Here is the basic timeline for the "main" events along my adoption journey...
March, 2004- Started contacting agencies looking for a single parent "slot" to adopt, and to put my name on various waiting lists, that I am told could take 2-4 years before reaching my name.
July 19, 2004- Attend workshop on domestic adoption. Decide to get started on domestic adoption and continue looking into foreign adoption possibilities.
August 10, 2004- Apply with Vista del Mar for a homestudy. Receive packet of documents to start gathering.
August 11, 2004- fingerprinting appointment for state of California
August , 2004 -Doctor's appointment to check to make sure I don't have TB or other health issues.
August 30, 2004 - first meeting with social worker, she suggests continuing investigation into Chinese adoption but will proceed in with the domestic homestudy plans at the time being. Turn in the first round of many documents. Sends requests for referrences to provide letters of recommendation.
September, 2004 - start contacting agencies again about China adoptions and other international adoption possibilities such as Haiti, Russia, Kazakhstan, et....Every agency I contacted about China told me that I would probably be waiting at least a couple of years before I could proceed.
September 9, 2004 - second meeting with social worker
September 30, 2004 - social worker visists my home
October 1, 2004 -domestic homestudy is completed
October, 2004 - contacted by other agencies about beautiful children available for adoption: 2 boys in Kazakhstan, triplets in Haiti, children in Russia, Ethiopia. Still no confirmation of the "right" place to go. Decide to continue considering China, including "watiting children."
October 15, 2004 - Send for certified birth certificates, which are required for international adoption paperwork
October 27, 2004 - Contact an agency (which I will not name) that tells me I can be on their list and start the process for China and that they will send me the information.
October 28, 2004 - Contaced ASIA of Oregon and put my name on the waiting list. Contacted by ASIA telling me that my name was already on the list (for almost 2 years now) and that I was #6 and would probably be able to start on my paperwork around January, 2005. So now I have two possible agencies.
November 2, 2004 - Contacted by the first agency and told, very nicely, that they would not be able to help me in the adoption process because of my religious beliefs. I am deeply saddened by the lack of understanding towards my beliefs in Jesus Christ. But you know how the saying goes: "when one door closes, another one opens..." because two days later:
November 4, 2004 - Contaced by ASIA - I'm now one spot closer
November 5, 2004 - Now #4!! Wow...moving right along.
November 8, 2004 - Received this message from ASIA - "Now you're number #3! If I get through 1 more person you will be able to apply and get started:-)"
November 15, 2004 - Given approval by ASIA that I could send in my application to get things started!
November 15, 2004 - Submitted application to ASIA
November 17, 2004 - Forwarded copy of domestic homestudy to ASIA
November 24, 2004 - Signed contracts and agreements and submitted to ASIA
November 29, 2004 - ASIA accepts agreement and sends the packet of forms and documents to be completed
December 7, 2004 - Send Letter of Intent, Guardianship Letter, Statement of Current Marital Status, Certificate of Profession and Income and Financial Statement to ASIA for review
December 16, 2004- Fourth appointment with social worker. Submit I-600A (without homestudy) to Los Angeles office of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), receive fingerprinting instructions
December 18, 2004 - Fingerprinting appointment for Federal approval
December 20, 2004 - Medical appointment and notarization of medical report
December 21, 2004 - Send Birth Certificate to Idaho Secretary of State for authentication
December 29, 2004 - Send Birth Certificate to U.S. Dept. of State for authentication
January 6, 2005 - Send Guardianship letter to Arizona Sec. of State for authentication
January 13, 2005 - Submit updated homestudy to USCIS for approval; go to Police department to receive notarized police clearance letter; send Birth Certificate to Chinese Embassy for authentication.
January 18, 2005 - Send all documents (so far) to Secretary of State for authentication
February , 2005 - Submit documents (so far) to Chinese Consulate for final authentication
February 7, 2005 - Attempt to pick up documents from Chinese Consulate (L.A. traffic causes me to be 3 minutes late)
February 8, 2005 - Pick up documents from Consulate, fax to ASIA
February 11, 2005 - Pick up 171H approval from USCIS, authenticate at local County office, the Secretary of State office and drop off at Chinese Consulate for final authentication
February 15, 2004 - FedEx final packet of documents to ASIA
February 17, 2005 - Dossier to China
March , 2005 - Received "brown envelope" from US Consulate in Guangzhou China
March 8, 2005 - Logged in to the CCAA system in China
August 10 , 2005 - One year since first submission of application for homestudy!
October 3, 2005 - DATE OF REFERRAL!!
