So, here we are weeks AFTER we expected to be home from China and we are not even waiting for TA yet. After some immigration glitches, and since we are I-800 (which means we have 2x the amount of paperwork than those who are I-600) we are still hanging in there, praying Maire is home soon.
Had to file a change of country, which took 3 weeks. Then we had to file the I-800, but then found out we had to file the I-864W along with the I-800. That is going to take 10-12 days to get back from immigration. After that, we send a ridiculous amount of paperwork to the National Visa Center, who then issues Maire's PRELIMINARY visa. Then they send their paperwork to us. When we get THAT paperwork, we send it to the chinese consulate who then issues an "article 5". An article 5 is the holy grail of all paperwork. This is "THE LETTER" that says, "We the Chinese government is requesting the Wells' family to travel to China to bring home their daughter." (In a nutshell). After we get "Article 5" we then FAX it to the US Embassy in China. The US Embassy says "Ok, we can process your daughter's final visa on x date." (We prayed for a July date, then we prayed for an August date...I've stopped putting a date on that now!) The we count BACKWARDS 10 days from that date and book travel...so if the Embassy says come on October 15....we count back 10 days and book our ticket to China for that day (October 5).
Confused yet...yea, well, so are we! Oh, and throw in there our paperwork and fingerprints expire on September 12. Since travel looks like it is NOT going to happen prior to that date, we get to take a day off of work and travel to KC, Kansas to get reprinted. (oh and pay another $80 pp for biometrics).
Anyone else wonder why there are so many orphans....?
Monday, August 2, 2010
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4 comments:
Oh dear. Well, hang in there and remember that it is all in His timing...
Prayers and peace (because we know the feeling too.)
Thanks for your comment. The visit went well. Otis is a very good boy. He's an amazing creature... one kind of dog in harness (all business) and big, goofy pup out of harness. I think he'll make a wonderful addition. I know Mike is thrilled with him, so that is really all that matters.
Oh my gosh! What a mess! I am saying special prayers for you tonight for this to speed up- and for you to find some peace in this process. We have also hit some snags- we have our TA now, and have the potential to travel in 2 wks. Not much notice, but all the same, that'd be good. However, if we wait until September, we have to do another homestudy and immigration approval- which is what we are technically waiting on now! Why do they make this so difficult when all we want is our precious babies home with us??? Praying hard for you my friend.
Oh Angie:( I am so sorry! This must be so hard for you. I can't even imagine how I would handle that. I guess you're learning patience, if you didn't have any before. There are so many orphans, you'd think they would come up with another alternative, so they wouldn't have to be without a family for long. Hugs,
Michelle
p.s. got the purses. Thank you!
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