Families for All

Joint Council on the Adoption Tax Credit

2010-03-24T19:46:00.000-07:00

Good news! Check it out!
http://betheanswerforchildren.wordpress.com/
:+)
Di

Addendum VS Update

2010-01-22T12:32:00.000-08:00

Okay, so your address changed, or your job, or you switched to SN, or your referred child is a boy and you initially requested a girl, what do you do when changes occur and you're trying to maintain your I600A/I-171H status?
You do a Homestudy Addendum.
A homestudy addendum is different from a homestudy update.
HOMESTUDY UPDATE:

Costs a lot of money (the same as you usually pay for a homestudy because each time your file a new I600A that's what you have to get, a HS UPDATE.)
Requires you collect all that stuff again, physicals, etc. for the Social Worker
Requires that you refile your I600A, even if the I-171H attached to it is still valid, which includes paying all the fees to USCIS that may apply to such a filing, and switching to I800A if you're out of I600A renewals
And is titled UPDATE

You don't want to do a HS Update when all you need is to report changes. You do that with a:

HOMESTUDY ADDENDUM:

(which...)

Is an add-on to your most recent homestudy
Costs a lot less (for us it was a $150 addendum VS a $600 Update)
Does not require you to collect anything (no forms, fingerprints, letters, etc.)
Does not require you to refile anything with USCIS. You simply hand it in and they process it (send it to your consulate office, which, for China adoptions, is Guangzhou, China) for free.
And is titled ADDENDUM

Make sure you know which one you need because your HS agency will give you what you ask for (because it's more $ for them), but they fully understand the difference and should be able to do both an UPDATE and the ADDENDUM. Make sure that your HS agency titles the addendum as ADDDENDUM or you will have trouble with USCIS.

Try to hand in your addendum at least a month before you leave the US on your adoption trip.

Make sure to impress upon USCIS that they need to forward this update on to your consulate office.

Also, if you request a child 2-4 years old (for example) and you accept a referral of a child who is just 4 at the time of referral, you will need an addendum to state that you can handle a child from 2-5 years old, or USCIS will not let you travel. Nit-picky to the end!

Good luck, and post any questions to the comments.

:+)

Joint Council Haiti Call to Action

2010-01-14T16:35:00.000-08:00

Sometimes it is more than one can bear. Living in abject poverty. Living in the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. Living with no mother, no father. And now this.
Yesterday, while the good people of Haiti were literally digging themselves out of the rubble, Joint Council and the members of our Haiti Caucus humbly met with a sense of despair, urgency, concern and resolve. Our phones rang off the hook with offers of help, with questions about the children and orphanages. Emails came in with more questions and more offers of help and financial assistance.
How To Help
While Joint Council always accepts and appreciates contributions, we are asking all those who wish to make a contribution to please make that donation to those organizations who provide direct services to the children of Haiti.
Below is a list of those Joint Council Member Organizations who have active and substantial programs in Haiti and who have the ability to make your donation provide direct assistance in Haiti.
As you have seen on the news, most of Haiti has been impacted by the earthquake including orphanages, schools and medical clinics that serve orphaned children. The organizations listed below are able and willing to provide temporary assistance and to rebuild for long-term service to orphans and vulnerable families. We again urge everyone to make a contribution of any size. If you do choose to make a contribution to Joint Council, please know that your donation will be used to fund our efforts to coordinate emergency relief efforts.
Adoptions
Our hearts go out to the children and families of Haiti and to those American families who are adopting. We understand your concern and fear during this time of uncertainty. And here is were Joint Council can help.While Joint Council does not provide direct services such as housing, clean water and nutrition during emergencies, we can help in other ways. We are preparing a database of adoptive families and the children whom they are adopting with a goal of providing you with the status and location of the children. More information will be published on this effort in the coming days.
Joint Council is also working with the U.S. government to determine the impact of the devastation on the adoption process. Given that the coming days will be rightly focused on rescue efforts, it will take days if not weeks to fully assess the impact on adoptions and develop a plan to move forward with specific cases. Information on the adoption process will be published within the next few weeks.
Adoption During Emergencies
All credible organizations recognize and agree that new adoption cases, including new referrals, are not appropriate in a time of crisis or national emergency. Initiating new adoptions at this time could open the door to corruption and abuse of children. Every effort must be made to identify and find family members for children who are separated or displaced as a result of the earthquake.
Joint Council understands the natural tendency to offer a loving family for children who may be newly orphaned, however we urge all adoption service providers and potential adoptive families to refrain from inquiring or attempting to start a new adoption.
All of us at Joint Council and our Member Organizations are working diligently and ask for your support of the children and families of Haiti.
Joint Council Member Organizations:
Adoption-Link
Adoption-Link is providing emergency relief through their Haitian partnerships with The Foundation Enfant Jesus and also the Village of Vision.
Adoption-Link works with the Foundation Enfant Jesus in Haiti with a focus on finding families for children with HIV through their Chance by Choice program. Their program with The Foundation Infant Jesus finds families for children including family preservation through strong community development programs.
Heather Breems, MSW International Supervisor/Haiti Program Coordinator Adoption-Link
1113 South Blvd.
Oak Park, IL 60302
(708) 524-1433

Bethany Christian Services
BCS is partnering with Haitian local and national organizations in order to assist with earthquake relief.
In Haiti, BCS currently provides child sponsorship programs, and is piloting a program to teach women a trade, allowing them to provide for their families, hopefully with the result that the family remains intact.
Carolina Adoption Services
Carolina Adoption Services is focusing their emergency relief on housing, food and water for the children who have lost their orphanage.
Carolina Adoption Services currently works in Tabarre, approximately 10 miles outside Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Carolina Adoption Services reports that the staff and children of the orphanage are unharmed, but that damage was sustained to the buildings themselves.
Susan Fox – saw@carolinaadoption.org or 336-275-9660
Celebrate Children International
Celebrate Children is providing humanitarian relief and mission trips including medical teams and rebuilding projects.
Celebrate Children International provides adoption services, humanitarian aid and medical services to families, children and orphans in Haiti.
Sue Hedberg sue@celebratechidlren.org Angela Vance angela@celebratechildren.org Tammy Grega tammy@celebratechildren.org 407 977 2810407 625 9192
Holt International Children’s Services
Holt International Children’s Services is working to ensure the safety and health of the children who live in Holt villages and are opening their doors to children in the surrounding area who have no homes to go to. Holt is using everything the have to make sure children are safe.
Holt International has been providing services to orphaned children and at-risk families since 2004. Holt currently operates the Holt Fontana Village orphanage which cares for children who have been orphaned or abandoned.
Bruce Dahl, bruced@holtinternational.org - 541-687-2202
Kentucky Adoption Services
Kentucky Adoption Services is providing medical assistance, food and clean water. Their team of 10 physicians will transport 2 plane loads of food and water. Donations for food and water are urgently needed. Their emergency relief efforts are in partnership with BRESMA Orphanage and Child Care Center.

Thanks so much~
Rebecca Harris
Joint Council Director of Programs and Services
Join Joint Council today: www.jcics.org

Guatemala News!

2009-12-04T15:23:00.000-08:00

Joint Council on International Children's Services can confirm
that the U.S. Department of State has submitted a letter of interest to the
Guatemalan government regarding participation in the pilot program announced by
the Central Authority of Guatemala. Check out our website for the full details.
www.jcics.org

Please Join Joint Council

2009-11-20T08:28:00.001-08:00

Chad Roscoe is a fan of

Joint Council on International Children's Services

Create your Fan Badge

Right now they are in the Chase Giving Challenge, and they need your help.
No money needed.
Let me repeat that.
No money needed.
Just your Vote:

Please give them a vote. It only takes a minute. First you have to become a fan of Chase, then you have to go back and vote. If you don't see your photo on the page, you haven't voted. It's tricky, but free! And you will help a lot of orphans. At this Tiny-Tim-time-of year, we all want to do that.

Should You Update Your HS?

2009-11-13T12:32:00.000-08:00

There are good and not-so-good parts to the adoption online community. There is just a wealth of free, kind, fast information to be had.... Good! There is also a wealth of opinions, less good, especially when people give opinions about things that are not opinion-based, but rather are factual.
This week there is a lot of talk about if you need to update your HS when it's past its expiration date but your I-171H is still valid. The answer is NO.
The answer is no, ad it doesn't matter if other people say, "Oooo, I would do it if I were you!"
Updating your HS is no small thing. It takes considerable time, record gathering, and money.
The truth is that once USCIS has approved your HS it stays approved. The only reasons it would need to be redone (even if it is "expired") would be:

You have had a major life change (address, children added, job loss, etc.)
Your I-171H has expired.

