800a application sent to USCIS (US Citizenship and Immigration) for approval to adopt (in general). We've heard that USCIS has been approving homestudies lightning fast lately (within a month), which is such good news for us! If we get all our lil duckies-in-a-row, we should be able to submit our dossier to China in early February -- which has been the plan since starting this process! (We can't submit our paperwork to China until then, because Billy turns 30 then.) 

So, currently we're tying up our dossier paperwork (which is the paperwork portion that goes to China). We're waiting for our passports to arrive, we've gotten background clearances from our local police dept (yes, more clearances -- ontop of Iowa, Ohio, and FBI!), we've written our application letter, had our medical reports filled out by our doctor, filled out additional forms, more pictures of our house and family, employment letters, newly-issued vital records, and a couple other things. All of these documents have to be without any error, be notarized, certified, and authenticated. 

Are you tired of me talking about paperwork yet? For the first six or so months of your adoption process, it's pretty much what the process looks like. I actually can't believe it will be six months February 4th. It's blown by! 

Okay -- so you're wondering, "When will you see your child?!" I'm wondering the same thing! Actually -- constantly wondering. We're going the "waiting-to-be-matched" route of things. See, you can be matched very early on in your process (even during homestudy paperwork), but usually only with Special Focus children (those designated as Special Focus have more moderate-to-severe medical/special needs or are older children). Since we're open to 0-3 with more minor needs, we have to have at least gotten our homestudy completed (or more likely have our paperwork in China -- which won't be until Feb). We've been told that we *could* potentially be matched after our homestudy is complete (which is exciting to think about seeing it's in review currently!).

More realistically, we'll get a referral after our paperwork is in China (hopefully February). But since we're open to a boy (lots of boys in need of families currently), we could get a match fairly quickly. They're saying it's only taking on average up to two weeks to receive a referral for a boy! That means, by the end of February, we could very well have a referral for our child! If not then, in March. That totally blows my mind, because that's only two months away, people!! Two months and we could be looking at pictures of our child!! You bet it'll be crunch-time at that point. Once having a face to our child, we will be RACING to get him/her. Typically, it takes 4-6 months to travel to get your child after being matched. This lil-mama-face will have her mama-bear-game-face on at that point!

I wrote a post on my other blog about my feelings this Christmas concerning the adoption process if you'd like to read::: http://rstumpblog.blogspot.com/2015/12/all-i-want-for-christmas.html

And so...Merry Christmas to our Little Stump. Wherever in China you may be. Whoever you may be. We're praying for you. We're thinking of you. We'll hold you in our hearts this Christmas -- until we can hold you in our arms. ~

So Why International Adoption?

Why not adopt from foster care?? :: "Just look at all the kids who need homes right in our country!"

Why not domestic adoption?? :: "Isn't it, ya know, a safer "bet" to adopt a newborn?"

Every family is unique. Each family has a unique background. Unique experiences. They're in different stages and phases in life. Unique personalities. Basically -- every family is as unique as our own individual fingerprints. Perhaps even more unique because you have an entire set of different people (with different fingerprints), personalities, backgrounds, and more -- all compiled into one incredibly unique family. Not one is the same. Needless to say, since every family is so unique, their choice for which form of adoption they choose will be unique as well. That choice will be based on which form best suits their family -- which will best match a child to that family -- and ultimately will best suit the interests of a child (which is undeniably at the heart of the matter). 

With that said -- we analyzed all forms of adoption before deciding on international (as all families do). I admit -- I think very early in the process we just knew international was the path we'd take. But believe me when I say this -- adoptive families have thought long and hard about this stuff. Please don't underestimate that. Give these families respect in that. They're not flippantly making decisions regarding adoption. And most families take many days, months, and even years to come to these decisions. They do not come to these decisions lightly.

I could give you the various reasons we ruled out domestic adoption and foster. As a quick disclaimer -- please don't take our reasoning as a way of undermining the need of adopting from foster care or domestically. I'll simply focus attention on stating why we feel our hearts have been softened and geared towards adopting internationally -- and namely, from China.

