This is a question we've been getting alot lately and I only wish we had an answer. There are a few things that have to happen first before she is allowed to come home.
First there's the Korean Emigration Process: Once the acceptance forms are signed and sent to Korea, application is made for permission from the Korean government for her emigration and Korean Travel Certificate. This procedure normally takes two to five months.
Once ESWS(our Korean agency) receives the acceptance papers, they will begin the process of applying to the Korean government for emigration permission and a Korean travel certificate, and to the US Embassy for a visa. As of today we have had no update regarding this process.....hopefully soon!!!!
We also had to apply to USCIS(U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) for their approval of the family and child, and for the admission of Averi into the United States. This consisted of filing the I-600 form(Relative Immigrant Visa Petition)
On March 27th we received a Notice of Approval of Relative Immigrant Visa Petition from USCIS. This does not mean that her visa has been issued, but rather that WE have been approved by USCIS. With this approval and the Korean travel certificate, her visa will be issued and she'll be ready for travel. YAY!!!!!
I know this all sounds kind of confusing, I'm still a little confused by all that goes on. So hopefully this kind of make sense. You can check out our timeline to the right to watch our progress. We'll update it when we hear any new news.
We received a few updated pictures and a short VIDEO of our precious girl about a month ago(I know, I'm just now posting about it). Our director was there in March and was able to hold and kiss her for us. She said that she looks healthy and happy, but a little shy of strangers.
We were able to send Averi a little care package with another family who were traveling to pick up their son. We sent her a little blanket, a small stuffed animal, a photo book with lots of pictures of our family(in hopes that her foster mom will show them to her everyday) a disposable camera(again, hoping that lots of pictures will be taken of her) and a small gift for her foster mom. We're hoping to get an update soon and maybe with a picture of her holding her new blankie!!!
While we're waiting we are trying to stay busy by redoing the kids room. Cleaning, organizing, rearranging....shopping!!!! :) There is LOTS to do before she comes home.
Oh......and also, some big news!!! Danny and I have decided to travel to Korea to pick her up. We have been so set on having her escorted that I'm not really sure what changed our minds but we really feel strongly that we need to go get her. We(I) am very nervous yet very excited!! We'll be able to meet her wonderful foster mom and thank her for all she's done for our baby. We'll also get to see the orphanage she lived in and the country she was born in. I know it will be a wonderful experience and we'll have so much to tell her as she grows up.
Sorry for the long post, it's been so long that there was quite a bit to update you with. As soon as we hear any good news or if we get another update I'll post again. Until then, thanks again to all who have been so supportive and interested in what's going on in our lives.
Have a very blessed weekend!!
Doesn't she have the BEST hair!!!!!!!
