So Far...

We're a good deal behind on setting up this blog and have about 8 months worth of progress news to post. I'm just going to cut to the chase and give you our timeline in summary form. If you're not familiar with all the adoption lingo, much of this will leave you scratching your head. Believe me, we've been there, too. Of course, this list doesn't do justice to the loads of paperwork, copies, notarizations, and money spent so far.

1/26/2007 - Submitted I-600A Petition to Adopt an Orphan to USCIS - $545.00

1/30/2007 - Submitted application to sign on with homestudy agency, Adoption Related Services (ARS)

1/30/2007 - Began paperchase for required documentation - $1,361.85

2/7/2007 Submitted application to sign on with Families for Children (FFC) - $500.00

2/24/2007 - Fingerprinted in the Phialdelphia USCIS branch office - $140.00

3/21/2007 - Homestudy interview with ARS - $900.00

4/9/2007 - Homestudy draft submitted to FFC; the official wait begins

4/9/2007 - Submitted dossier materials to FFC

5/3/2007 - Mailed finalized homestudy to FFC and USCIS

6/15/2007 - Received notice of I-600A denial due to "no fingerprints"

7/6/2007 - Received 1-171H, clearing us to adopt internationally

7/24/2007 - Applied for expedited, updated passports - $155.00