USCIS approval

I just today realized that I may not have posted that we received our USCIS approval.  That little gem was waiting for us when we returned from our travels late Sunday night.

What does that mean?  It's the official okay to bring an orphan (aka. Our Little Dude) to 'The Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave'.

Foreign adoptions vary.  Some are finalized 'in-country' and some once you get back to the USA.  Ours will be finalized in our Little Dude's birth country.  That said, there is still the technicality that he will enter the United States on a visa.  The way I understand it... while he will legally  be our son when the judge pronounces it, he won't become an American citizen until he sets foot on our shores with the legal entry of a visa.

It's kind of a bummer that Immigration and Passport Control  bans the use of cameras and other recording devices.  I guess we'll have to wait until we pass through the doors to baggage claim for a photo op!

We found a Psychologist who has some experince in adoption requirements.  Our little guy's country requires a psychological exam (by a Psychologist or Psychiatrist).  The results of this exam as well as our other medical information will be presented as part of our court documents.  Thankfully, this woman will see us soon and is motivated to move us through this process as quickly as possible.
I'll have my bloodwork and chest x-ray done tomorrow (also court requirements).

Is it worth all of the paperwork and needle sticks?

YOU BET IT IS !

We Passed!

There's a whole list of college exams that I prepared less  for than the "test" we took today.  For the past 3 weeks I have used gallons of hand lotion in hopes of "passing" our USCIS fingerprinting.  Okay, maybe gallons  is an exaggeration, but I've use a lot.  From what the officer explained to me this morning, the digital fingerprinting measures the moisture in your skin.  You also run the risk of being turned away if you have an open wound on the pads of your fingers.

My patenal grandfather was a wonderful man.  However, one less-than-desireable trait I inherited from him was the tendency toward the ends of my fingers cracking and bleeding in the winter. 

[Enter my OCD-like handcare over the past 3 weeks]

Away went the glue gun (I can't tell you how many times I've blistered my finger tips using that thing!) and out came the lotion.  No more patching the little cracks in my fingers with Super Glue (works like a charm if you've never tried it).

My efforts payed off and not only do I now have beautifully soft hands, we both "passed" our fingerprinting!

I have to say, the whole experience at USCIS/DHS (United Stated Citizenship and Immigration Services/Dept. of Homeland Security) was great.  The staff was efficient, pleasant, and we were on our way home in about 20 minutes!  The waiting room is a fun place to people-watch.  Each face has a story.  We were the exception... the only ones there for an adoption petition.  All of the other faces-- many different colors and ages-- were there because they are in some phase of the immigration process.  They were there pursuing the legal right to all of the priviledges that I was born with... the ones I take for granted... the things I am too often not thankful for.  Because my great-grandparents did the hard work of immigrating to the United States, I can choose my political view, vote, birth/adopt as many babies as we choose, and worship God without risk of persecution.  Thanks, USCIS, for this reminder.

Wooo Hooo!

Our documents were sent to our Little Dude's country on Wednesday.  Friday morning I received a text that USCIS has received our application.  Now begins the wait for things to be processed.  This will take time and perhaps a little longer due to the holidays both stateside and in EE.

Hang on little buddy, it looks like this will be your last institutional Christmas !