You'll notice that HS is expired is not on that list.

Now, there is one state that does things differently, and I think it is Illinois or Maryland, but I am not sure, so check with your local USCIS office for the official word.

However, you can also find the official word here:

Full URL:

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.eb1d4c2a3e5b9ac89243c6a7543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=13f1741b78c73210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=13f1741b78c73210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD

Tiny URL:http://tinyurl.com/HSUPDATE

If you are still uncertain:

#1. Call your local USCIS

#2. Demand that your agency do their job and find out for you.

#3 read this on USCIS' website:

Validity of the Home Study

1. The home study must be submitted within one year of the filing date of the I-600A, Application for Advance Processing of an Orphan Petition.

2. The home study, or most recent update to the home study, must not be more than 6 months old at the time it is submitted to USCIS.

3. If an update is submitted, a full copy of the original home study must accompany the update.

4. Once a home study is submitted, it will not have to be updated unless there is a significant change (including but not limited to) residence, marital status, criminal history, financial resources, and/or the addition of one or more children or other dependents to the family prior to the orphan's immigration into the United States.

Full URL (May need to copy and paste) :

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.eb1d4c2a3e5b9ac89243c6a7543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=13f1741b78c73210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=13f1741b78c73210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD

Tiny URL:

http://tinyurl.com/HSUPDATE

IF YOUR AGENCY is telling you to do this, or your SW, ask WHY? And make them show you something in writing that says you need to do it.

Sometimes you have to go hunt down the facts for yourself.

Save your money, the headache, and your time :)

Best~

Be the Photo!

2009-11-12T17:09:00.000-08:00

Joint Council is having a photo contest. Could you be this year's winner?
Who May Enter?
The photo contest is open to all persons interested in child welfare issues related to finding children safe, loving, and permanent homes. Examples of some persons who may want to enter the contest are parents or employees of Child Welfare Organizations.
You have until the last minute of December to enter and win!
Here are all the details: http://www.jcics.org/photocontest.htm
Good luck!
:)
Dianne

Joint Council Update: Change of Address to File I600A

2009-11-08T19:47:00.000-08:00

I am so sorry to report that you can no longer go to your "neighborhood" USCIS office to file your I600 or I600A.
Looks like they have changed things again.
Here's the Tiny URL address: http://tinyurl.com/NewUSCISOFFICEAGAIN
and here is the full URL:
http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=0179ac5df6b24210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=8d5e901bf9873210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD
And here is the Joint Council memo:

Following please find updated information regarding USCIS filing procedures. This information is published through the efforts of the Hague Working Group of which Joint Council is a member. We extend our appreciation to Bill Rosen of the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys and Stephanie D’Amico of La Vida International for their leadership in crafting the following. We hope you find this update informative and useful.

UPDATE: USCIS Filing Procedures

USCIS has recently made some changes to filing procedures affecting applications for adoption-based immigrant approvals (Forms I-600A, I-600, I-800A, I-800). Two separate procedures have been changed or established:
a) a new lockbox has been established in Lewisville Texas for the filing of I-600A & I-600 Forms;
and b) the previous lockbox facility in Chicago, Illinois that was established for the filing of I-800A & I-800 Forms has now been changed to a new lockbox also in Lewisville Texas.
You will note that the 2 lockboxes in Lewisville are not the same for Hague vs. non-Hague cases.

In a typical international adoption, the filing of the immigration forms generally involves more than just one initial application, rather multiple filings over the course of the entire adoption. As such, the lockbox facility is used for certain, but not all filings.
USCIS has published instructions for the filing of forms and it has also issued a public announcement; and both are available on the USCIS web site at http://www.uscis.gov/ under the topics of “adoption” and/or “forms”.
However, since adoption cases are often complicated and involve multiple filings over time, we are providing some general pointers that hopefully can guide you appropriately. We hope that this information is helpful to you and provides a better understanding for the circumstances that you frequently encounter.
Disclaimer: The following information does not represent an official notice from the USCIS. The information is not guaranteed to be fully accurate, is subject to change and/or not a complete portrayal of every specific filing associated with an international adoption case.
For purposes of presentation, we have initially organized the information by Hague vs. Non-Hague cases; and then further organized by the location of the filing. At the end of the information, the mailing locations for both lockbox facilities are also provided.
I. Non-Hague cases (I-600A and I-600)
A. I-600A filings required to be sent to the Lockbox
1. The initial I-600A application along with payment of fee and supporting documentation;
B. I-600A filings required to be sent to the USCIS Field Office
1. Where the initial I-600A application has previously been sent without a home study and the home study is being filed to supplement the I-600A application within 12 months of the date of initial filing;
2. Request For Evidence (RFE) requests associated with an I-600A application;
3. Where a family’s circumstances change and additional information is required to amend a current approved I-600A (which is usually in the form of an updated or amended home study);
4. Where a family requests a change to the country they are approved to adopt from (either with payment of a fee or where a fee is not required) and additional information is required to amend a current approved I-600A;
5. Applications that are timely filed to extend the existing I-600A approval (either with payment of a fee or where a fee is not required);
6. All grandfathering requests and associated filings (with or without payment of a fee);
C. General Summary of I-600A Filing Procedures
a. Only the initial I-600A application is sent to the Texas lockbox; all subsequent filings (including RFE’s, changes in circumstances, changes in countries, extensions), whether the subsequent filing includes payment of a fee or not, are filed with the regional USCIS office responsible for adjudicating the case.
D. I-600 filings required to be sent to the Lockbox
1. I-600 forms requiring payment of a fee (where an I-600A has not been filed and approved); unless the family is residing abroad (in which case, an option exists and is described below);
E. I-600 filings allowed to be sent to optional locations
1. I-600 forms requiring payment of a fee where the family is residing abroad may either be filed with the lockbox in TX or with the appropriate U.S. Embassy, U.S. Consulate, or USCIS office abroad that has jurisdiction to accept the petitions from the Potential Adoptive Parent(s) based on their current residence;
2. I-600 forms not requiring payment of a fee may either be filed with the lockbox in TX or with the appropriate U.S. Embassy, U.S. Consulate, or USCIS office abroad that has jurisdiction to accept the petitions as long as the Potential Adoptive Parent(s) have an approved I-600A and are physically present in the country where they are filing;
II. Hague Cases (I-800A and I-800)
A. I-800A filings required to be sent to the Lockbox
1. The initial I-800A application along with payment of fee and supporting documentation;
(Dianne's note: I don't see any #2 here. Original goes from #1-#3, skipping #2)
3. Where a family’s circumstances change and additional information is required (which is usually in the form of an updated or amended home study), or if a family decides to change the country they are approved to adopt from, then a Supplement 3 is submitted along with a fee of $340;
4. Applications that are timely filed to extend the current I-800A approval are also filed using a Supplement 3. The first extension is allowed without any fee, and all subsequent extensions require a fee. With or without fee, all Supplement 3 requests are sent to the lockbox;
B. I-800A filings required to be sent directly to the NBC
a. RFE requests associated with an I-800A application;
C. General summary of I-800A filing procedures
a. The initial I-800A application and all subsequent Supplement 3 forms (including changes in circumstances, changes in countries, extensions - whether the subsequent filing includes payment of a fee or not) are sent to the Texas lockbox. Only RFE requests are sent directly to the NBC.
D. I-800 filings required to be sent to the lockbox
1. All I-800 filings are made to the Texas lockbox.
III. Lockbox information
A. I-600A and I-600 Addresses
Regular Mail:
USCIS
P.O. Box 299027
Lewisville, TX 75029

Express Mail and Courier
USCIS
ATTN: Adoption
2501 S. State Hwy. 121 Business, Suite 400
Lewisville, TX 75067

B. I-800A and I-800 Addresses
Regular mail
USCIS
P.O. Box 299008
Lewisville, TX 75029

Express Mail and Courier
USCIS
ATTN: Hague
2501 S. State Hwy. 121 Business, Suite 400
Lewisville, TX 75067

Looks like they gave us exactly one month's notice.
This part sounds like you can still take your renewals to your local office: "However, applicants may continue to file extensions of approved Forms I-600A at their local USCIS field office. More information is available on the revised form instructions."
I think those are being processed locally.
People starting new adoptions with non-Hague countries are still allowed to use the I600A, so I guess that is what the local offices will do in addition to processing renewals. (But I'm not sure!)
So, you may want to check that with a call first.
Hang in there and hang tough parents-2B!
xo~
Di

