Throughout our adoption process, we can without a doubt say that the best email came in on Friday, 6/3! Nathaniel's passport was done which means we could book travel! After waiting for the actual dates from our agency, we have booked our flights for early July.
Who knew booking travel would be so time consuming?! Part of the problem is that after years (and I mean years) of saving our Delta Skymiles for this trip, Delta said our miles could not be used during this window. Boo, Delta!! After getting over that, we asked about their international adoption fare. Unfortunately, the fare was not applicable. Huh? Big boos! So, we started researching individual airlines and websites like Expedia and Travelocity. Kind of tricky when you're trying to plan two round trip tickets and an additional ticket back.
After following the great information shared on a fellow adopting family's blog, we tried the travel agent they suggested and another. Very helpful! We went through Azumano, but Giselle's was also great to work with.
Azumano:
http://www.azumano.com/
We had Rena help us
Giselle's
https://www.globaltrav.com/
Ask for Michelle
Many families would disagree with us on this, but we decided to travel first class. I don't want to limit the space Nathaniel will need on such a long flight. The price will take me years to recover, but I think it will be worth it in the long run.
It's been a long wait, but we finally made it to the last step!
1) Get an approved home study done by an accredited home study agency.
2) File the I-800A with USCIS (United States Citizenship & Immigration Services): You will need to include certified copies of your birth, marriage (if applicable) and divorce (if applicable) certificates, an original copy of your home study, a copy of the home study agency's license, the filing fee of $670 and fingerprint fee of $80 per person (anyone living in the home over the age of 18 years must be fingerprinted).
3) USCIS will contact the family with a date and time to come for their fingerprints: After you get your fingerprints taken, USCIS will process your I-800A petition.
4) USCIS will send the family an I-797C, Notice of Action "Case Type: I-800A, Application for Determination of Suitability to Adopt a Child from a Convention Country": This letter will state "Notice Type: APPROVAL NOTICE", your name, address, fingerprint expiration date and "Approval Valid Until" date.
Your I-800A approval and fingerprints are good for 15 months from the "Notice Date" listed on the I-797C.
5) Official acceptance of a referral/child
6) Family files the I-800 with USCIS
7) USCIS will send the family an I-797C, Notice of Action "Case Type: I-800, Petition to Classify Convention Adoptee as an Immediate Relative": This letter will state "Notice Type: NOTICE OF PROVISIONAL APPROVAL".
8) USCIS will notify the U.S. Embassy in India of the family's provisional I-800 approval
9) The U.S. Embassy will contact the family requesting the DS-230 form to be submitted: The DS-230 is the visa application for your child. The Embassy will send you the forms to fill out and information on the photo requirement for this step.
10) The U.S. Embassy will process the case and issue an Article 5 letter: The Embassy will notify you and CARA as soon as the Article 5 letter is issued.
11) CARA processes the case and grants NOC (No Objection Certificate): NOC states that CARA (Central Adoption Resource Authority) has "No Objection" to the placement of the child with the adoptive parents.
12) The case is filed with the local court: Cases will be filed with the court within 15 days of NOC.
13) Court grants guardianship
14) Agency receives a copy of the court documents
15) Agency files for ICPC approval on behalf of the family: ICPC stands for Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children and is necessary for all Indian adoptions due to the granting of "guardianship" instead of "adoption". This approval gives the family permission to bring the child across state lines for the purpose of adopting.
16) Texas ICPC office notifies Agency's Texas office of family's ICPC approval
17) Agency will notify the family of ICPC approval
18) Agency will contact our staff in India regarding possible travel dates for the family: Travel dates must be confirmed with our India staff before the family makes any definite plans.
19) Family travels to India to bring their child home! (WE ARE HERE)
