We got the news we've been waiting so patiently for today.
We are headed to Haiti this next weekend, on the 10th and 11th.
We head out on Thursday the 8th and get into Haiti on the 9th. Then we head home (with Joracin) on Sunday the 11th and get back to Indy on Monday the 12th.
Sunday is his Birthday. What an exciting way to spend his 6th birthday.
Today was (and is) a Great Day!
Friday, August 2, 2013
Big Day - Today is J's Visa appointment
Well, today is Joracin's Visa appointment. If all goes well today, the orphanage could leave the appointment with the Visa and then we can finalize travel. If they don't get it today, it shouldn't take but a couple of days.
We received some photos of our Little Mister getting ready to head off to the appointment.
Today is a GREAT Day. Huzzah!
We received some photos of our Little Mister getting ready to head off to the appointment.
Today is a GREAT Day. Huzzah!
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| All Smiles |
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| Looking like the first day of school |
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| Maybe a little unsure, but in the van and ready to head to the Embassy |
Monday, July 22, 2013
Prayers for Patience
This post is going to be a bit of a downer. I know. I should be filled with joy knowing that we will have Joarcin home with us soon. And, I know that with the passage of time, all of the dips in the process will get smoothed out.
But, right now I feel pretty crappy.
We found out last Wednesday (7/17) that the visa appointment had been set for August 2nd. That date came quick and is great news. When we talked with our adoption coordinator, she let us know that families typically travel a week after the visa appointment. That meant that we might actually be in Haiti around the 10th or 11th of August.
We waited all weekend for news on when we could travel. This afternoon, I couldn't take it anymore and asked when we might get travel dates.
Well, know we have been told. we won't know travel dates until after they have his visa in their hands. That means that we won't know travel until at least August 2nd.
Simply put, that SUCKS!
I know, I know, I should be happy that we are in the home stretch, mile 25 1/2 of a marathon. But did we have to get told we would travel a week after the visa appointment only to have it changed? I understand why they want to wait. They don't want Leslie and I to have to be "stuck" in country while they work through paperwork (and you all know how much we love paperwork).
But, this just SUCKS!
Prayers for patience for me, patience for Leslie, patience for the kids too. We are all so excited and it can't come fast enough. All in God's time right?
But, right now I feel pretty crappy.
We found out last Wednesday (7/17) that the visa appointment had been set for August 2nd. That date came quick and is great news. When we talked with our adoption coordinator, she let us know that families typically travel a week after the visa appointment. That meant that we might actually be in Haiti around the 10th or 11th of August.
We waited all weekend for news on when we could travel. This afternoon, I couldn't take it anymore and asked when we might get travel dates.
Well, know we have been told. we won't know travel dates until after they have his visa in their hands. That means that we won't know travel until at least August 2nd.
Simply put, that SUCKS!
I know, I know, I should be happy that we are in the home stretch, mile 25 1/2 of a marathon. But did we have to get told we would travel a week after the visa appointment only to have it changed? I understand why they want to wait. They don't want Leslie and I to have to be "stuck" in country while they work through paperwork (and you all know how much we love paperwork).
But, this just SUCKS!
Prayers for patience for me, patience for Leslie, patience for the kids too. We are all so excited and it can't come fast enough. All in God's time right?
Monday, July 15, 2013
Approval of his I-600
We got the great news today that Joracin's I-600 has been approved by US Customs and Immigration in Haiti. Here is the text from the email we received today.
"USCIS in Port au Prince, Haiti is pleased to inform you that the I-600 petition, which you filed at this office on October 9, 2012 on behalf of Andre Joracin, seeking to qualify him as your immediate relative has been approved. Your case has been transferred to the Adoption Unit of the Consular Section for the visa process."
I am sure you are saying, what the heck does that mean? Well, it means that the orphan investigatation by UCCIS is complete. All of the I's have been dotted and T's crossed for checking paperwork and the background on Joracin's situation. USCIS is saying this is a legal adoption. This is fantastic news. This is also the last step before the visa appointment date is set.
In 1 to 2 weeks, we will get notification of the visa appointment. Once that date is set we will likely travel a week after that. This gives GLA the opportunity to go to the visa appointment (they have power of attorney for us), and if they need additional paperwork, there are a few days in the schedule to allow for that. This prevents us from being delayed in Haiti.
We are so excited to get continued good news. We do not have a travel date yet, but we know that date is just around the corner.
Thanks for all the continued prayers and words of encouragement. We are getting close.
"USCIS in Port au Prince, Haiti is pleased to inform you that the I-600 petition, which you filed at this office on October 9, 2012 on behalf of Andre Joracin, seeking to qualify him as your immediate relative has been approved. Your case has been transferred to the Adoption Unit of the Consular Section for the visa process."