Joint Council Update on CCAA: Director General Lu Is Leaving

2009-11-01T14:01:00.000-08:00

(Sorry folks! I forgot to post this here! This is just 2-3 days old)
Joint Council UpdateProgram International Relations Initiative
Date October 29, 2009
Regarding China - CCAA
Joint Council has learned that after 8-years as Director General of the ChinaCenter of Adoption Affairs (CCAA), Mr. Lu Ying has been appointed to a positionwithin the Ministry of Social Affairs.
Joint Council extends its considerableappreciation to Director General Lu for his years of dedicated service to thechildren of China and his leadership in ensuring that Chinese orphans live in apermanent family.
Please join us in wishing Director General Lu much goodfortune in his new position and the best that life has to offer.
A new Director General will soon take on the responsibilities of leading theCCAA. As more info rmation becomes available, we will publish it as appropriate.
At this time, no significant policy changes are expected from theCCAA.
Joint Council again thanks Director General Lu for his continued commitment to children and families.
Best wishes,
Tom

Posted with permission by Joint Council
(Being first to have the "scoop," just another reason they are so important to us all! Join them on Facebook or at http://www.jcics.org/bta%20about%201.htm so you can get the updates too!)
:)
Di

Be the Answer Day!!!!!

2009-10-27T05:47:00.000-07:00

Today is "Be the Answer" Day.
Please give even a dollar to Joint Council today, and help them win a large cash prize!
Joint Council's Be The Answer (BTA) Campaign has entered America's Giving Challenge through Facebook's Causes application, which gives them a chance to win $50,000!
Not a Facebook member? Don't worry; you don't have to be a member of Facebook to donate through the application!
Joint Council's ability to advocate has been heavily impacted by the poor economy, so they really need your help!
The great thing about this challenge is that it doesn't matter how much you give, but instead how much you do to encourage friends and family to get involved in Joint Council's Be The Answer.
They need you.
They would like to make Tuesday, October 27th Be The Answer Day!
Let's flood the system and try to win them one of the daily prizes!
With your help, we can do it!
With your help, Joint Council can help so many more children!
So meet them on Facebook and take the Be The Answer Challenge! http://apps.facebook.com/causes/325489/75339612?m=1a240be5
Thanks so much!
xo~
Di

Are you sure you're Hague? Is your HS okay?

2009-10-06T19:28:00.000-07:00

Welcome to October, 2009. CCAA skipped referrals in September, but we're all hoping for a big batch in October.
All right, two new wrinkles to report on.
#1 Are you Hague?
If your agency is not a Hague-approved agency, whether you are I600A or not, China is demanding you be with a Hague agency by 12/01/09. Most people who this affects have already been told this by their agency. One thing to watch, is your agency an agency that shares a China license? My agency is. So, waaay back when, my agency got one of the first Hague approvals. Great! Only, my agency was sharing another agency's China license, and that agency was not Hague-approved. In the eyes of the CCAA, I was with a non-Hague-approved agency (which is why it was so important to me to keep the I600A going).
Flash-forward, the agency that CCAA thinks I'm with is now Hague-approved, so I am okay, but how about you? Who is your licensing agency, the agency you signed with, or another agency? Check on this by asking questions if you're not sure.
The good news? When this agency switch would have been necessary due to the I600A problem, China did not approve the agency-switch, so your dossier would have lost its LID. Now, since this is China's idea, the switch is allowed, so no loss of LID.
The bad news? You will have to pay a fee, if you switch agencies, to the new agency (and the fee can be in the thousands), and you may not get to choose your "new" agency, depending on what the CCAA and your agency have agreed to.
If you're in this position I am sorry. I certainly think everyone's agency owed it to their clients to get their Hague-acts together.

#2 For all international adoptions, not just China:
Lucky us, the US Consulates have decided they can make rules too. They have decided that they will no longer (as of 9/09?) accept addendums.
Explanation: it used to be that when you received your referral, from any country, if something had changed (e.g. you moved, had a child, or were referred a 3 year old and you had asked for a 4 year old, or etc.), you simply had your SW write an addendum to your HS, and you took this addendum with you, on the plane, in your hot little hand, to the consulate in whatever country you were adopting from, and they added this info. to your file when getting your "go-home" paperwork together.
Now the consulates decided they don't want this responsibility anymore. Case in point, a friend was referred a child one month older than she had put in her HS is currently not being allowed to travel because of that 1 month difference in age, and she cannot take an addendum with her on her trip to fix this. So, for her, so far, no trip. Horrible! And her congressional rep. is involved to try to get this done pronto. Keep your fingers crossed for her.
So, what do you do for you, to make sure you don't have this problem?
You still get your SW to do an addendum to your HS, but then you take it to your USCIS office, or, heaven forbid, you have to mail it to the I800A clearing office, the National Benefits Center (NBC), and the receiving office, either USCIS or NBC, has to make sure they send it to the consulate of your choice. And you have to make sure (how do you make sure? who knows?) that they did that and that the consulate has received it so that they will allow you to go get your child.
My advice: if you have a HS renewal coming up anyway, and don't expect to travel before your renewal is done, then, at your next HS renewal just get your HS altered (don't do an addendum) to increase your age-range and SNs and put both genders, etc., in other words, make it ready for any referral you may get or may see and wish to accept. Talk with your SW about this and find out how much they feel comfortable widening this for you too. They may be fine putting down 6 months to 5 years, but they may not want to put down any special need you can possibly think of "just in case." So, make it as broad as you can within reason.
If you expect to travel on your current HS (no renewal needed for 6 months or so, for example, and you expect to travel this fall), call your SW now, and do an addendum. We just had to do one because we put in our HS the ages we were originally hoping our child would be in 2005, because we thought those ages were guidelines for the country granting the adoption, not for our gov't. In other words we thought we were using the HS to tell China our preference. We did not know that we were in actuality saying to the USA that we could only "handle" a child 6 months old or AYAP.
I have to say it seems a bit nutty to me. For Pete's-sake, does our gov't think we adopt children who don't age? Of course a parent can handle a child older than their request, or a boy vs a girl. It's ridiculous.
In any case, in international adoption the ridiculous is often what's required, which is why it is good to come to terms with that, and the truth of constant change, early in your process, so that these things become less upsetting.
So, to review, if you have so much time before you travel that you will have to do an I600A or I800A renewal, don't waste time/$ on an addendum, instead broaden your child "stats" on your HS at your next scheduled renewal.
If you don't think you have time, do an addendum now, written to take in any "trait/stat" your child could have that you may not be expecting but are comfortable accepting. Make sure to ask your SW for an addendum, not a renewal, as the cost difference is huge, and the paperwork goes from gathering no docs for an addendum, to repeating the whole paperchase for the renewal. Ours just cost us $150, and was done in email, and as soon as I get the little sucker in print I'm gonna take it to my local USCIS office, and I'll let you know how that goes.
One last thing:
If you expect to travel within a month of the expiration of your fingerprints, the Consulate may refuse to give you travel approval/a consulate appointment unless you renew before you go. We expect to travel in December (given the miracle of all the planets lining up just so to allow this), and our FPs expire in January, so when I take my addendum in, I am also going to ask very nicely for another fingerprint appointment too. I'll let you know what that involved and what it cost me.
:+P
Okay, not so bad considering some of the hurtles we all have had, eh?
Hope this helps! Keep your chin up; and keep adopting! Those kids need you!
xo~
Di

PS, speaking of FPs, did I tell you our funny FP story? Waaaay back in 2005 we went for our very first FP appointment. It's important to note that we live in a very immigrant-rich area, so when we walked into the FP office, it was mobbed; there had to be 40 people of various ages and backgrounds and hoping for green cards or citizenship, waiting for FPs. Dave, wide-eyed, said to the receptionist, "Wow, all these people are adopting from China too?" Out of the mouths of babes.... ;+D We were all so naive when we started, weren't we? 4 years'll rub the naive right off ya! LOL!

CDC Revises Its TB Rules! THIS IS HUGE!!! Thank You Joint Council!

