August 2011

8-26-11

We received a call from Jon at the US Immigration office. He informed me that he would be handling the expedition of our I-800a forms. So surprised and grateful! Thank you Lord! 

We have to send him the police clearance letter for mom since her fingerprints never took. After he has that he will be ready to approve.

8-24-11

I talked to Margaret at US Immigration today. Our paperwork is not there yet but she does have the cooperating letter from Wastash Adoptions asking that they expedite. However, in reviewing she said, “Thalassemia B is that the same thing as anemia.” Then she went on to explain they will not expedite our case. I fell apart. Once I regained my composure, I explained that the type she has requires chronic blood transfusions and the intake of iron rich blood damages the major organs. As explained to us by the doctor, without medication, the extra iron deposits will likely decrease her life expectancy to her second or third decade.

She then said she would take it to her supervisor but he is very strict on expediting cases. She is not aware of him ever approving Thalassemia B for expediency. I asked her to wait to have the discussion only after the doctor letter is received too. I explained that he would only have full information about the need to expedite with that letter. She agreed and asked me to call again on Friday to see if it has arrived.

I will call back on Friday.

8-23-11

Great news and answered prayer! We learned through Sabrina that when she last asked for an extension on our case, she was given the deadline of September 25, 2011.  That means we have a few weeks yet, so we just have to keep praying.  Praise the Lord!

8-20-11

Posted on Facebook:

Got a receipt from Homeland Security with our immigration case number!! Let’s ROLL!!

8-19-11

Update to friends and supporters:

“Our Home study, I-800A, dossier and a care to Bella were all mailed last week. Our letter included in the care package will be interpreted into Chinese and then sent to Bella’s foster home.  It also included a photo album of us and our home and her room.

We are getting close but are running up against a tight deadline of August 28 to have all of our paperwork, including immigration approval in China. We won’t make that deadline. Immigration takes a minimum of 40-50 days and up to 90. We need favor with China and for them to be willing to wait for our immigration approval. Sabrina, our adoption representative with China, feels she can send all other parts of our dossier and ask for more time for the immigration approval. We pray they extend our deadline. However, China may remove us at the matched family for Bella and she will be placed back on the available child list. Worst case scenario is that she is then matched with another family before we get approved. At that point we will wait to be matched with another child. We feel God has led us through every step and that Bella is our daughter. Unless He closes the door, we are looking for Him to remove the barriers and get us to her ASAP.

Through a friend of a friend of a friend I have been able to secure a contact with Senator Jeff Session’s office that has influence with Immigration. With one phone call she agreed to help push our case through once we are assigned a case number. Not sure how much time she can cut off but I am looking for our immigration receipt with the case number in the mail daily! That should be here at the by next Friday at the latest.

We have done all required of us to this point. As a friend told me yesterday, it is now time for us to be still and wait on the Lord.  We are praying for expediency with immigration and favor with China!! Thank you for praying with and for us.”

8-17-11

Rachel got her driver’s permit today! Since she will be Bella’s chauffer it is certainly worthy of noting in the timeline for sure!

8-11-11

Update to friends and supporters: “We are praying Godspeed for the immigration process. We sent it with a request to expedite due to the China deadline and her need for medication. It also had a letter from the doctor requesting expediency. God has blessed us with a contact at Senator Jeff Sessions’s office that has influence with immigration and can get cases pushed through. She said she will gladly help us once we get our case number. So hopefully, we will have the immigration approval and the original home study shortly!”

8-3-11

After the 8/2 email, we received a great lead from someone experienced in the adoption community. She gave us the following contact information to help expedite our paperwork.

“If she lives in Alabama and in Senator Session’s district she needs to contact Ms. Davis at Sessions Birmingham office. She has the ability to fast track things through USCIS. They cannot do anything on the China end. I will look and see if I can find her number.

I also know a women who is a Chinese adoptive parent who has managed to move mountains for her child who is there and that they are waiting to bring home. I will send her a copy of the note to see if she knows of any other plans to take to get the child the medicine she needs.”

8-2-2011

Update to friends and supporters:

“You’ve been so kind to pray for us throughout the adoption process. We are getting close but are running up against a tight deadline of August 28 to have all of our paperwork, including immigration approval in China. We won’t make that deadline. Immigration takes a minimum of 40-50 days and up to 90. Our paperwork will not be sent to them until tomorrow or Thursday at the earliest. We are overnighting our packet with a letter explaining the tight deadline and requesting expedition. Our packet will also include a letter from the doctor at UAB requesting an expedited adoption so that Bella can begin taking a much needed medication that is unavailable in China.

We need favor with China and for them to be willing to wait for our immigration approval. Sabrina, our adoption representative with China, feels she can send all other parts of our dossier and ask for more time for the immigration approval. We pray they extend our deadline. However, China may remove us at the matched family for Bella and she will be placed back on the available child list. Worst case scenario is that she is then matched with another family before we get approved. At that point we will wait to be matched with another child. We feel God has led us through every step and that Bella is our daughter. Unless He closes the door, we are looking for Him to remove the barriers and get us to her ASAP.

In the meantime, we are sending a care package to Bella with toys, and outfit, blanket, photo album and letter. We are hoping that too helps China show us favor.

Thank you all for continued prayer!”