This is the beautiful little boy we are hoping and praying will soon be part of our family! Here is what has happened so far on our journey:
Fall 2014 The Lord starts really working on our hearts about adopting another child with Down syndrome.
February 2015 We inquire to Reece’s Rainbow about Ryan. We are referred to Open Door Adoption Agency.
March 2015 Cathy at Open Door provides us with updated pictures of Ryan. We begin to fall more in love!
Easter 2015 We decide to adopt Ryan.
April 2015 Application submitted (and approved!) to Open Door as placing agency, application submitted to Special Children, Inc. as home study agency.
May 6, 2015 We begin completing and sending in our paperwork for home study. This is truly a labor of love and paperwork!
May 22, 2015 First home visit by Debra at Special Children Inc.
June 2015 We start on dossier paperwork and I800A form
June 5, 2015 2nd home study appointment at Deb’s office
June 25, 2015 Passports arrive!
July 1, 2015 Andrew’s doctor appointment today- last of the 6. God willing, we can get forms notarized 7-8-15 and call this part done!
July 8, 2015 All 6 doctor forms are completed and notarized! Just got email from Cathy with final attachments for dossier documents: application to Ryan's country and passport affidavits. Cathy wants these done ASAP so we can send dossier to Silva for translating.
July 10, 2015 Dossier documents sent to Cathy for review.
July 14, 2015 1st Draft of Home Study complete- we have reviewed and are waiting for Cathy at OD to review. I800A is ready to go when we get the final copy of study.
July 23, 2015 Good news: our home study is ready to go! Once all the pieces come to us from OD and our home study agency, we can get the I800A in the mail! Yeah!July 30, 2015 I800A mailed out today. Should arrive by noon tomorrow! Processing time is 6-8 weeks.
August 6, 2015 28 documents sent to WI Secretary of State for apostilling. Should arrive to them by tomorrow morning. Processing time is 7-10 days.
August 14, 2015 Home study emailed to Silva in country so that she begin translating. Still waiting on Immigration and WI Secretary of State.
August 17, 2015 Biometrics appointment scheduled for 8-26!
August 20, 2015 Documents are back from Secretary of State and now on their way to OD in Thomasville, GA. Next stop: overseas for translation by Silva.
August 24, 2015 Dossier on its way overseas to Silva.
August 26, 2015 Biometrics appointment done!
August 30, 2015 Silva has dossier. Translation begins tomorrow.
August 31, 2015 USCIS approval arrives in mail!
September 14, 2015 USCIS approval on its way overseas.
TIME OF WAITING OCT 2015 thru FEBRUARY 2016
March 17, 2016 Dossier should be going before government agency for reconsideration sometime in the next 30 days...hopefully sooner!
April 7, 2016 Matching process is beginning. We are approved!
April 14, 2016 Our acceptance of referral has been delivered to authorities.
April 21, 2016 I800 overnited to USCIS in Texas
May 14, 2016 RFE received. Major mistake on our part! Because Abigail is almost 18, we should have updated our home study and had biometric fingerprints done on her. This all could have been done back this winter when we were waiting on my 5 year mark. Now things will be delayed as we scramble to get all this done. Shucks!
June 6, 2016 Biometrics appointment for Abigail is scheduled for next week, 6-15. Yeah!
June 15, 2016 Abigail's biometrics done.
June 20, 2016 I800 approved! Emailed to Cathy, Silva, and Reda.
June 21, 2016 Online Visa application for Benjamin completed.
June 29, 2016 Court date is 7-15!!! We leave 7-8!!!!
July 9th We arrive in Vilnius in the afternoon and meet Ben for the very first time!
July 10th Our major day of sightseeing in Vilnius. So much fun!
July 9-14th Daily visits with Ben at the orphanage, 9-12 am and then again 4-6. Also some appointments like immigration medical exam for Ben, passport office, bank, etc. Busy!
July 15 COURT HEARING at 1 p.m. Judge announced at the end of hearing, she would have her decision in 1 hour!!!! Everyone was shocked. We were prepared to have to wait until Monday since our hearing was on a Friday afternoon. This quick decision allowed Reda to be able to start the going home paperwork already on Saturday which would speed things up for next week. What a blessing from the Lord. But even more important than the speediness was the decision that was declared at 3 p.m that day- Benjamin Kostas Lavey was officially our son! We went right to the orphanage at 3:30, woke him up from his nap and gave him the good news through many cuddles and tears! What an unbelievable and unforgettable day! Then we packed up his things, and Ben came to live with us at the apartment.
July 15-20th Sightseeing and running errands with Ben as we prepare to leave for home.
July 21st Heading home! We fly out out Vilnius at 6 a.m. and are home in Cedar Grove by 8 p.m. that night. We got to leave 4 days ahead of schedule!
No comments:
Post a Comment