#1: International adoptions have plummeted by up to 70% in recent years due to Hague Treaty implementations, countries outright closing their programs, and stricter adoption guidelines - which bar many potential parents from adopting. This would be great if it meant that there were simply less children needing families - but the harsh reality is the fact that there are in fact *more* children needing families. So if you do the math, 70% less adoptions, yet more orphans than before --- that is simply tragic. With that said however, I understand the need for stricter guidelines and the Hague Treaty. It's just too bad there couldn't be more of a balance so more children would be placed in loving families. Just in China alone, there are over 567,000 orphans, and some outside sources claim that number is closer to a million. Ethiopia? Are you ready for this? An alarming SIX million orphans. The number of adoptions per number of orphans abroad are *very* few in between. 

According to the last recorded data, in the year 2011, only 2,587 children were adopted from China. Does that number seem large? Far from. That is still only 0.4% of the orphaned children in China.

#2: The grave reality behind waiting children abroad is that these children are among the most vulnerable. Very vulnerable. Many go without basic medical care. And many have life-threatening conditions that will go untreated. Many have more minor to moderate conditions that could be easily corrected or treated with therapy, attention, or with surgery - yet they will go without. And so many will even lose their lives. Many are starving. Others literally have nothing. And the majority are living in overcrowded orphanages with little one-on-one interactions and little stimulation. Some are outright beaten and abused, even in government-ran orphanages and facilities. And many age out -- leading to a life of devastation in poverty-or-war-torn countries or countries that simply lack the numerous resources ours has.

Take a moment and quickly research pictures of inside orphanages around the world. There are videos. Articles. But please be cautious and do so without little ones around. Some of what you will find is absolutely horrifying. Gut-wrenching. 

With all that said -- there are definitely orphanages out there that are doing the best they can. Thanks to non-profit organizations like Half the Sky, conditions of orphanages in China over-all have largely improved in past recent years. With that said, orphanages are still overcrowded, and even the "best" orphanage is no replacement for a loving home with a mother and father. The negative effects of institutionalized children are endless. Institutionalization affects a child's development in many ways; i effects their behavioral, physical, intellectual, and social emotional health. Again, an orphanage is not a way of life for any child.

https://www.hrw.org/news/2014/09/15/russia-children-disabilities-face-violence-neglect


#3: Most obvious reason -- because every child is precious. Every child deserves a family. Every child deserves to have their basic needs met. And so -- our view of meeting needs of children isn't limited to those inside our own country; just as God's love isn't limited to those in our country. We believe we *all* have a responsibility to *all* children; here and around the world. 

#4: We didn't feel the immense need to have a newborn baby. I definitely know many that do -- and that's perfectly alright. And, it's true, the younger the child you adopt, the more likely they will more easily healthily attach. After-all, the longer a child has spent in institutionalized care (or foster care), the longer it will take for them to heal once placed in their adoptive families. So in some ways, it is "safer" to adopt a newborn, if you choose to use that cringe-worthy choice of word. But I can't tell you how many times I've read or talked with other families who just gleam from the progress they see in their adopted children, whom they adopted as young toddlers and older. They will tell you what a treasure it is to see them blossom -- not just emotionally, but socially, and even physically (many come home, to some degree, malnourished).  And research, although daunting on the effects of institutionalized care like I brought up earlier, is also encouraging. There is hope for even the child who's been institutionalized for many years.

#5: Because China is where our child is. That's the answer most will give when people ask the "why" to choosing a particular country. Quite honestly -- our reasons in the beginning for choosing China were more practical than heart-felt (although it definitely quickly grew into a "our hearts feel led toward China" thing). We were actually originally suggested by our agency to go with the India program -- mostly because we were *just* out of reach age-wise for China. After reviewing the programs, we quickly and mutually decided China fit our family best. China is one of the most dependable/stable programs. You only have to travel once instead of twice. The process to adopt from the Waiting Child program is not only dependable, but fairly "quick" in comparison to other programs. Additionally, the need is there. There are many waiting children in China -- the majority having some sort of special/medical need. 90% of children abandoned in China have a special/medical need of some sort (many are minor and/or correctable). So, more than likely, when you research programs, one will stick out from the others. And that was China with us. And now -- we couldn't imagine choosing another program. Our son or daughter is undoubtedly Chinese, because they're undoubtedly in China.

http://www.lwbcommunity.org/why-international-adoption-still-matters-2

For information on sponsoring a child through Holt:: 
https://holtsponsor.org:4443/sponsor/holt.writepage?page=photolisting5

To give to support family preservation:: 
https://www.holtinternational.org/gifts/

Update

As I begin writing this -- it's about 8:30 pm in China. Most likely our little one is currently either getting ready to go to sleep or already sound asleep. And as we go to bed this evening -- he or she will be waking up to the same morning sun we'll be waking up to tomorrow morning...

