Our officer with the USCIS emailed us today. It seems that when the I-600A application is entered into the system, only the parents are automatically issued fingerprint appointments. It isn't until they actually read your home study and discover that there is somebody else over 18 years old living in your house, that they issue additional fingerprint appointments... not that the amount written on the check would be any clue ($670 per couple + $80 for each additional person 18 and over... I know, procedures). Thankfully, Officer Saunders entered Kira into the system to be issued an appointment. Unfortunately, our location is currently filled to capacity. Once a space opens up, the system will automatically schedule her. I am so glad I contacted her.
I took our state police clearances to Los Angeles to be apostilled today, and typically they would be able to do it, but the manager that signed the form must be new, as his name was not in the system. They let me know that I could go and get the form notarized, and then have the notary authenticated with the county clerk, and then I would be able to come back and request the apostille. Well, I went and got the required notary and had it authenticated, but was unable to return to Los Angeles today for the apostilles. Tomorrow, I am planning on calling the attorney general's office to 1) let them know the signature will not get anyone an apostille and 2) please send me another copy with a valid signature (just in case). They know that for foreign adoptions this form needs to be apostilled, so why would they have someone signing the state police clearances before they were even in the system? Just saying.
I'm so excited to be getting closer, but when I read about the Urban's and their struggle at the embassy, to get the visas to bring their kiddos home, all because of a letter their insurance company won't give them until they have custody of their kids, but they can't get custody of their kids without the letter :::sigh:::... I know that it's not over once the dossier has been sent. That is actually good to know now, instead of being completely blind-sided once your in country. I appreciate when families keep it real and let us know of the struggles they experience along the way. Oh, this will all have been so worth it once my little cutie is home where she belongs.
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We had Officer Saunders too!!! I thought she was nice. Does your little one have any urgent medical issues (heart, etc)?
That is how we got our application expedited. We had fingerprints (early) on 6/21 and received our approval 7/19. (Only after I told her that one of our little ones would need open heart surgery). Then she had it done within 2 days!! Definitely worth a try....
Good luck and we'll be praying for you all!!
I've been following along, and am so excited to see you this close to sending off your dossier! I wish more people contacted the USCIS field offices directly...ours was very responsive and helped move our case along quickly.
It is good to be aware that many things could "pop up" while in country, and to be prepared for delays or other challenges.
For us, getting the paperwork together proved to be the most challenging part of the process (re-do's, people or organizations being difficult about signing something we needed, invalid signatures, invalid forms, etc.). But once our dossier was submitted, it was smooth sailing. Honestly, there wasn't one hitch while we were over there. It seems like the orphanage location/region is a huge part of that. Do you know other families who have been where you'll be going to get Aly?
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