2009-09-18T17:19:00.000-07:00

Joint Council is pleased to inform you that following a joint advocacy effort by many the CDC has chosen to revise its 2007 Tuberculosis Technical Instructions.
Please visit http://www.jcics.org/Build%20Families%20Not%20Barriers.htm for the Addendum: Instructions for Applicants 10 Years of Age or Younger of the 2007 TB Technical Instructions. Note that those are only the revised instructions for applicants 10 years and younger so please refer to the full set of instructions at http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dq/panel.htm for more general information.
Joint Council would like to thank the many organizations and individuals who worked to ensure that the issues regarding the 2007 Tuberculosis Technical Instructions were resolved. Our appreciation and thanks includes but is certainly not limited to:
Dr. Jeffery Starke
The Worldwide Orphans Foundation led by Dr. Jane Aronson
Dr. Dana Johnson, University of Minnesota International Adoption Clinic
Members of U.S. Congress
National Council for Adoption
Center for Adoption Policy
EACH
The signers of Joint Council's Build Families, Not Barriers petition
U.S. Department of State
Department of Homeland Security
Center for Disease Control and Prevention
The Scruggs Family
The Grace Children’s Foundation

And we, adoptive parents, thank Joint Council for all their hard work!
They have been the answer for us, again!
Will you be the answer for them? http://www.jcics.org/bta%20about%201.htm

Be the Answer

2009-09-08T12:01:00.000-07:00

You are needed. Click to find out how to help.

Webinars & Haitian Initiative

2009-09-01T21:22:00.000-07:00

Check out Joint Council's new Webinars for October, and don't forget to see my previous blog post (below) about the Haitian Initiative! Those children need you to sign! Click here to sign.

Webinars:
Thursday, October 1

Fostering Attachment

presented by Lynn Wetterberg

Tuesday, October 6

When International Adoptions Mean Parenting Across Racial Lines

presented by Beth Hall

Tuesday, November 3

Parenting Adopted Adolescents

presented by Dr. Greg Keck

Thursday, November 5

Brothers and Sisters in Adoption

presented by Arleta James

Tuesday, December 1

Importance of Life Books and Talking with Adopted Children About Adoption

presented by Carrie Kitze

Thursday, December 3

Developing Cultural Competence in Adopted Children

presented by Patricia Irwin Johnston

(this session will be 90 minutes)

All webinars are from 7 pm - 8 pm EST and cost $10/family.
Register here.

Please Support the Haitian Initiative

2009-09-01T20:22:00.000-07:00

Please sign the new Joint Council petition to ask the US Government to help the Government of France and UNICEF bring about needed reforms for the children of Haiti who are not able to be with their birth parents.
http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/haitian-children-families-initiative.html
Thanks!
Di

Harper Is Coming Home!

2009-08-26T20:28:00.000-07:00

If you have been following the Scruggs' blog, you know that they have been dealing with the new CDC TB rule with their little girl, Harper. http://jayscruggs.livejournal.com
This week the situation made it to NPR (National Public Radio): http://www.npr.org/templates/rundowns/rundown.php?prgId=2&prgDate=8-24-2009
click that link and choose the August 24th show to hear the story.
There are a lot of other families adopting from China and other countries too who are not as lucky as the Scruggs. Please sign the petitions to help:
http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/families-for-orphans.html
http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/build-families-not-barriers.html
We can hit 10,000 with your help! If you've signed please ask your spouse, your friends, your co-workers, your church family, and anybody you know to help!
Thanks so much!

UPDATE: You Are Doing It!!!!

2009-08-10T16:42:00.000-07:00

I am so thrilled to report that the FFO (Families for Orphans Act) has topped 4 thousand signatures.

4 !!!!

I was really gratified today when I looked at the signatures and saw that so many adoptive parents I knew had signed on yesterday! Even the non-internet folks in my family have gotten themselves to the library and signed on.

It also had 14 new members of congress agree to sponsor it last week! I like it when we tell congress what their agenda is going to be instead of the other way around; don't you? Let's keep it going please. It would be so wonderful to have one central place to go to for help, orphan advocacy, and information.

I know we can hit 10 thousand with your help. You did it before, and you can do it again!

http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/families-for-orphans.html

The TB petition has topped 4500!

Take that CDC!!!

http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/build-families-not-barriers.html

Keep those signatures coming!

How wonderful this is.

My heartfelt thanks to all of you for your time and support.

xo, and o, o, o!!!

Adoptive Parents Webinars

2009-08-04T18:23:00.001-07:00

Here's a schedule of classes presented this fall by Joint Council:
Tuesday, September 1st
Medical Special Needs Children
presented by Todd Ochs
Thursday, September 3rd
Understanding and Managing Loss in Adoption
presented by Dr. David Brodzinsky

Thursday, October 1
Fostering Attachment
presented by Lynn Wetterberg

Tuesday, October 6
When International Adoptions Mean Parenting Across Racial Lines
presented by Beth Hall

Tuesday, November 3
Parenting Adopted Adolescents
presented by Dr. Greg Keck

Thursday, November 5
Brothers and Sisters in Adoption
presented by Arleta James

All webinars are from 7 pm - 8 pm EST and cost $10/family.

http://www.jcics.org/webinar.htm to sign up!
:)

Courage

2009-08-04T11:58:00.000-07:00

This post is dedicated to Jay and Candace, who, if you're "in" the Chinese-Adoption-Blogosphere, you know about because they are trying to bring their daughter home from China and fighting the good fight against the CDC to do so.
They put this quotation from To Kill a Mockingbird on their blog:
"Courage is when you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway, and you see it through no matter what....." Atticus Finch
I spent an hour on the phone with the CDC this morning trying to add my voice to theirs for help, and it was mostly fruitless, but I didn't stop, because it's important to try and do what you can.
Last year, when Dave and I found out the we couldn't file an I600A anymore and because of that we would lose our adoption, people told us it was a useless fight. My senator, the senator from my mom's state, many people on the web in the adoption community all told us it was a waste of time, but we weren't going to give it up because we weren't going to give up Sophie.
And, little by little, you joined us, just a single signature here and there, one at a time.
And it began to look like maybe we might get enough to make some noise, but certainly not in time to help us, but we kept trying, because you don't enter into something like that for yourself alone, but with the knowledge of how it could affect so many others, and if you have the chance, if you have the platform and the opportunity to reach one person who can make a difference for one other person, you owe it to the world to take the time to do that.
And so we kept plugging away, posting more posts, and fielding the arguments and the naysayers, because it was important to make a difference if we could.
And you, you wonderful people in the adoption community and our friends, you kept signing on, one at a time.
And little by little, over time, it was not Dave and I who made the difference, but all of you, with your signatures, with your phone calls, with your effort, with the gift of your time.
You can make the same difference now. People will tell you that it's a waste of your time, and that it cannot be changed, and that congress is too busy or too jaded to care, but you can show courage, Atticus Finch courage, and do it anyway.
Please sign on to these petitions today, and help more children come home to the USA, and help more children all over the world live their lives in families, adoptive or bio-related families, rather than institutions.
http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/families-for-orphans.html
http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/build-families-not-barriers.html
Thank you for your courage.
xx~
Di

Petition

2009-07-24T10:53:00.000-07:00

Jount Council really needs your signature on a petition before you go home for the weekend.
Remember, they are the ones who helped us get our 1600 petition passed, and Joint Council means a joint council of government, parents, and agencies. Won't you please help? Won't you be a part of the council?
Thanks so much!
Di
http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/families-for-orphans.html

Joint Council Call to Action: Families for Orphans Act

2009-07-16T11:12:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends~
I hope we can do whatever we can to help JCICS, as we owe them so much for helping us with the I600A so that we could continue our adoption of Sophie.
So, please consider helping Joint Council pass the landmark: Families for Orphans Act
Go here to follow the steps to help pass the act:
http://www.jcics.org/call_to_action.htm
Below is the crux of the act.
Thanks so much friends!
:)
Di

The Families For Orphans Act

The Need

UNICEF estimates 143 million children live as orphans. Some have lost both parents; others are at risk of being orphaned. Millions more live outside the scope of available census data: on the streets, in temporary care, or in unregistered institutions. Deprived of basic human rights, these unknown children are denied the nurturing needed to thrive as children and later as members of our global society. They lack the physical and emotional safety that only a permanent family can provide. Perhaps most importantly, they are deprived of the love needed to realize their full human potential.

