Sent another package

Well, this Saturday is Holly's birthday. She turns 5 years old. I really hate that we are not going to be there with her, but, I guess I should have expected that there would be further delays. The USCIS has requested a homestudy addendum to address the fact that Mindy turned 18. That is going to slow us down for a bit, but, once that is done, things should start moving again, and be back in the hands of the Chinese government.

Anyway, since we won't make it in time for her birthday, I have sent Holly a birthday care package thru a service called Red Thread China. They have promised that she will get her cake, and presents on her birthday, and are going to translate a letter for us to the orphanage director. They will also call the orphanage and ask ten questions, just like the last service I used. I would have used the ladybugsinlove service again, but, they are closed from tomorrow thru January, due to the owner being busy helping a friend with her adoption trip, so, I went with Red Thread.

I can't wait to hear the answers to the questions and see pictures of Holly celebrating her birthday for the first time.

28 days waiting for I800 approval

Great big sigh.

Another waiting family, who's I800 paperwork was logged into the USCIS system the same day as ours was, has received word that they were approved. I am hoping we get the same word. I think I will call later today when I wake up.

If it's true, we are now waiting for the US Consulate in Guangzhou to receive an official cable from USCIS and issue the article 5 paperwork. That will be picked up by Lily in China, and taken to Beijing to be dropped off at the CCAA. Then, we just wait for TA from them to make our consulate appointment and travel arrangements.

Just a little progress

Our passports arrived yesterday from the Chinese Embassy in Washington DC with our Visa's stamped in them. Our DS230 is on it's way to the consulate in Guangzhou, China. My packing is moving along, more like nesting really. I'm putting Holly's clothes into zip loc bags, and dividing them among the three suitcases for the trip. I'm trying not to overpack, but, at the same time, since we are traveling in winter, I want to make sure she has a few outfits and pj's in case we get stuck in the hotel due to bad weather and she only has what we bring to wear until we can get out and shop.

I've organized the toys, and the medicines into the three suitcases, and those are also in zip loc bags. The reason for the zip locs is two fold. If there is bad weather at any of the airports, and our suitcases end up out in that weather, which does happen, at least what's inside will have a degree of waterproof protection, especially our clothes and electronics. Also, when traveling, I find it so much nicer to have things seperated into ziplocs to make it easier to find what I'm looking for, and to allow any security searches to not cause a huge mess in our suitcases.

So, now we are waiting for word that our I800 is logged into the NVC (National Visa Center) system. After that, we wait for the I800 approval and then the Article 5 cable. That will mark the end of the US side of the process, and we will have to wait again for TA from China.

11 Days and counting from LOA

We are on our 11th day since LOA, 8 days since sending our I800, and 7 days since it was received at the Texas lockbox office. Next week is the BYU ballroom competition, so, hopefully with that and the upcoming holidays my mind will be busy and not think too much about the wait this time.