Updates

I received i800a approval! My approval notice is now on its way to Chicago to be authenticated at the consulate.

Once I get my authenticated items back, I send everything to my agency for critical review and if there is nothing that needs to be fixed, they will send my dossier to China! (DTC)

After DTC I wait for LID, which means China has received my dossier and has locked it in. Then I wait for LOA (letter of approval). LOA waits are taking about a month right now. After LOA it will be about 8-10 weeks until travel!

That means travel could be happening in about 3-4 months. It seems so close and so far at the same time.

Travel is the largest chunk of fees – in addition to saving my own money I’m applying for a couple more grants. I will have one last agency fee ($3100), I will need the orphanage fee (about $5000-6000), in country fees/spending money (about $2000), money for hotels/in country transportation (about $4500… should be less because I can use reward points to book two of the hotels myself), plus money for flights to/from China (about $3000). I will have to cover the in country fees and flights to/from China on my own, grants cannot be used for that.

In addition to the YouCaring site, I’m running a coffee fundraiser! There’s coffee, brewers, and hats/accessories: https://www.justlovecoffee.com/Beneficiary/Profile/4823

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6,826 miles

Last night I couldn’t sleep. It was hot, I was restless, I just found out I had been denied for a grant and I was feeling a bit down.

I googled “how far is it from Colorado Springs to Luoyang?

Not helping, Google.

I am 6,826 miles from my son. I think most parents panic when their child is out of sight and 6 feet away. This process is long, and while its been relatively smooth (so far, knock on wood) its not without its obstacles and frustrations.

[Pardon the side-rant for a second – but most adoption grants are for people who attend church. Some even go as far as to say that it has to be their definition of a “Bible believing” church, whatever that may be. I do not attend church. I’ve found 5 grants that do not have church/pastor’s letter requirements. Five. I’ve heard of people applying to religious grants and applying to as many as 30].

So far I’ve received a $2000 grant from one, and been denied by another. I have two more applications that I am working on. The fifth one I haven’t heard of anyone receiving so I’m still trying to figure out if it is legit.

And I have an estimated $20,000 left in fees (estimating travel costs). About $3000 of that is due in the next few weeks so my paperwork can be sent to China.

6,826 miles. $20,000. This mountain is looking huge.

Updates

I spent the past few weeks with family and friends, which is why I haven’t updated in a while!

My homestudy was approved by the state, and my i800a application was sent to USCIS. I’m expecting to get fingerprinted next week, approval should come a week or two after that.

I received a small grant in June, which is a big help! Hoping to hear from another grant within the next couple of weeks, and I have a few more I can apply for.

I’m also prepping the rest of my paperwork for my dossier, so once my i800a arrives and is sealed (notarized, certified, authenticated) it can be sent to my agency for critical review, and then sent to China.  My dossier is due mid-August, so I’m starting to stress out a little! With the dossier comes two more fees – one for my agency and one for the CCCWA in China.

Plans are also underway for setting up little dude’s bedroom! I hope to get it done before school starts in early August. I plan on emptying out the room, painting the walls, and hunting for some child-sized furniture. I will have to upload some pictures once it is done!