A Gap Exists

Efforts by the aid and development community are currently focused on survivability: nutrition, housing, education, and medical care. Community development programs only indirectly prevent family dissolution and do not appropriately address the needs of children living outside of permanent parental care. A continuum of care is needed to ensure that children mature into productive members of the world community. This continuum lacks the programs, funding, focus, and leadership needed to move these children from survivability to permanent family life. The focus on survivability creates a gap between surviving in temporary care and thriving in a permanent family. This gap only increases the world orphan crisis and leads to the continuing deterioration of the world's social fabric. Evidence based research, in the U.S. and internationally, clearly supports the need for permanent family life in preventing incarceration, suicide, mental health disorders, and deterioration of physical health. In addition to assuring the human right to a permanent family, this research also points to the validity of expanding aid and development efforts to include permanent family life.

Within U.S. strategies, four hurdles impede efforts to ensure a permanent family for every child:

Currently U.S. programs are disconnected, are without an overriding policy or goal and discount the basic human need of a permanent family. Programs exist in a silo structure, which often results incounterproductive and mutually exclusive programs.
A lack of proactive diplomacy results in reactionary initiatives, which address problems and not the cause. Further, U.S. agencies and officials lack the authority and resources needed to engage foreign governments.
While developing countries are actively seeking assistance with the development of sound public policy and support for permanency programs, U.S. expertise, leadership and support are restricted by current U.S. mandates and structure.
There is a lack of definitions and metrics. Without definitions on terminology (i.e. orphans) and little verifiable data including the number of children living outside of permanent parental care, the scope and depth of the problem cannot be quantified and program evaluations are therefore unreliable.

The Solution

The Families for Orphans Act overcomes these barriers by establishing the Office of Orphan Policy, Development and Diplomacy. The office, headed by an appointed Coordinator, will promote and support the preservation and reunification of families and the provision of permanent parental care for orphans. The primary functions of the office as related to family preservation and permanent parental care are:

Act as the Primary Advisor to the Secretary of State and President
Provide Diplomatic Representation on matters related to permanent parental care
Develop an evidence-based Comprehensive Global Strategy
Support foreign governments through Sound Policy and Technical and Financial Assistance
Develop Best Practices and ensure Cultural Sensitivity in the area of permanency
Support in-country family preservation, reunification and permanency as Primary Solutions
Coordinate Foreign Policy related to family preservation and permanent parental care
Coordinate U.S. Domestic and International Permanency Policies
Conduct a Biennial Census of children without permanent parental care
Develop Permanency Indicators and metrics
Report Annually to Congress

Don't pay for USCIS forms & JCICS Update news

2009-06-17T06:46:00.000-07:00

Hi All~
I just saw this on the RQ and thought it merited a re-post here as Dave and I also almost paid for forms when we were looking to download them online. I may have posted these links before, but it's a good time for an update:
Per USCIS:

"Warning! Many non-USCIS websites offer immigration forms. Some will sell you a downloadable form for a fee. These sites are not affiliated with USCIS, and these sites may not have the latest versions of forms. In some circumstances, use of older forms may result in your application or petition being denied or delayed. The latest version of these forms is always available on www.USCIS.gov."

Copy and past any of the links below into your browser.

I600 in Tiny URL:
http://tinyurl.com/1600-no-A
Standard URL:
http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=c5695f56ff55d010VgnVCM10000048f3d6a1RCRD&vgnextchannel=db029c7755cb9010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1RCRD

I600A in Tiny URL:
http://tinyurl.com/1600A-Tiny
Standard URL:
http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=abde5f56ff55d010VgnVCM10000048f3d6a1RCRD&vgnextchannel=db029c7755cb9010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1RCRD

All USCIS forms in Tiny URL:
http://tinyurl.com/All-USCIS-Forms-Tiny
Standard URL:
http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.eb1d4c2a3e5b9ac89243c6a7543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=db029c7755cb9010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1RCRD&vgnextchannel=db029c7755cb9010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1RCRD

Don't be folled into using pay sites. :)
If you find any links on this blog that are "bad" (don't work) would you please email me? dianne@sleepinggiantcreations.com

Joint Council On International Childrens' Services (JCICS) is working on some key issues for adopting families right now. Two that I will mention are extending the US Adoption Tax Credit and helping adoptive parents with the new TB rule.
You can see JCICS' updates all the time yourself by "friending" them on FACEBOOK:
JCICS Facebook Tiny URL:
http://tinyurl.com/FACEBOOK-JCICS
Full URL:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Joint-Council-on-International-Childrens-Services/125257530127
JCICS has had their funding cut like so many agencies, but they continue to work miracles for children in need and adoptive families. Please consider becoming a member. I believe the cost is $40/year.
They are really just amazing at JCICS. Recently they pulled together with WPs waiting to adopt from Kyrgyzstan to bring a Kyrgystan delegation to the USA for talks. So, help them out with a little $ if you possibly can, and join them on Facebook to get all the news while it's still hot.
(Just an aside, if you haven't been on Facebook it is not like My Space. It is actually a non-intrusive, non-see-2B-seen kind of place that makes it easy to keep in touch with a lot of people or causes or both, at once. In 5 minutes you can check on all your friends and all your groups. Give it a try! It's free too.)

So, how are you doing with the wait? I have seen some families, marriages, and people devastated by the wait, and it really tears my heart up. I have seen many more, though, make it to the child waiting at the end. Please reach out and get some support for the wait process. If you want to talk or join swaps/activities with others in for the long haul, we would love to have you join us:

Click to join WWFChina2006

I also suggest that you network with people in your area. Advertise on the Yahoo groups or RQ for locals waiting too, and be the one who plans an event. In my experience you'll be glad you did!
Hang in there!
xo~
Di

Happy Mother's Day

2009-05-10T11:50:00.000-07:00

Happy Mother's Day to all the Mothers who hold their children in their hands and all who hold them in their hearts!
Here is a message from JCICS on their latest news and efforts for children and mothers:

This Month at Joint Council - Happy Mother's Day!

May is perhaps my favorite month of the year. The flowers are really beginning to bloom, the sun feels wonderful against your skin and in the month of May we celebrate one of my favorite holidays - Mother's Day. We celebrate and honor all of the women in our lives who have dedicated their lives to the children they love. We honor their undying love, commitment and peace. Every year on this joyous day I think of the wonderful mothers I know - from the birthmothers I worked with in Mexico who gave their children the most selfless gift. To the adoptive mother of three boys in Montrose, CO who is in many ways is a mother to everyone she meets. To the mothers waiting for their children from Guatemala, Kyrgyzstan, Vietnam, Romania and Cambodia. To my mother. To the biological mother and grandmother of my siblings. You are all such amazing women and I honor each of you for the gifts you have given to your children, to me and to the many generations that will follow. Thank you for your permanency, safety and love! Happy Mother's Day!

Rebecca Harris
Government Relations and Communications Manager

The Faces of Forever - A Playground Worth Remebering

"Years will pass. Children, that by the will of fate were orphaned in Russia and ended up adopted and the citizens of the United States, will grow up. Of course the United States will be their new motherland, but maybe their parents and relatives, their firends and they themselves will feel something that connects them with Russia. Maybe the children's arms, stretched from one country to the other, through the borders, above the heads of the politicians, in spite of the tales and bad will of some people, will be able to tie our people with mutual fate, love and care better and stronger than any official international agreement."
- Cara Sadouskaza, Citizen of the Russian Federation
Dwight and Jenny Griffith first saw Alex's picture on a flyer of waiting children with special needs. The Griffiths had suffered through the emotional roller coaster of infertility, followed by ten years of the highs and lows of adoption and fostering. Finally, the adoption of their now 17 year-old daughter stuck. Then in 1994, just two years after the fall of the Soviet Union, the Griffiths traveled to the city of Krasnoyarsk in the remote Siberian region of the Russian Federation to adopt their son Alex at 11 months of age; Alex was still in the hospital he had been born - premature and weighing less than 2 pounds. Alex's adoption was followed by three more domestic adoptions - Douglas now 12 and twins William and Katrina who are 10.

When Dwight and Jenny arrived at the hospital, Alex was malnourished, had rickets and was diagnosed with mild cerebra palsy. Alex, who has since been diagnosed with ADD, ADHD and sensory integration has faced many, many challenges in his 15 years but he has not let them stop or deter him. One of the many successes of his short life is the work he has done through his required service project to become a Eagle Scout, the Boy Scout of America's highest honor. Alex decided that he wanted to perform service for his first community, his community in Russia where he was born. After seeing pictures of the playground at Children's Hospital #20 where Alex spent the 1st year of his life he decided to build a new playground so that the children of Krasnoyarsk could have a safe, fun place to play.

