How Long Does it Take?

This is the question I've been asked a lot since we announced that we will be adopting again.  The truth is that right now, we don't know how long it will take.  Both of our previous adoptions were expedited due to the kids' medical conditions, but even though Hongjie has the same medical condition as them, a lot has changed with regard to timelines and expedite approvals since their adoptions in 2013 & 2014.  Since we also have a number of people following along who plan to adopt themselves in the next few years, I plan to share each step along the way so that you guys will know how it all works. :)

The steps are all the same as our previous adoptions.  It may look complicated, and to a certain extent it is, but it really is just a step-by-step process that keeps going and going until we finally get to head to China for our boy! 


We had begun submitting the paperwork to update our homestudy before we officially said yes to Hongjie.  All of the paperwork required for our homestudy has already been submitted to the social worker at our agency.  Our social worker will visit us at our house today and we hope to have our homestudy approval by next week (which would us on to Step 4 of this lovely chart).


Once we have our signed homestudy in hand, we can submit our application for immigration approval to USCIS and begin the process of authenticating our dossier documents.  A "dossier", for those who are unfamiliar with international adoption, is a package of different papers that comprise your application to adopt with the country.  I'll do another post about the dossier and authentications soon.


We expect to bring Hongjie home sometime between October and December.  The timeline will become much more clear once we make it to Step 8.


Thank you so much to all who are excited to see us bringing home this special boy!  We are so grateful for your excitement and support.  A few of you have asked if we will need help in getting this sweet boy home, and our answer is YES!!  For right now, your prayers for fast paperwork and for him to receive the transfusions he needs are greatly appreciated.  Soon, we will provide info on other ways you can help if you'd like.

Just look at this sweet little guy...  He's so pale!  He needs us to put a smile on his face and transfusions to put some color in those lips.  Oh we can't wait to go get him!!