Monday, November 7, 2011

I800 Approval!!

We just received notice that our 1800 was approved! This means that US immigration has given us approval to adopt Chun Xiao, yea!

3 more steps to go...

1. - US immigration tells US Embassy in China we are approved to adopt Chun Xiao
The US immigration approval needs to make its way to the US Embassy in Guangzhou, China. Physically, the approval is sent from Missouri to New Hampshire. When it gets to NH, they enter it into a computer system. From there it is emailed...they call it cabling but its basically emailing it - to the US Embassy in Guangzhou. This whole process takes about a week. Kind of crazy but it is what it is. We are hoping to be 'cabled' by 11/16.

2 - US Embassy reviews Chun Xiao's Visa application
Once the US Embassy has the US immigration approval, my agency will drop off a bunch of other paperwork to go with it. One of which is Emmas Visa application. The consulate needs to review our visa application for her to make sure it meets the qualifications for an immigrant visa, and then signs off that everything is in order for the adoption to be completed. We are hoping our agency can drop off the visa application by 11/18 and pick it up, approved, 2 weeks later, 12/2. The US embassy has a set process, it is always 2 weeks for this step.

NOTE - although Emma requires an IH -3 visa to come to the US, she will be a US citizen as soon as she gets off the airplane.

3. - China reviews all US approvals & gives us ok to travel to pick up Emma
After the US Embassy says everything is in order, our agency takes those approvals from the US embassy to the Chinese Gov't in Beijing. The Chinese Gov't reviews and then they issue us our travel approval and we book our flights! We hope to get Travel Approval sometime between 12/15 and 12/30. We would book the flights from there  - 2 or 3 weeks out - based on our US Embassy appointment. We won't be able to make the US embassy appt until we have Travel Approval from China.

Clear as mud, right?!

We are getting there!

13 comments:

angie said...

holy smokes! you are practically in china!! great news my sweet friend! great news!!!

Pam said...

So happy you received your approval! One step closer to your Emma! We should be receiving ours soon! Hoping our "Emma's" will meet in Guangdong!

Tera said...

One step closer!! Yeah!!!

Teresa M. said...

Congrats--closer and closer!

Anonymous said...

Congratulations, Only 3 more steps to China. You will love Yunnan the countryside is absolutely beautiful! Markelle(Ari's Mom)
Here's our email if you have any questions. amkuznia@wiktel.com
Take Care, Markelle

Nancy said...

Yippee! I didn't know you got this great news yesterday! Emma is coming home soon!!

Lana said...

That's awesome news Christy!! You are soooo close!

Alan and Lindy said...

Congratulations! We found your blog through the forum on China Adopt Talk. We received our I-800 approval yesterday (dated 11/4), so we may end up in China around the same time.

Also, Lindy is from Grand Rapids. Small world.

Cheri said...

Congratulations! Another step down.

Deitra said...

I am so excited for you guys!!! Awesome news.. you are getting close!! and the best part is how busy the Christmas and holiday season gets... business was my best friend, especially during the last phase... ooo I am so happy for you..All the best!!

René said...

Congratulations! You must be thrilled!

Martha B. said...

How did I miss this?! Yay! You are getting sooooooo close!!

Kam said...

I'm not sure how I missed this post! It must be because my head is spinning and I'm covered up in photography work these days! Which is a good thing!

But I've been thinking of you guys and was telling my mom about you tonight and how you are so close and your Emma and our Seth are in the same foster village and that you will be there SOON! Weep. Weep. Sooo happy for you! Can't wait to watch you go!

Congrats on I-800! I remember when we got ours for Joel...I was over the moon! Each step is so long but each approval so exciting!