I can't begin to tell you how amazing yet incredibly daunting that is to know. In fact, it's absolutely mind-blowing.

While our current two children are about to wake up to begin the day -- I know they're safe, their bellies are full, they know the love of a mama and baba, and they're simply over-all cared for. Our China baby? They're waking up among many others in the same room. Their needs in the morning won't be met immediately. Their belly will be hungry. They may be sitting in a soiled diaper for a few more hours. And they won't get immediate kisses and cuddles from a mama or baba when they open up their beautiful-sleepy-brown eyes.

That pains me to no end. What we would give to just be able to speed through the process and be on a plane tomorrow to swoop them up in our arms. Oh - what we would give. I consistently pray that God cradles them in His warm embrace, giving them the most possible comfort as possible while they wait for us -- and we wait for them.

Every day I see referral approvals (such as these: http://adoptedbydesign.typepad.com/blog/2015/11/3-families-received-referral-approvals-from-china-today.html), gotcha day photos, you name it while scrolling through my FB newsfeed or different blogs. These give an extra smile to my day and an extra beat to my step, but I admit -- it makes me wish we could skip ahead and receive our referral approval for our little one in our hands. Or better yet -- be on a plane to pick them up.

Patience. A. Lot. Of. Patience.

Could you pray for our little one? Pray for protection. Comfort. That their needs will be met until we're able to meet those needs. Perhaps this sounds a bit foreign to others -- after-all, we have no idea who they are. What they look like. Their circumstances. Their special need. Not even their gender. Nor the day or month they were born -- but we know they're most likely out there nonetheless, and we're already crazy about them.

So to our lil' munchkin -- we're coming for you. As quickly as we possibly can, which can't be quick enough.

Different ones will ask us how the adoption process is going. Not a whole lot to say other than "it's goin'!" But we're fairly "on track" as planned. Our biggest goal is to have our dossier sent to China anytime in February. February 4th really is as soon as we can have it in China due to Billy turning 30 then (you and your spouse have to be 30 years old to adopt from China).

So as a quick update:: we had our homestudy paperwork done for some time, and have had one of our homestudy visits with our social worker just recently. She'll be back to conduct the last two visits next week and said she hopes to have our homestudy report written up before the month closes. We love our social worker -- she has adopted herself, has siblings who've adopted, and she's over-all just a lovely, friendly, laid-back social worker.

Back to the homestudy business -- your homestudy report consists of all your homestudy paperwork as well as a written report from the social worker. If you remember from other posts, your homestudy paperwork is 25+ signed and notarized documents ranging from 40+ personal question data forms, financial documents (including a break-down of monthly expenses), medical examination forms, FBI background clearances, adoptive-parent training completion certificates, employment letters, marriage license, birth certificates, family pictures, tax forms, and the list goes on. Your homestudy consists of those forms, as well as the report your social worker writes up on your family (I've heard it's typically 6+ pages) -- this report basically makes the case you'd make good adoptive parents.

With all that said, we're excited to have our home study officially completed here soon! The next step after our home study is officially written and compiled with the other documents, is to have it OK'd through our adoption agency branch office in Omaha, then once they OK it -- they'll send it to our agency's main headquarters in Eugene, OR for final approval -- and once *they* approve it, then it will be sent to USCIS (US Citizenship and Immigration) (along with our little one's preliminary visa application) for final approval. Approval from USCIS (which is basically approving our homestudy which approves us to adopt) can happen (for some) in just weeks, or (more likely) two months  -- we then have a fingerprinting appointment set (yes-- more fingerprints!) by USCIS, and once that stuff is done -- we *then* send that with our other completed paperwork (dossier) to China.

And so we're currently working on our dossier paperwork. Yes, more paperwork! This is a laundry list of things -- including new original birth certificates, new marriage license (they need a newly issued one), *another* background check, more data forms to fill out, financial data form, passports, medical exam reports, additional employment letters, family application letter, etc. Our hope and prayer is that our homestudy is sent to USCIS, quickly approved and sent back, and the rest of our dossier paperwork will be completed so that we can compile everything and have it sent to China in February (Billy's 30th birthday -- and if you ask me -- that'd make for an incredible 30th!). Our social worker reminded us that we need to try to get the rest of our dossier compiled because we could receive a referral anytime after our homestudy is officially completed (and that's not that long from now!). That made things a bit more "real." We're open to either gender, and seeing now that not many families are currently in the process open to boys -- we really could see a referral fairly quickly. I won't get my hopes up too much though, and assume it won't come for some time.

