Mid Jan 2011 - Started to ask questions to Reece's Rainbow to find out which country works for us.
Late Jan - Inquired about Russia and requirements
Mid Feb - Decided on going to russia for Langley
Contacted Children's Hope Network for our homestudy and spoke to them. After speaking to them and being turned down by 3 other agencies for a homestudy for Russia we began to look at other countries. As every door was shuting others were opening. Many people told us to look into China. Our friends, the Patrick's, had just brought Melia home from there and Sandy our SW told us that was our best fit. I was still not sure but then Sandy said call WACAP and look into Tailand if want a different option. I called and asked to speak to someone about Thailand and they asked....."Why Thailand"......Me: " I don't know because Sandy told me to try that program".......Their answer "Well you could do Thailand but there is a long wait right now what about China".....Me: "I need to call you back"....."Oh Lord I get it we are suppose to go to China. Well I'm still not sold so you need to show me this is the right choice"
Late Feb - Start checking the children from China on Reece's Rainbow and see a smile that will light up a room. Don't remember seeing him before so inquire about him 2/28 and get his info.
Early and Mid March - Still dragging my feet and scared to death to committ. Ben and I talk and decide yep we are ready and are head over heals in love with "Ezekiel"
March 20th - Send his info to the university of MN for review with their international clinic (China requires review of medical) $650.00
March 22nd - Got all our pre-approval paperwork in to China and was locked in with "Ezekiel" who we are naming Caleb Aaron. Our 6 month window starts now to get our dossier to them. $250.00
April 5th - Order our marriage licenses 46.00
Also received our Update from Caleb's orphanage on the questions we asked.
May 2nd - Sent in our Homestudy fee - $2250.00
May 3rd - First homestudy visit.....amazing SW Amanda
May 11th - Having a hard time not knowing anything about Caleb. Feeling sorry for myself as I read how many other Reece's Rainbow families are getting updates on their kids from other families visiting the orphanages. Talk to my friend Cori how I am having such a hard time. She suggests I try to find a yahoo group that is has adopted or is adopting from his orphanage. I reluctantly do it (this is the 2nd or 3rd time she has suggested it...lol) Find the group and join. Bummed there is only 24 people and not much messaging. Introduce myself and explain I would like to know this orphanage is and if anyone has come into contact with any DS children there. While I wait to see if someone willl answer me I continue to do my praying to God. The past week I have had many fears and concerns. I am having trouble not knowing and praying that he is ok. By the end of today God has given me answers to question after question. He has confirmed without question that we are on the right track and where we are suppose to be.
May 11th - Having a hard time not knowing anything about Caleb. Feeling sorry for myself as I read how many other Reece's Rainbow families are getting updates on their kids from other families visiting the orphanages. Talk to my friend Cori how I am having such a hard time. She suggests I try to find a yahoo group that is has adopted or is adopting from his orphanage. I reluctantly do it (this is the 2nd or 3rd time she has suggested it...lol) Find the group and join. Bummed there is only 24 people and not much messaging. Introduce myself and explain I would like to know this orphanage is and if anyone has come into contact with any DS children there. While I wait to see if someone willl answer me I continue to do my praying to God. The past week I have had many fears and concerns. I am having trouble not knowing and praying that he is ok. By the end of today God has given me answers to question after question. He has confirmed without question that we are on the right track and where we are suppose to be.
May 12th - Second homestudy visit. Juli had her physical
May 13th - Ben had his physical
May 19th - Final homestudy visit!!! Order both our birth certificates $96.00
May 21th - Had our parent Ed retreat......final piece of our homestudy!!! Now they can send it in for review.
May 24th - Recieved our homestudy for review.
May 25th - Send in our check for a certificate from Wisconsin which they couldn't tell me exactly what it was for other then I just need it. $75.00 Also sent out our I800A to our agency so once our homestudy is notarized they can send it out to homeland security for fingerprinting appt. $890.00
June 15th - Received our homestudy signed and notarized!!!!! One step closer. It felt like it took forever :)
June 22nd - sent out I-800A form to USCIS
June 23rd - USCIS confirmed delivery of our I-800A
June 27th - USCIS started processing our I-800A (our agency told us 3 wks for this and it took 4 days! AMAZING)
July 1st - Sent out all our contracts and first payment to our agency. $1800.00
Aug 3rd - Fingerprinting done in Milw
Aug 17th - I800A Fingerprinting Approved!
Aug 31st - DTC!!! Dossier to China
Sept 9th - LID (log in Date)
Then the long wait begins!!!
Nov 28th - We received our LOA (letter of Acceptance) or agency emailed it to us. We signed it and emailed it back in time to get our I800 out in the mail the same day!!!
Nov 28th - I800 sent
Dec 15th - I800 Approved!!! It was sent out 2 day to NVC (National Visa Center)
Dec 20th - Received our email stating that we have been entered into the system
Dec 22nd - Received our email with the attached pdf letter stating that they have sent our letter to the US Consulate in Guanzhou. I forwarded this to our agency who then forwarded this to our rep in China.
Dec 23rd - All our remaining paperwork is delivered by our China rep to the US Consulate. Our wait for our Article 5 starts
Jan 11th,2012 - Article 5 pick up. Now waiting on TA. Average is 16 days but we are getting caught during the Chinese New Year's so our wait will be longer.
Feb 8th - Received TA (Travel Approval)
Feb 9th - Received Confirmation of our Consulate Appointment (CA). It will be on March 6th!
Feb 22th - Left for China
Feb 23rd - Arrived in Beijing
Feb 24&25 - Tour Beijing
Feb 26th - Take train to Zhengzhou, Henan province to receive Caleb
Feb 27th - We finally get our boy!!!!!
Feb 28th - Sign and red finger print our adoption papers......It is final, he is official our son!!!! Welcome to the family Caleb Aaron Hao Prevost :)
March 2nd - Arrived in Guangzhou
March 3rd - Medicals done
March 5th - TB tests read
March 6th - Consulate Appointment and apply for his visa
March 7th - Receive Caleb's Visa!
March 8th- Left China early morning (actually time in the US when we left was March 7th around 4pm) and We are HOME with Caleb March 8th 9:30pm (30 hrs of travel!)
