Our Adoption Journal: Travel Approval!

We're going to China!!! (just not next week)

Timeline to Ian

8/14 saw his picture for the first time

8/16 Lily said she thinks God will give her a big brother

FB messaged Karla (Lifeline)

talked with Dorinne (ECFA SW) - green light

8/17 got his file

8/18 talked to Karla from Lifeline

8/19 talked to Jill (ECFA) - green light

applied to LL

8/20 granted exception from LL for adoption - green light

accepted by LL into program

assigned social worker (Meagan)

LOCKED FILE

8/21 GREEN LIGHT from God - sent care plan to China for LOI

8/27 Pre-approval (PA)!

8/28 Home study visit, paperwork submitted to ECFA

left for vacation in OBX for two weeks

9/1 received pictures of his artwork and a letter to us - HE KNOWS WE'RE COMING!

9/16 physicals for Phil and Bethany

9/17 received word that our son will receive English tutoring starting in October

10/12 got our first video clip of our son from Kelly (Sparrow Fund and advocate) who is visiting him in China... should know soon if our son wants to take an English name - which means soon we'll be sending out the announcement that we are adopting him!

10/14 Our son is named Ian Zachary and we got pictures of him wearing his Big Brother shirt!!! He received our gifts today (one of Daddy's Marquette sweatshirts, a photo book, and pictures of us in all of our shirts). We started telling people about the adoption.

10/15 It's public! As in posted on Facebook - haha!

10/16 Supp 3 and originals of starter kit, education exempt form, Certificate of Income and Property, $360 for Homeland Security for Supplement 3, and $250 for Hague review and first two installments of adoption fee ($4752.50) mailed to Lifeline

10/26 HOME STUDY FINALIZED AND MAILED TO LIFELINE

10/27 Lifeline mailed our Home Study and Supplement 3 (amendment) to USCIS

10/28 Supp 3 hits drop box; checks in the mail for authentication, certification, CCCWA dossier submission fee, and expedite auth/cert of Supp 3 approval (9 total checks!!!)

11/19 Supp 3 approved by our officer and put in the mail

11/29 Bought Ian's bed

12/9 Auction ended - over $4000 raised for traveling to bring Ian home!!!

12/10 DTC Dossier to China

12/22 LID Dossier logged in to the computer system!

2/3/16 database says In Process of Review

2/4/16 LOA issued

2/9/16 LOA/LSC Letter Seeking Confirmation;

2/10/16 I800 submitted

2/17/16 Pictures of Ian

3/16/16 I800 and Supp 3 approval

3/23/16 ANNOUNCED THAT WE ARE NAMING OUR SON IAN CHENGUANG

3/24/16 RTF/Cable letter received

3/28/16 Article 5 dropped off

4/12/16 Article 5 picked up

4/14/16 Travel Approval!!!

4/15/16 Consulate Appt Schedule

5/2 LEAVE FOR CHINA

5/6 Arrive in Xi'an

5/8 Receive Ian into our Family

5/9 Finalize adoption

5/18 Consulate Appt

5/22 Arrive home

Pages

4/14/2016

Travel Approval!

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