But today I got an email from our agency (WHFC) with a timeline that's for families adopting through the China Special Needs program. Sure, these timelines are generic, but it's still helpful.
I was rather, a-hem, frustrated with the confusing and very different timelines we were receiving from different social workers and was told at the time that they were going to try to streamline their estimates and better communicate them to their clients. I believe this is that attempt and I did actually find it helpful.
So here's the nitty gritty of what you really want to know -- and what we really want to know! Not necessary to go back to the beginning -- just where are we now and what to expect in the coming months.
For clarity sake, we've received our preliminary approval (aka 'letter seeking confirmation'), our I-800 has been filed, so we're in that 3 to 8 weeks stage.
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Preliminary Approval/Letter Seeking Confirmation (2‐4 months)
CCCWA will carefully review your entire profile and confirm it is an acceptable match with the child. Then, CCCWA will issue an official document called Letter Seeking Confirmation (LSC) or often referred to as “Preliminary Approval”. This document may take longer to be received if your dossier was recently sent to CCCWA soon before the child match. The original LSC will be sent to your family to sign and return to WHFC.
I800 Approval (3‐8 weeks)
Upon receipt of receiving your signed LSC, WHFC will submit your I800 paperwork to USCIS. Approximately, 3‐8 weeks later USCIS will issue a Provisional Approval of your I800 petition. Please provide WHFC with a copy of your I800 approval immediately upon receipt.
National Visa Center (NVC) Letter (1‐2 weeks)
Soon after receiving the I800 approval, you will receive a letter from the National Visa Center (NVC) confirming your approval cable has been sent to the US Consulate in Guangzhou, China. Please provide WHFC with a copy of your NVC letter immediately upon receipt, as we normally do not get a copy from NVC directly.
File DS‐230 & Obtain Article 5 (1 month)
Upon receipt of the NVC letter, WHFC will file your DS‐230 paperwork with the US Consulate in Guangzhou, China. The DS‐230 paperwork requests the US Consulate to issue and send a document called the Article 5 to CCCWA confirming that your adoption complies with US Immigration Law and the Hague Convention. WHFC does not get confirmation when the Article 5 letter is issued.
CCCWA issues Travel Approval (1‐2 months)
Soon after receipt of the Article 5 letter, CCCWA will issue your Travel Approval. The Travel Approval Document is an official document that is sent to WHFC from CCCWA. This is the last of the 3 approvals needed from CCCWA. It is now time to schedule your travel to China.
Travel to China (1 month later)
Most families travel to China about 1 month after their Travel Approval is issued. Your total trip will be approximately 2 weeks. WHFC will schedule all the in‐country travel arrangements including adoption processing appointments, guides, hotels, in‐country transportation, and sightseeing. You will be responsible for purchasing your international air tickets and obtaining our Chinese Travel Visas. WHFC will provide detailed information about travel during a required Travel Preparation phone meeting and written China Adoption Travel Guide.
Total Estimated Wait Time from Program Application to Referral Acceptance: 1‐12 months
Total Estimated Total Wait from Referral Acceptance to Travel: 6‐10 months
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So, for all those who ask when, when, when? This is a slight answer. But we still don't know for sure. I'm still hoping for early next year -- maybe February or March. And that'll be here before we know it!
Woot! Woot!
I'm itchin' to do a post soon about the impact that our sweet baby James is having on people all over -- who don't even know us. It's incredible, y'all. I mean, move-me-tears incredible.
This little boy, oh-so-far-away, is touching people's lives. He has no idea. If this is the case now, I can't imagine what our experience is going to be like when we are living life with him.
Praise You, Lord. :)
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