I am sure you are saying, what the heck does that mean? Well, it means that the orphan investigatation by UCCIS is complete. All of the I's have been dotted and T's crossed for checking paperwork and the background on Joracin's situation. USCIS is saying this is a legal adoption. This is fantastic news. This is also the last step before the visa appointment date is set.
In 1 to 2 weeks, we will get notification of the visa appointment. Once that date is set we will likely travel a week after that. This gives GLA the opportunity to go to the visa appointment (they have power of attorney for us), and if they need additional paperwork, there are a few days in the schedule to allow for that. This prevents us from being delayed in Haiti.
We are so excited to get continued good news. We do not have a travel date yet, but we know that date is just around the corner.
Thanks for all the continued prayers and words of encouragement. We are getting close.
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| Joracin with a photo of his Nanny, Liliane |
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
His Passport is Printed
We received fantastic news that the orphanage has Joracin's completed passport.
We have been told we can begin to look into flights, but we don't have a specific travel date yet. This is the first time they have let us know we could look at flight options.
They are going to schedule his medical exam in the next few days. They are also working on pulling all of the paperwork together to submit to the Embassy for creating his Visa.
Here is the best part. They let us know that they estimate travel in 5-8 weeks. We should be able to travel and have him home by the start of school.
Hallelujah!
We have been told we can begin to look into flights, but we don't have a specific travel date yet. This is the first time they have let us know we could look at flight options.
They are going to schedule his medical exam in the next few days. They are also working on pulling all of the paperwork together to submit to the Embassy for creating his Visa.
Here is the best part. They let us know that they estimate travel in 5-8 weeks. We should be able to travel and have him home by the start of school.
Hallelujah!
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| Happy Flag Day! |
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Happy Day! We are out of MOI
You have got to be asking yourself, "That sure sounds good, but what the heck is MOI"?
MOI is the Ministry of the Interior in Haiti and it is the stage that we were in were Joracin's passport was getting processed. Notice how I used past tense there.
Yep, we are out of MOI and his passport is in the process of getting printed. We have been told that the printing will take 2-4 weeks. Once the orphanage has his passport, they will submit everything to the US Embassy to start working on his visa.
We were also told that when the orphanage has his passport they can begin to estimate travel dates. Yes, travel dates. Needless to say, we are excited.
And here is a little humor/head scratcher for your day as well. Take a look at this post from the Orphanage Director on their blog.
http://godslittlestangelsinhaiti.org/andlifegoeson/2013/05/27/im-back/
At the bottom of the post you will see an note about crazy travel delays in a 3rd world country. Leslie has informed me is we get stuck in Miami and are unable to fly to Haiti that we will buy swim caps and start swimming. Glad the neighborhood pool is open. I better get in shape.
MOI is the Ministry of the Interior in Haiti and it is the stage that we were in were Joracin's passport was getting processed. Notice how I used past tense there.
Yep, we are out of MOI and his passport is in the process of getting printed. We have been told that the printing will take 2-4 weeks. Once the orphanage has his passport, they will submit everything to the US Embassy to start working on his visa.
We were also told that when the orphanage has his passport they can begin to estimate travel dates. Yes, travel dates. Needless to say, we are excited.
And here is a little humor/head scratcher for your day as well. Take a look at this post from the Orphanage Director on their blog.
http://godslittlestangelsinhaiti.org/andlifegoeson/2013/05/27/im-back/
At the bottom of the post you will see an note about crazy travel delays in a 3rd world country. Leslie has informed me is we get stuck in Miami and are unable to fly to Haiti that we will buy swim caps and start swimming. Glad the neighborhood pool is open. I better get in shape.
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Another step in the process
We got word yesterday that Joracin's dossier was submitted Joracin's to the Ministry of the Interior (MOI) on May 7. This step is a two part process- final approvals/signatures on the adoption and passport printing!
We are encouraged by the forward progress and understand that the only way to finish the marathon is to put one foot in front the other. While small, the steps continue to move us closer to bringing him home.
We also wanted to share a couple of photos from our April update.
We are encouraged by the forward progress and understand that the only way to finish the marathon is to put one foot in front the other. While small, the steps continue to move us closer to bringing him home.
We also wanted to share a couple of photos from our April update.
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| Look close and you can see his two front teeth are missing. |
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| Yes, they had bunny ears for the kids to wear. |
A couple of people have also asked how citizenship works. They were great questions and I didn't have an answer. Well, I did a little research.
He qualifies for automatic citizenship based on the Child Citizenship Act of 2000 and based on these criteria.
- Have at least one US citizen parent
- Are under 18 years of age
- Were admitted to the US as a lawful permanent resident
- Are in legal & physical custody of at least one parent who is a US citizen
All the paperwork we have and will get will allow him to be admitted to the US as a lawful permanent resident when we bring him home.
Thank you again for all your words of encouragement and prayers. Having you be part of this journey with us means the world.
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