Over the last two and a half years Alex has worked over 700 hours, received over 1000 hours of other volunteer help and exchanged over 1000 emails in the planning, design, fundraising, preassembly and quality check of the playground. With the help of the Rotary Organization, fellow Scouts and friends, Alex raised over $60,000 to purchase and ship the playground to Russia and buy the materials needed to complete the installation. Alex will travel to Russia with five other friends and family members this August to install the playground. He will celebrate his 16th birthday in his country of birth with the grand opening of the playground he planned, designed, raised money for and built with his own hands.

Alex's playground is designed for children from five to twelve years of age and will be red, white and blue - the colors of both the Russian and American flags. To complete the playground Alex created two wooden totem poles for the entrance of the playground. One will be of a bear, the unofficial symbol of Russia, and one an eagle, the official symbol of America. Alex hopes that the totem poles will show the unity between the two countries.

The project has truly become a worldwide effort with Alex communicating and working with over 500 people in 23 states and
73 cities in four countries. Additionally, one of the best parts of the project is that Alex is now receiving emails from other adopted children around the world who want to do something for their birth homes. Alex hopes that his project will expand into a larger project of children helping other children around the world.

For more information about Alex's project you can check out the project's website at http://www.kraplayground.org/ of if you would like
to communicate with Alex on how other adopted children can provide service to their birth homes you may contact him by email at http://us.mc11.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=alex_eagle@hughes.net.

Do you want to be next month's faces of forever story? Send your story and a family photo to rebeccah@jcics.org
Joint Council to host webinars for adoptive families!

Following the success of our first adoptive parent webinar in January, Joint Council will begin to host monthly webinars for adoptive parents. Webinars will be held the first Tuesday and Thursday of every month starting in June and topics will include country specific information, a variety of medical topics, attachment issues, accessing your government and more.

The first two webinars, on Tuesday, June 2nd and Thursday, June 4th from 7 - 9 pm EST are free and will cover Joint Council's role in permanency services and intercountry adoption and how you can join Joint Council to ensure more children find safety, permanency and love. Unless otherwise stated webinars will be $10/family.
To join June's free webinars, click here: https://app.etapestry.com/hosted/JointCouncilonInternational/OnlineDonation.html, then choose the option to "Sign up for Joint Council news and free webinars," fill in your information and hit submit. After you have signed up, you will receive a confirmation email and a follow-up email the week before the webinars with further details about logging in on the 2nd and 4th.

Information on upcoming webinars will be posted in upcoming editions on Mbali's Message as well as on Joint Council's website.

Country Update - Strong & Steady in Ethiopia

I'm constantly asked by prospective adoptive parents, adoptive parents, professionals and other interested individuals on the state of permanency services, child welfare programs and intercountry adoption in just about every country in the world. To spread the word on permanency services for children in countries throughout the world Mbali's Message will now include a section dedicated to keeping you up-to-date and informed on various countries. In each month we will highlight one country. The county will rotate from three categories. One, a country whose child welfare practices are sustaining themselves or growing. For example, this month, Ethiopia. Two, a country whose child welfare programs have faced difficultly in recent months - like Guatemala or Vietnam. And three, a country who is developing new standards and programs to ensure more children live, grow and flourish in a family - like Ecuador and South Africa.

Strong and Steady: Ethiopia

The permanency services that are being formed in Ethiopia are perhaps some of the most interesting and revolutionary in recent memory. In Ethiopia the government has acknowledged the high number of orphans residing in the country (UNICEF estimated that in 2005 there were over 4,800,000 orphans living in the country). The government partners with other governments, NGO's, and adoption service providers to ensure that as many children as possible are able to stay with their biological family, are cared for through permanent kinship care, are adopted domestically or are placed for intercountry adoption.
The services that many adoption service providers are providing in Ethiopia are unlike those in many other countries. For example, last year 287,000 children and families were served through the family preservation and community development services provided by adoption service providers in Ethiopia. This is compared to only 1.700 intercountry adoptions into the U.S. from Ethiopia last year. This is perhaps one of the most impressive family services to intercountry adoption ratios I am aware of.
Despite the amazing growth and work occurring in Ethiopia there is also a growing concern about unethical services - people, individuals and organizations who choose to take advantage of the situation. However, Joint Council, The Network (a team Ethiopian child welfare professionals who partner in working for ethical permanency services), adoption service providers, the Ethiopian government, the U.S Embassy in Ethiopia and the Department of State's Office of Children's Issues, are all committed to ensuring that unethical practices are stopped and more importantly, prevented. It is our collective goal to ensure that ethical permanency services, including intercountry adoption continue to serve the children and families of Ethiopia. This collaborative effort was the theme of last month's Joint Council advocacy trip to Ethiopia.
During the trip Joint Council's President & CEO, Tom DiFilipo, met with The President of Ethiopia, The State Minister of Ethiopia, The Ministry of Justice and Foreign Affairs, U.S. Consular Office, and The Network. During the meetings the growing concerns of unethical practices were raised and ideas were exchanged to ensure the continuation of ethical permanency services. Additionally, in honor of the fifth anniversary of CHSFS-Ethiopia Tom spoke at United Nation Africa Center in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. As a follow-up to the advocacy trip Joint Council is revising its Standards of Practice for Ethiopia, developing an easily assessable network for in-country coordinators to share in the exchange of ideas, and dedicating a part-time summer intern to our advocacy efforts for the children and families in Ethiopia.

In the coming weeks Joint Council will be posting photos of this trip on our Facebook page. To find us on Facebook, click here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Joint-Council-on-International-Childrens-Services/125257530127.

7 weeks, and Hep A

2009-03-31T12:44:00.000-07:00

Just FYI, Dave and I just received our new (and hopefully 3rd time's the charm) I-171H. Here in Los Angeles it took 7 weeks for them to process. We re-did our fingerprints in October of 2008, but with the current rate of referral, which seems even slower if that is possible, it seems we might need to redo those again. If you know how long I-171H's are taking at your local office would you please reply to this thread with that info.? (You can "leave a comment" to do that, and thank you!)
For referral dates and rates check:
http://www.chinaadoptionforecast.com/
and:
http://chinaadopttalk.com/.
In other news, since you all will eventually travel, it's never too early to plan ahead. I wanted to pass on a recent post from the Our Chinese Daughters' Foundation (http://www.ocdf.org/) about Hep. A (below). Keep yourself healthy, and here's hoping your spirits stay up whether the "numbers" go up or down.
:)
Di

An article in this month's Pediatric News cites the need for close personal contacts of newly arriving children adopted internationally to be immunized against Hepatitis A.
This disease is usually passed by contaminated water and food, as well as unsanitary hygiene (including poor hand washing after changing diapers).
Hepatitis A vaccine is very safe, and is currently recommended for all children ages 1-2 years old. Some medical practices are also giving it to older children, although officially it is not yet recommended for all of those children (to avoid running low on the vaccine for the target group). Two doses are given, 6 months apart. Most people traveling internationally outside of the US, Canada, Australia, and western Europe should receive this vaccine.
What is new about this recommendation is that anyone who will be in close contact with the child within 60 days of arrival should also be immunized, even if they did not travel. This recommendation was prompted by the death of a 51 year old grandmother who acquired the disease from adopted twins. The twins were contagious, yet had no symptoms of the disease. Most adoption docs are now (within the last month or so) testing for this disease with the routine tests done upon arrival.Please share this information with other adoption groups, including outside of the China realm. The link for the article is:
http://tinyurl.com/hep-A-article
Just a reminder: for adoption trips, most families need the following:

Hepatitis A vaccine: preferably 2 doses, 6 months apart
Hepatitis B vaccine: three doses spread over 4-6 months
Tetanus update: the new TdaP vaccine includes protection against Pertussis(whooping cough), so you especially want to receive this prior to travel
Chicken pox: either disease or vaccine
MMR: two doses of vaccine or proof of immunity with antibody level (if born in1957or later)
Polio: one dose as an adult
Flu shot: recommended whenever you travel, especially with the ever present concerns about Avian flu in China.

Again, please feel free to share.

Oh the Paperwork, Paperwork, Paperwork!

2009-02-14T23:02:00.000-08:00

Sometimes the paperwork seems never-ending, sometimes it seems offensive, sometimes it seems confusing.

I just thought I'd share something I received today that, perhaps, counterbalances that a bit:

Click on the image to see it full size (and be able to read it w/o glasses!).

The statistics can really give you pause; can't they?

