** Edited to add the beautiful rainbow that awaited me this morning. I'll take it as a good sign from above!!**I'm so happy for so many of my blogger friends that are getting court dates & getting referrals. It brings me hope that things are full-speed ahead in Russia and our little miss's citizenship can be processed and our papers can FINALLY be on their way to court. I keep hoping that I'll hear something by next week, but that may be ambitious.
Now, I'm worrying about the US side of the paperwork as well! I submitted the extension for our I600a Nov 19 and just now received confirmation that they received it! I thought the letter was our approval! I had already known they received it Nov 19th as I had delivery confirmation. Also, I'm hearing the FBI is backed up and our clearances expire next month. I sent them in a few weeks ago but am afraid it will take 10 weeks to get back. Both of these things are crucial for court. Here I am, so upset that the Russian passport office can't process something in a week or two, when our own government is taking months to process just a renewal of our immigration clearance (everything is the same as before!!) and FBI clearances that were also just done in August.....still have same fingerprints last I checked!! You'd think it would be easy enough to run them again. So, while I'm hoping for Russia to move along swiftly, I also need to worry about the US movely quickly as well. I'm trying not to let this all overwhelm me and just be diligent and do what I can to keep things moving forward.
Hitting the 5 month mark has been really hard of me. I'm struggling big time. Now we're barrelling in on 6 months. In the beginning, I think I was trying to just focus on getting back to Russia, on getting paperwork in, on our magic Nov 29th to come along so her citizenship could be processed.......Now, I am literally aching for my little girl. I think about her daily routine, I think about her being alone in her crib, I think about her being hungry, sick, lonely. Its like all at the same time I feel more connected to her, and yet more distant from her all at once.
I'm so very happy for all the families moving forward, bringing home their children. And for all those families still in the various waiting stages, my heart is with you! This is HARD.
Now, I'm worrying about the US side of the paperwork as well! I submitted the extension for our I600a Nov 19 and just now received confirmation that they received it! I thought the letter was our approval! I had already known they received it Nov 19th as I had delivery confirmation. Also, I'm hearing the FBI is backed up and our clearances expire next month. I sent them in a few weeks ago but am afraid it will take 10 weeks to get back. Both of these things are crucial for court. Here I am, so upset that the Russian passport office can't process something in a week or two, when our own government is taking months to process just a renewal of our immigration clearance (everything is the same as before!!) and FBI clearances that were also just done in August.....still have same fingerprints last I checked!! You'd think it would be easy enough to run them again. So, while I'm hoping for Russia to move along swiftly, I also need to worry about the US movely quickly as well. I'm trying not to let this all overwhelm me and just be diligent and do what I can to keep things moving forward.
Hitting the 5 month mark has been really hard of me. I'm struggling big time. Now we're barrelling in on 6 months. In the beginning, I think I was trying to just focus on getting back to Russia, on getting paperwork in, on our magic Nov 29th to come along so her citizenship could be processed.......Now, I am literally aching for my little girl. I think about her daily routine, I think about her being alone in her crib, I think about her being hungry, sick, lonely. Its like all at the same time I feel more connected to her, and yet more distant from her all at once.
I'm so very happy for all the families moving forward, bringing home their children. And for all those families still in the various waiting stages, my heart is with you! This is HARD.
11 comments:
Oh you've got me worried now... we just sent off today the request to extend our I600A approval - it expires in early March. We re-did our fingerprints so they are good until December. The homestudy will get updated next week and sent to USCIS. So much paperwork :(
I just know you are going to get your court date soon! You are definitely in my prayers.
I really hope you hear soon!!! This has got to be so difficult for your family. I am also waiting on fingerprints from our speedy government :)
with a lot of years of experience dealing with the USCIS (work visas, work permits, greencards and now adoption) the only way to speed things up is to make and appointment and go to your USCIS office handling your case and ask to talk to the officer in charge of your case. It is a pain but it works. If you don't you are one person in the stack, if you go, they have to pull up your case and actually look at it. And since they have it in their hands, they will work on it.
Got our approval within a week after visiting between christmas and new year.
So now we are in waiting mode again, which is the most frustrating part. Much rather run around town to get papers and signatures.
Good luck! it will happen!
As many before told us "Hang in there its all worth it in the end" Everyone of them was so very right.
I came across your blog through Joy and Anna's. I am sorry to hear that you have been waiting so long. I know you have heard it before, but your time will come and your beautiful little girl will come home. My husband and I adopted Colby from Yekaterinburg. We came home in Feb 09 after meeting him for the first time in June 08. Yes, 7 months later. Yekaterinburg is notorious for their paperwork chase and on average the wait time between trips is about 6-8 months. We did have families waiting 13-14 months before us. Thankfully the wait times are down again but still long. The months inbetween were so difficult. I am sure Joy can share some of my emotions, she has been an avid follower of our blog. But, he is home. I wish you all the best. Please check out our blog and keep in touch.
Melissa
My fingers are crossed you hear something very soon. I feel your frustrations and your pain it has almost been 9 months since I met my son. I do not understand why the judge makes things so difficult.
Beth
I think of you often and am really hoping you get that call soon.
I feel like we're in this thing together...and that is actually comforting. I understand the anxiety...it's time to get these babies home to their families! So glad we've met through this experience. You are an awesome mom. Let me know when you get the call! It will be soon.
I just read your notes left on Joy's blog... Hang in there! The time WILL come.
Pregnancy (as you already know) isn't a guaranteed thing.
Adopting from the US isn't a guaranteed thing.
Adopting from Russia IS!
When 'all the stars are aligned' and God is ready, your baby will be there for you. Best of luck on this amazing journey. It has a LOT of ups and a LOT of downs, but in the end, as the cliche goes, it's so totally worth it. Our kids give us more joy that we could have ever imagined, but it took a L.O.N.G. time and a lot of heartache to get to them.
Keep hanging in there and start bugging the people you need paperwork from now! You have got to be so close at this point. Be the squeaky wheel (that gets the grease) so to speak. We're praying you get a court date soon.
We I received notice that I was to travel again, I had the same issue going on with my I600A....I did got down to the office in LA and give them some info. I was able to pick up the renewal two days later. Once they saw me in person and spoke to me they had it done quickly.
Post a Comment