USCIS

The purpose of filing the I800A with USCIS is to basically get approval from immigration stating that the child that I adopt will become an immediate relative of mine.  I had to fill out an application that was 9 pages long, send in my birth certificate, Power of Attorney paperwork for adoption agency, home study, and check for $805.  The application covered very basic information about me, my lack of criminal history, country I am adopting from, and adoption agency that I am using.  The home study was also sent and the home study is a very detailed report about my life.  Once immigration reviews my file they will set up a biometric appointment for me.  This appointment is at a government building downtown St. Louis were I will go and get fingerprinted.  Shorty after this I should get the I-797 form. When my application to USICS is approved I will receive a I-797 form.  This form states that I have been approved by immigration to proceed with the adoption.   The current process for this is taking 40 days. 

I have to get the immigration form before I can sent in the rest of my paperwork in my dossier.  My adoption seems to be right on track.  It is my goal to have my paperwork sent in, approved, and on it's way to Bulgaria by the end of the year.  The adoption agency website states that after Dossier is logged in with Ministry of Justice (MOJ) in Bulgaria then it is taking 12-18 months to get a referral. 

more later
jessica

Home Study Progress

August 3rd I received my FBI clearance in the mail and sent a copy to home study agency.  I then picked up my internationally required physical (yes third time I had to get it corrected) from doctor on Monday the 5th and sent that to home study agency.  My social worker got my home study finished and sent it to interstate compact on Tuesday.  This process takes about 2 weeks.  Interstate compact has to endorse my home study.  I think this just means they agree with social worker's assessment.  Once I get the endorsed home study then that can go to my adoption agency in Texas for review.  This review only takes a couple days.  They will request for social worker to make any changes that they see fit.  Then I will get home study back and apply for immigration (USCIS).  Immigration wants a copy of home study before they will grants me permission to bring an orphan into the country for citizenship.  The immigration process takes a couple months. 

I asked Kadin this past week if he was excited to be getting a sister.  He said "No, I don't think so".   I asked him if he would help me paint her room and he said that he thought her room should be painted black.  I asked him why he thought she would like the color black.  He told me that she would wants her bedroom to be the same color as her skin.  I told her that his new sister was not going to be black.  He then told me that last time I got a baby from an airplane that it was black.  He is so smart!!!  I told him that this time she might be a little darker than us, like having a really nice tan.  He then tells me that we can paint her room brown.  He said he wants her to be happy and match the house.  At least he is trying to be nice.

I did buy her a backpack purse from a 31 party that my sister had.  I even had her name embroidered on it.  This is the first thing that I have purchased for her!!

more later
jessica