Today my heart is full of love, and my head is full of children. Hopefully, one day soon, my house will be too. And I wish you the same.
Happy Valentine's Day everyone, whether it's a "Hallmark" day or not, it's good to take a day to stop and remember love, n'est ce pas?

New FAQs from USCIS

2009-02-11T08:57:00.000-08:00

Hey all, USCIS has put out new FAQs today.
I will list them here, but here is the link too:
http://tinyurl.com/I600A-Guidelines-Update
(or the whole link if you prefer: http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=fc6c9b9fd316f110VgnVCM1000004718190aRCRD&vgnextchannel=063807b03d92b010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1RCRD )
And here is the text:

How to File a Grandfathered Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition, Form I-600A
Q-1: Why is U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issuing this announcement now?
A-1: USCIS is issuing this announcement to clarify the filing process for grandfathered Forms I-600A, Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition, filed for adoptions from Hague Convention countries where the corresponding Form I-600, Petition to Classify Orphan as an Immediate Relative, has not yet been filed.
Q-2: What is a grandfathered Form I-600A?

A-2: Department of Homeland Security regulations allow only one extension of the approval of a Form I-600A. If that extension is also scheduled to expire, the only alternative is to file a new Form I-600A, with a new filing fee. Generally, a Form I-600A may not be filed after April 1, 2008, for the adoption of a child from a Hague Convention country. Under the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 8, Subpart C, Intercountry Adoption of a Convention Adoptee (8 CFR 204.300(b),) however, a case may continue as an orphan case if a Form I-600A was filed before April 1, 2008. USCIS interprets this provision as permitting prospective adoptive parents whose Form I-600A approval is still in effect, but is about to expire, to file a new Form I-600A, as long as they file the new Form I-600A before the current approval expires. A new Form I-600A that is filed after April 1, 2008, will be considered grandfathered only if the following criteria apply:

(a) the new Form I-600A is filed before expiration of a previous period of approval of the extension of Form I-600A; AND
(b) the previous extension of approval of Form I-600A, that is about to expire was for a Form I-600A which itself was filed before April 1, 2008; AND
(c) no Form I-600 has been filed on the basis of the previous Form I-600A.

Q-3: When can I file my grandfathered Form I-600A?

A-3: USCIS must receive the properly filed application no more than 90 days before the expiration date of the approval of the one-time, no fee “extension” of the original, approved Form I-600A, but before the approval expires. For example, if the “extension” approval is valid until December 31, a grandfathered application may be filed from October 2 until December 31. If the application is filed after December 31, a Form I-800A, Application for Determination of Suitability to Adopt a Child from a Convention Country, must be filed and the case must be processed through the Hague Adoption Convention procedures.Note: The approval expiration date of a Form I-600A or its “extension” is calculated by adding 18 months to the date found in the “date of completion of advance processing” located in the upper right corner of the Form I-171H or Form I-797c.
Q-4: What does “properly filed” mean?

A-4: The term “properly filed” means that the application is submitted to USCIS with the proper signature(s) and fee(s) as required by the instructions of the Form I-600A. At the time of filing, the applicant must also submit all required documentation, and evidence that his/her application meets the requirements for grandfathering an application as outlined in the second question of this document. Evidence that can be submitted to demonstrate eligibility includes, but is not limited to, a copy of the:

Form I-600A Extension Approval Notice for I-600A filed prior to April 1, 2008 Form I-171H, or Form I-797c
Acknowledgement Notice for Form I-600A filed prior to April 1, 2008, and/or
Fee receipt that was received from USCIS for a Form I-600A filed prior to April 1, 2008
It is also necessary for the applicant to submit a written statement, signed under penalty of perjury, attesting that a Form I-600 has not been filed on the application. Where original approval of Form I-600A (filed prior to April 1, 2008) has been issued for more than one child, the prospective adoptive parent would attest that the corresponding number of Forms I-600 had not yet been filed.

Q-5: What about filing the home study? (The Form I-600A instructions say I can submit it within a year after filing the application.)

A-5: Under 8 CFR 204.3, Orphans, a home study may be submitted up to one year after the date of the filing of a Form I-600A. No action can be taken on a Form I-600A, however, until the home study is filed. If the applicant does not file a home study with the new Form I-600A, the new Form I-600A will still be grandfathered, if the applicant files the new Form I-600A before the approval of the prior Form I-600A expires. The new Form I-600A will not be approved, however, until after USCIS has received and reviewed the home study. To avoid delays, the applicant should always submit the new home study with the new Form I-600A. The applicant may, of course, submit a copy of the original home study, so long as it has been updated or amended so that it is current (not more than six months old) when it is submitted.
Q-6: When does the approval validity date start?

A-6: Because the intent of grandfathering the Form I-600A is to maintain validity of an approval in order to continue a transitional case that is already in progress for an adoption, the validity period is not governed by when the home study is submitted to USCIS. The 18 month validity period will begin on the date of expiration of the approval of the original Form I-600A extension. For example, if the validity of approval of the original application expired on May 15, 2008, the “extension” validity of the application began on May 16, 2008. The validity of the grandfathered Form I-600A would, therefore, begin on Nov. 15, 2009 (upon expiration of the extension) and expire 18 months later. Since the new 18-month approval period will extend from the date the earlier approval expired, and not from the date of the decision approving the new Form I-600A, applicants are encouraged to submit all the necessary evidence, including the home study, with the new Form I-600A. Even if the decision is delayed because the home study or other evidence has not yet been submitted, the approval period will still expire 18 months after the earlier approval period. For example, if a Form I-600A approval will expire on Nov. 30, 2008, and an applicant files a new Form I-600A on Sept. 30, 2008, but does not submit the home study until September 30, 2009, the new approval will still expire May 30, 2010.
Q-7: Where can I file a “grandfathered” Form I-600A?

A-7: Grandfathered Forms I-600A are filed at the field office having jurisdiction over the applicant’s current residence. If the applicant has moved to the jurisdiction of a new USCIS office since the approval of the extension of the original application, it is helpful if he/she notifies the previous office of the move. The two offices may then coordinate the transfer of any necessary information concerning the case.
Q-8: If I moved after approval of the Form I-600A and extension is about to expire, where should I file the grandfathered I-600A?

A-8: Grandfathered Forms I-600A are filed at the field office having jurisdiction over the applicant’s current residence. If the field office jurisdiction has changed, it is best to let the previous office know that there has been a change of address because this will save time consolidating the information from both offices.
Q-9: Can I use a Form I-600A approved for one child to apply for the adoption of a second child or third child?

A-9: If the approval of the original I-600A was for more than one child, then a new Form I-600A will be “grandfathered” only for the total number of children for which the original Form I-600A was approved, minus the number of children for whom a Form I-600 has already been filed. For example, if the original Form I-600A was approved for three children, and two Forms I-600 have been filed, the new Form I-600A will be grandfathered only for one additional child. If you ask to be approved for more children than the number approved with the original Form I-600A, and the request is granted, any additional children will have to be from non-Hague countries. The only exception to this limit is if the applicant seeks to adopt a birth sibling of a child who the applicant has already adopted, and seeks to adopt the birth sibling at the same time as the adoption of a child whose Form I-600A is grandfathered. If a birth sibling is located after the total number of children on the grandfathered Forms I-600A have actually immigrated, the birth sibling’s immigration would be governed by the Hague Adoption Convention and 8 CFR 204 subpart C, Intercountry Adoption of a Convention Adoptee.

Example 1: Applicant was approved to adopt three children on a grandfathered Form I-600A. Applicant has filed Forms I-600 for two children, Anna and Ben, and they have immigrated. Applicant then files a new Form I-600A to grandfather the one remaining child covered by the earlier Form I-600A. Applicant goes abroad to adopt Chris, whose case is grandfathered. While abroad, David is located. David is Chris’s birth sibling, and Applicant wants to adopt David and Chris on the same trip. Because David is Chris’ birth sibling, and will be adopted on the same trip, Applicant may have the Form I-600A approval amended to allow one additional child.
Example 2: Applicant was approved to adopt three children on a grandfathered Form I-600A. Applicant has filed Forms I-600 for two children, Anna and Ben, and they have immigrated. Applicant then files a new Form I-600A to grandfather the one remaining child covered by the earlier Form I-600A. Applicant goes abroad to adopt Chris, whose case is grandfathered. While abroad, David is located. David is not related to Chris, but is Anna’s birth sibling, and Applicant wants to adopt David and Chris on the same trip. Because David is Anna’s birth sibling, and will be adopted on the same trip, Applicant may have the Form I-600A approval amended to allow one additional child.
Example 3: Applicant was approved to adopt three children on a grandfathered Form I-600A. Applicant has filed Forms I-600 for two children, Anna and Ben, and they have immigrated. Applicant then files a new Form I-600A to grandfather the one remaining child covered by the earlier Form I-600A. Applicant goes abroad to adopt Chris, whose case is grandfathered. Chris immigrates. After all three children have immigrated, David is located. David is a birth sibling of one of the children already adopted. Applicant has already filed the total number of Forms I-600 permitted, and all of those cases are completed. For this reason, David’s adoption and immigration are governed by the Hague Adoption Convention and the Hague Adoption Convention procedures must be followed in David’s case.