And I believe Billy must be getting antsy because I caught him looking at the photolisting just lastnight. :-)

So in the mean-time -- we'll finish up these last visits with the social worker, submit our last key documents for our dossier -- but we'll most importantly, keep praying for our "China baby" (as our daughter calls them) and keep dreaming of the day we'll have them safe and sound in our arms.

One Paper Closer To You

Some of you may be familiar with the paperwork portion of the adoption process. I say "portion" when it feels like it's *most* of the process (at least for now). :-)

When you apply to adopt (at least from China) -- you immediately send copies of tax forms, a notarized service agreement, as well as a picture of your family, a picture of the exterior of your home, and a $250-$400 application fee (depending on agency you're using). After they review your application and send you a letter/e-mail/phone call stating your app has been officially processed, that's when you begin on the homestudy paperwork. You'll immediately get sent 24+ forms plus a laundry list of other things you need to collect and provide.

These forms range from doctor signed (and notarized) medical reports for both parents (stating you don't have medical issues that would prevent you from being an effective adoptive parent), teacher recommendation letters for any kids you currently have, several reference letters, financial form proving you make X amount of money plus X amount of net worth, another financial form breaking down all your monthly expenditures, outlines of fees, medical needs chart, background clearances (FBI and state -- in our case, we need FBI, Iowa, and Ohio clearances), a 60+-essay-type-question personal data form, certificate showing you both completed 12 hours of adoptive parenting, etc.

We got our fingerprints done at our local police station about two weeks ago, and paid the money to go through a channeler to get the results quicker -- so we recently received our FBI clearances. We're also waiting for Iowa and Ohio clearances. I'm proud to let you know we're not crazy ax murderers or whatever horrible thing you can think of. ;-)

We've completed our personal data forms -- which are (what feels like) million essay question forms asking everything from marriage questions (conflict resolve, etc) to basic parenting, to infertility (no problem there), discipline, religious beliefs, medical and mental history (your own and family's), interests, what pediatrician you plan to use, layout of house, how you plan to handle racism aimed at your child, family support, and the list goes on..and..on..and..on. :-) So now, we just have a couple small things to do and we'll be done with the homestudy paperwork. Oh -- and we need to complete our 12 hour adoptive parenting online courses together. Woo! After we finish, we'll be able to begin our official homestudy (which is the process where you'll be interviewed separately from your spouse, then together, get an idea of what needs would best fit our family, home-checks to ensure our house has the space for another child and is safe for them, etc). The social worker then writes up your homestudy report based on everything gathered (I believe 6+ pages in length) -- showing that you're basically over-all good potential adoptive parents.

Basically, you can't have anything to hide during your adoption process. And your social worker, agency, and China's government will know more about you than your own mama and papa (nice to know, right?). So it's serious business because they want to ensure they're placing children in completely safe and loving families (anything to do with children is serious business really). The scrutiny is absolutely necessary -- so we're happily going through it all.  

Most simply put, after the homestudy is finished and sent to USCIS (US Citizenship and Immigration Services) for approval --- once approved it can all be compiled with other documents into our dossier to be sent to China! Collecting everything else we need for our dossier is the next thing we'll be doing here soon after completing every bit of the homestudy paperwork. And so our big goal is to have our dossier sent around Will's 30th birthday.

Paperwork isn't necessarily fun, but I have already gotten excited in receiving just a couple things -- including our FBI clearance forms. Every piece we fill out, notarize, and send is one piece of paper closer to our little one. And it really does feel like that. It feels like the main thing standing in our way of them is a mountain load of paperwork (as well as government bureaucracy). It'll be as though we're climbing Mt. Papermore with all types of hurdles (government -- both US and China, fees, etc) -- all of which will be seemingly standing in our way of getting to our precious babe. I know there will be hiccups in this process. Thankfully though -- Billy and I aren't control freaks which, hopefully, will help ease things for us (yea, yea -- I know you APs are laughing right now..). 

So every piece of paper we complete is one paper closer to you, our little one!