Status Update

I just thought I'd make a quick rundown of everything I've completed to date to show myself how much progress I've made, as well as what is still left to do! The process varies a bit among the adoption agencies accredited to work in Kyrgyzstan, but it basically goes something like this:

1) Apply to Adoption Agency [done]

2) Gather and notarize US immigration documents for Homestudy:

• 1st & 2nd home visits w/SW [done]
• USCIS fingerprinting [done]
• 3 Character (non-relatives) References [done]
• Medical Form [done]
• Local Police Clearance [done]
• CANTS Clearance [done]
• Illinois Fingerprints [done]
• FBI Fingerprints [done]
• Copies of my Birth Certificate [done]
• Animal Vaccination Records [done]
• Tax return from previous year [done]
• Pay Stub [done]
• Bank Account Statements [done]
• Retirement Fund Statement [done]
• Life Insurance Documentation [done]
• Letter of insurance coverage for adopted child [done]
• (13) hours of Adoption Educational requirements [done]

3) Have 3rd home visit w/ SW [done]

4) Homestudy completed [done]

5) Submit notarized home study and US immigration documents to US immigration [done]

6) Gather and notarize Kyrg dossier documents, many of which are also US immigration documents [not started]

7) Submit notarized Kyrg dossier to state for state certification

8) Submit state certified Kyrg dossier to US dept. of state for federal certification

9) Submit federally certified Kyrg dossier to Kyrg Embassy in US for authentication The dossier is legalized at the Kyrgyz Embassy in DC; this can take one to four weeks

10) Kyrg dossier sent to my adoption agency's in-country coordinator in Kyrg. The dossier travels on to the Minister of Foreign Affairs (MOFA); the Embassy in DC is actually an arm of the MFA; the Embassy plans to send the dossiers by diplomatic courier to Bishkek; this may add a couple weeks time because the courier does not go every day or even every week. From the MOFA it then goes to the Minister of Education (MOE) to be reviewed by the Committee; they will consider all the factors in the background of the family. Family gets Committee approval and is eligible for referral.

11) Wait many months for referral

12) Receive referral

13) Travel on first trip to meet referral and agree to adoption

14) Go home to wait for court date - the referral will be filed officially with the MOE. Then the court process can proceed.The reason this is happening is so that there can be a central entity that tracks and approves adoptions; not just the Judge of the court. The MOE lays eyes on the dossiers and on the child's documents before they even get to court. Which makes court kind of redundant, but it is the law. (Similar to the US.) This will also make it easier for them to track the post placement reports.

15) Travel on 2nd trip to Kyrg to finish the paperwork to bring my child home - which involves a trip to the US Embassy Almaty, Kazakhstan (when my referral legally becomes my child)

16) Mommy & Baby come home!

17) Post placement report - this is the term for reports written for children who come home on the IR4 visa because they do not have automatic citizenship and must be have their adoption finalized through re-adoption in their home state; Post adoption reports refer to families who have met the criteria for the IR3 visa and their child is considered a US citizen upon arrival in the US. The reports themselves are the same. The distinction has to do with terminology relevant to the Hague Convention.) These reports are due until your child reaches age 14.