Don here......
We are finished with our adoption home study - we have a total of 4 encounters with our agency to satisfy the requirements for the government of China...thanks for your prayers during this phase. We are movin' on.
Next phase....the dossier....gathering official documents (birth certificates, marriage records, police clearance, employment verification, health overview, completion of 20 on-line courses, reading and reporting on 3 textbooks on adoption, and a partridge in a pear tree) several of which must be certified, notorized and then sent to the Secretaries of State of 3 states (Florida - for marriage verification, New Jersey - Don's birth state, and Massachusetts - Be's birth state). Our photos as well as photos of our home are included in the documents for the dossier.
After this package of paperwork is forwarded to the Chinese Center for International Adoption by our agency, the referral (matching the child with the prospective parents) can take place. An adoption date is then set and a 2 - 3 week trip to China is scheduled. For about 14 days, we are then observed by a staff person from the orphanage (both in and out of the child's familiar environ) to ensure that child and parents are compatible. A formal petition is made to the High and Mighty Grand Poobah of Chinese Adoption and then...........the 20 or so hours for the flight home, child in tow with parents he/she has only known for about 2 weeks.
Lots of red tape and official procedure for what would seem to be a no-brainer. This is what happens when you have a late calling into parenthood..........
In the near future, I'll elaborate on some of the items we can expect when adopting a toddler from a different culture. This whole process is sending us into this chapter of our lives with eyes wide open.
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