Adoption Timeline

Adoption Timeline 2012 (the pretty overwhelming version):  

If God wants to mold you, He'll do it any time and any way necessary, whether you "sign-up" for it or not. 

Disclaimer: Our timeline is unusual. Not only did we move fairly quickly through our home study and paperwork phases, we requested (and were matched with) a child from our agency's Waiting Children list.

Mid-February - broach the consideration w/our kids (7, 9, & 12 @ the time)

Kids immediately become relentless & begin quoting orphan statistics

Mid-Feb - Mid-March: research agencies and countries

2/28/12 - submit pre-application to our agency

Son sees boy on agency Waiting Child list & proclaims, "that's him"
Son asks us to dismiss calls from other agencies

3/19/12 - submit formal application

3/20/12 - formal application approved

3/21/12 - mail contract 

Kids double their volume/energy levels & I think "Whoa, Nelly!"   

3/27/12 - schedule home study (HS) appointments

4/13/12 - 1st HS mtg (@ agency office)

Start HS paperwork

4/26/12 - send applications for state background checks

4/27/12 - 2nd HS mtg (@ agency office)

4/30/12 - 3rd  HS mtg (@ agency office)

10 hrs online courses: ALP Hague Package

Hyperventilate b/c of upcoming HS appt (not really necessary)

apply online for David & Amy's birth certificates (TN & VA)

5/3/12 - 4th HS mtg (@ our house)  

5/4/12 -  mail request to ATL for marriage certificate

5/7/12 - Amy's medical eval

5/8/12 - David's medical eval

5/14/12 - kids' medical evals

6/20/12 - Adoption Specialist writing HS report

6/27/12 - agency emails 1st draft HS report (22 pgs!)

review for accuracy

6/27/12 - fill out I-600A form for USCIS

6/28/12 - review HS corrections & Agency Service Plan

Sign documents and mail with I-600A to agency

Wonder where marriage certificate is

7/6/12 - receive envelope containing Divorce Verification instead of Marriage Certificate

Freak out a little bit (we've never actually been divorced)

Spend hours trying to correct MC issue

In between contact attempts, read Bible, pray, & remember WHO is in control

7/10/12 - agency mails HS & application to USCIS 

7/16/12 - USCIS documents receipt of packet

Receive marriage certificate - whew!

USCIS cashes check

7/23/12 - receive Notice of Receipt from USCIS

7/28/12 - receive fingerprint/biometrics appointment (for 8/16)

8/2/12 - first taste of Ethiopian food - yum!

8/3/12 - walk-in USCIS ASC in ATL for fingerprints

8/3/12 - 15 of 21 documents state sealed 

take side-trip to Vital Records to get ANOTHER marriage certificate (what?!)

8/27/12 - USCIS approval (I-171H)
8/28/12 - Complete Dossier & overnight to agency (Woohoo!!!)
8/29/12 - Referral for 6 y/o boy seen on WC list 2/28 (big smiles all around)
8/29/12 - Dossier sent to DC for authentication by DOS & Ethiopian Embassy
9/14/12 - DTE (Dossier to Ethiopia)

August 20ish - October 1st-ish - Ethiopian Court closed for rainy season

10/4/12- Case submitted to Court 
10/12/12- Received Court Date for 11/5/12

11/5/12 - Attended and Passed Court

12/31/12 -  Case submitted to Embassy (after 2 prior attempts on 12/11 & 12/18)
1/14/13 - Embassy will conduct interview to verify orphan status & adoptability