India Adoption Timeline
Struggled for several years deciding which country we should chose for adoption
2009 – watched Nepal adoption program
Early 2010 – on 2010 waiting list for Nepal
2/23/2010 – gave up our spot on the 2010 Nepal adoption program list
Continued to Pray for God’s guidance – put home study on hold
6/16/2010 – first conference call with Lisa at JOH on India program
Paperwork chase begins
6/30/2010 – Application submitted to JOH
7/14/2010 – Adoption application approved by JOH
July – December – completion of home study – lots more paperwork for ABI and JOH
December 2010 – Home study officially complete by ABI
December 27, 2010 – completed special needs checklist
December 2010 – mailed I800-A
January 2011 – went on mission trip to Kenya
January 2011 – received appointments for Homeland Security fingerprints
February 7, 2011 – Brad’s fingerprint appointment
February 18, 2011 – Renae’s fingerprint appointment – with Joshua as her escort
March 7, 2011 - I800A approval
March 26, 2011 – got our referral
Worked on medical review
April 4, 2011 – officially accepted our referral!!
March 30, 2011 - Dossier to agency!!
mid-May - got official referral documents
June 1, 2011 - mailed off official referral documents with all the required supporting docs - also submitted I800, I864, and DS230
Real waiting begins - we're told 8-10 months until travel
June 6, 2011 - Dossier mailed to India by our agency
June 8, 2011 - Immigration paperwork mailed to USCIS (I800 and I864)by our agency
June 30th, 2011 - Received I800 approval - now paperwork and Visa application is sent off to India
July 14, 2011 - Received Article 5 letter!!
November 30, 2011 - Received word from our agency that NOC was granted and case has been filed in court.
January 28, 2012 - Updated Home study visit - anticipate it complete mid-Feb.. then mail in for updated fingerprints... keeping busy sure does make the time go by fast :)
Will wait for court approval and travel date (anticipate March or April court complete - then six weeks for VISA and travel date scheduled)... likely will be May 2012.. can always hope sooner :)
Early March 2012 - got word from agency that we will be required to take two trips to India - we thought we didn't have to appear for the court hearing - according to old rules - but some regions are requiring "grandfathered" families to make two trips anyway.
April 2, 2012 - updated fingerprints in Cinci.
April 11, 2012 - received updated I800 and I800A approvals from Homeland Security ... yea!
April 12, 2012 - I think I have this date correct - orphanage will appear in court for initial meeting / committee - it is possible the judge will pass the case at that point... then we don't appear in court.
April 18, 2012 - surprised to find out the judge passed Lauren's case without us having to appear! She's legally our daughter now!
Mid-May, 2012 - found out that Lauren's Passport has been applied for.
July 2012 - told that it takes about 2 to 2 1/2 months for passport to be issued
August 2012 - waiting - for news of passport - could be any day - we will get travel approval to pick up Lauren once passport is issued.
August 8, 2012 - spoke to agency and Lauren's passport has been issued and it's the in mail to the orphanage. This takes a little while - but travel is soon!!
August 13, 2012 - applied for updated India VISAs for Brad and Renae ... ours received in March 2012 when we thought we had to appear in court - are about to expire - right when we are getting ready to travel :)
August 17, 2012 - Lauren's passport still in the mail to orphanage - should arrive any day now.
September 2, 2012 - left for India to pick up our girl!
September 4, 2012 - Gotcha Day
September 7, 2012 - Fly from Mumbai to New Delhi
September 8, 2012 - (Saturday) Doctor's appointment for TB test
September 10, 2012 - pick up TB results and medical paperwork - then head to US Embassy for interview
September 11, 2012 - Brad picks up VISA issued for Anjali from US Embassy
September 12, 2012 - shopping!
September 13, 2012 - packing and getting to the airport
September 14, 2012 - Return to US -- on her Birthday!
This blog documents our adoption journey (our daughter is from India). Now that she's home with us and we are a complete family of four (we also have a son, Joshua) this blog serves to share a variety of topics, adoption related, parenting..... just everyday life. Check out our FAQ on adoption questions, along with any other questions commonly asked.
