I thought about giving this entry the title "anywhere but here"...for those of you that don't know we sent our dossier and 171-h to Michigan for authentication back in December. We got it back in just a few days (definetly a first for MI since our first experience with MI was weeks longer than any other state!). Needless to say, we were excited...then we found out they did it wrong! So our agency sent it to them again...again they did it wrong!! So finally our agency decided to override MI and have Oregon complete our authentication process. Thank you Oregon for turning this around for us!
Long story short, our dossier has made it from MI (twice), to Oregon then on to California and is now on its way Vietnam!!! For those of you not in the adoption community, this basically means that everything that we need to do on our end is complete until we get notice of a referral. At that point we will run around like crazy and get medical info updated, criminal info updated and make travel arrangements. Our agency is telling us that with the new laws/changes in the Vietnam program, our original timeline of this summer/fall will most likely not happen. We continue to stay optimistic because so many people ahead of us on the waitlist are waiting for girls....we are just waiting for our child. Keep your fingers crossed that this is sooner rather than later!!!
You are Here
January 31, 2008
January 7, 2008
A decision and a process
For us, the decision to adopt and start our family has been the easiest and the most difficult decision of our lives. There are currently an estimated 2million orphans in Vientam that need loving families. We know that we want to have children and feel that this is the best way for us to begin to grow our family. Unfortunately, unlike a pregnancy, we do not have a timeline. Due to government changes between the US and Vietnam, our estimated wait has changed numerous times in the past few months. I have shed many tears over these unknowns, but you don’t go into an international adoption without taking a huge leap of faith. This will be the ultimate test of my patience!!
I wanted to give you an idea of what this process involves and what our past 7 months have been like.
Step 1 - We selected our two agencies (placement and homestudy) and signed our adoption contract on June 8th. That is when this ride really got into full swing.
Step 2 – Paperchase & homestudy. For three months we have compiled birth certificates, marriage certificates and financial statements. We completed book reports, internet trainings, and autobiographies. We met with doctors, policeman, notaries and social workers. The results of all of this, as well as our references (a big thank you to those that fulfilled this requirement for us!!) are reviewed by the homestudy agency and make up our dossier that will get sent to Vietnam.
Step 3- Once out homestudy is approved, we had to submit the I-600A to the USCIS (United States Citizen and Immigration Services), a department of homeland security. This form is our petition to bring an orphan into the US. Once approved, we received the coveted I-171H (our approval).
Step 4 – The I-171H and the majority of our paperchase documents are compiled to create our dossier. This packet is sent to authentication and then to translation. Once the dossier is translated in Vietnam we receive our official waitlist number from our agency.
Step 5- WAIT and WAIT
Step 6- Travel to Hanoi, Vietnam for 2-3 weeks where we will meet and adopt our child!!
I wanted to give you an idea of what this process involves and what our past 7 months have been like.
Step 1 - We selected our two agencies (placement and homestudy) and signed our adoption contract on June 8th. That is when this ride really got into full swing.
Step 2 – Paperchase & homestudy. For three months we have compiled birth certificates, marriage certificates and financial statements. We completed book reports, internet trainings, and autobiographies. We met with doctors, policeman, notaries and social workers. The results of all of this, as well as our references (a big thank you to those that fulfilled this requirement for us!!) are reviewed by the homestudy agency and make up our dossier that will get sent to Vietnam.
Step 3- Once out homestudy is approved, we had to submit the I-600A to the USCIS (United States Citizen and Immigration Services), a department of homeland security. This form is our petition to bring an orphan into the US. Once approved, we received the coveted I-171H (our approval).
Step 4 – The I-171H and the majority of our paperchase documents are compiled to create our dossier. This packet is sent to authentication and then to translation. Once the dossier is translated in Vietnam we receive our official waitlist number from our agency.
Step 5- WAIT and WAIT
Step 6- Travel to Hanoi, Vietnam for 2-3 weeks where we will meet and adopt our child!!
January 5, 2008
Obama Inspiring in Iowa
I think everyone, regardless of political affiliation, should watch this video.
This guy represents something in America that I want. I can see our country through his eyes.
This guy represents something in America that I want. I can see our country through his eyes.
January 1, 2008
Welcome - First Posting
Hello Everyone,
Welcome to Kara and Dana Burd's first blog experience! As most of you probably know, we are in the middle of an adoption from Vietnam. We created this blog to document our experience of becoming parents and to share this amazing journey with our family and friends. We will be sharing our excitement and joy as well as our trials and tribulations. So HOLD ON TIGHT! We are in for the ride of a lifetime.
Please feel free to leave us comments.
Sincerely,
Dana and Kara Burd
Welcome to Kara and Dana Burd's first blog experience! As most of you probably know, we are in the middle of an adoption from Vietnam. We created this blog to document our experience of becoming parents and to share this amazing journey with our family and friends. We will be sharing our excitement and joy as well as our trials and tribulations. So HOLD ON TIGHT! We are in for the ride of a lifetime.
Please feel free to leave us comments.
Sincerely,
Dana and Kara Burd
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