Q-10: Does the new home study need to be compliant with the Hague Adoption Convention?A-10: No. Because the application is “grandfathered” into the Orphan Process, it is also “grandfathered” into all regulations relating to that process. This includes all parts of the Orphan Process. In other words, the home study should comply with the Orphan regulations which can be found in the Code of Federal Regulations at 8 CFR 204.3.
Q-11: Will I be able to use a one-time, no fee extension on this grandfathered Form I-600A?A-11: Yes. To request an extension, prospective adoptive parent(s) must submit a written request to USCIS. The written request must explicitly request a one-time, no fee extension to the current approved Form I-600A. Applicants must also submit an amended/updated home study and any other supporting documentation of any changes in the household. The home study amendment/update must address each issue under Section 204.3(e) of Title 8 of the Code of Federal Regulations, (8 CFR §204.3(e)) and indicate any changes. The home study must also address any changes to answers submitted with the initial Form I-600A and must say whether approval is still recommended.
Q-12: Can the number of children authorized increase when the grandfathered I-600A is filed?

A-12: You may ask for and receive an increase of the number of children that you are approved for. As stated previously, however, the total number of adoptions to which “grandfathering” will apply cannot be increased after April 1, 2008. A new Form I-600A will be grandfathered only for the number of children specified in the original Form I-600A, minus the number of children for which a Form I-600 has already been filed. The only exception, as noted earlier, is for birth siblings who are adopted at the same time as a child whose case is grandfathered. For example, if you were approved for two children before April 1, 2008, and you are approved for five children under a new Form I-600A, and have not filed any Form I-600, the Form I-600A will be grandfathered for two children, but not grandfathered for the other three. The result is that you will be able to file up to two Forms I-600 for children from a Hague Convention country (plus any birth siblings adopted at the same time), but any additional Forms I-600 will have to be for children from a non-Hague Convention country.
Q-13: Does this policy affect the rules of other countries?

A-13: No. This guidance pertains only to the United States transition case rules. It does not address what the country of the prospective adoptive child’s origin may consider to be an appropriate application for its own intercountry adoption processes. Prospective adoptive parents remain subject to the requirements of the child’s country of origin, should that country require that the intercountry adoption be completed under the Hague Adoption Convention.

(That is the end of the USCIS FAQs)

One thing I notice is that it does look as if you are now going to be able to use the I600A for the total # of children you were approved for, as long as you can do it before you run out of renewals. So, for example, DH and I got approved for 2 children in the unlikely chance that China refers twins to us. If they only refer one child to us, and our 4 I600A filings have not been used-up, it looks like we could still use our I600A to adopt a second child. However, if, like us, you are adopting in the NSN track from China, it seems pretty clear that you will run out of I600A renewals before you could adopt a second time, even if you went SNs for your second adoption.

If you have questions feel free to leave a comment and I will try to get them answered.
:)
Di

New Letter Required for I600A Renewal

2009-02-10T10:02:00.000-08:00

The USCIS offices across the country are gradually requiring their customers to add a new, extra letter to their I600A renewal packet. Some offices have required this now, and some have not yet, but I believe that little by little all the I600A renew-ers will have to do this.
We just did ours, and as per our USCIS officer's wording we attached a letter to our renewal packet that said:
We certify that we have not used this I600A to file an I600.
And we signed it.
I had heard that the Chicago office required this to be notarized, but our Los Angles office did not.
This new form is being asked for because, I believe, people used to be able to use their I600A more than once.
For example, my DH and I are approved for 2 children in our HS, just on the off-chance that China gives us twins. If we only get referred one child, we could have, in the past, turned around and signed up for a second adoption on that old I600A because we still had a second child approval on it.
You can no longer do that.
I think we have to be smart consumers and realize that the whole NBC I800A thing is so the local offices don't have to process us anymore; they don't want to. So, for them to continue doing the I600A grandfathering for us is a big deal, and a big victory for us. But, they are going to try to get rid of us ASAP I think, by looking for people who have let things expire, and by denying re-use of old I600As that have already been used for one adoption.
This new requirement to certify that you have not already used the I600A you are renewing is just another way to bump people over to the I800A form.
As long as you haven't used this current I600A for another adoption in the past, you should be fine. Just write the note and send it in. If you have used it for a previous adoption I suspect they are going to tell you to go to I800A. I do not recommend you try to sneak by (although I understand the inclination), i.e. do not say you haven't this I600A before to complete an adoption if you have actually used it, because you're betting they won't know; I think that might put you out of the game all together, meaning you won't get approved for anything. Be honest, and if you have already used this I600A once, you will probably have to go I800A. DH and I tried to pay for our fingerprints, but they checked their files, and we have had no free fingerprints so far, so they sent back our check, and this was the Los Angeles office, which I'm sure must be one of the more high-traffic offices. They may not respond to phone calls ASAP at your office, but they do keep excellent records.
For those out there still on a grandfathered I600A that they have not used previously, please be scrupulous not to let anything expire, just in case. I do not think the USCIS offices are going to be understanding about mistakes; they are simply going to send you to the I800A.
Had a different experience or heard of something new? Please leave a comment with your info. I will put it into a post and remove your personal information.
Thanks!
:)
Di

Copies of Documents for You to Print. :)

2009-01-29T12:06:00.000-08:00

USCIS FAQs about I600A Renewals.

Page #1: Click on the JPG to enlarge and print. :)

Page #2: Click on the JPG to enlarge and print. :)

Page #3: Click on the JPG to enlarge and print. :)

USCIS Update:

One page only: Click on the JPG to enlarge and print. :)

And here is a link the the USCIS forms should you need to download and I600A form. It looks like the forms are updated each September, so make sure the form you use is current.

http://tinyurl.com/USCIS-Forms

Please bookmark the page so you'll always have it.

Good luck filing what is hopefully your last I600A for this adoption.

D&D

UPDATE ON I-600A Continued Renewals

2009-01-28T13:22:00.000-08:00

Hey hey~
Just wanted to put it out there that several people (that I know of)have had some trouble getting their 3rd I-600A renewal done (the paid-for one). I called my USCIS office today (Los Angeles) because I am about to take mine in tomorrow, and she told me that she just received the new guidelines today. What others have told me is that their offices are the same.
So, what it seems is occurring is that the offices are the last to know about this.
In my case the officer was very sweet and started looking through it with me on the phone; others have not been so sweet.
We spoke with JCICS about it, and according to them, the larger the office the less-aware they may be of the changes simply because they may have heavier workloads (no time to read bulletins perhaps?) or more worker turn-over.
If your office doesn't know what you are talking about I suggest you send them the information in an email, and ask them to please check it out with the higher-ups and get back to you. The information is here: (see the * below)
Try to be calm and sweet when you speak with your office, not that anyone would be otherwise, but these encounters could make a saint swear sometimes.
Everyone who has had this little mix-up occur has been able to file, so again, please realize that if it happens to you it just means that your office hasn't been educated yet. And if the person on the phone doesn't know, it's not his/her fault, and it's probably embarrassing to hear it from outside the office first, so send over the info. and give the worker a day or two to get up to speed. :)
ALSO:
You now need to include in your renewal packet a letter, signed by you and your spouse if you're not a single, that says: I/we, the undersigned, certify, under penalty of perjury, that I/we have not filed an I600 related to this I600A. and both of you sign it.
It does not need to be notarized.
HELP WITH THESE PROBLEMS:
When problems with offices like USCIS occur, JCICS is one agency that will advocate for you. They try to represent orphans, agencies, and adoptive parents to our government.
Because times are tough all over, JCICS has had their budget reduced, and they may now lack the staff to take on as many cases as they have in the past.
Just like a union, they help people regardless of whether or not they are members (as, clearly, orphans are not able to pay for a membership).
However, you can become a member and if you become a member you are giving a gift to all adoptive parents out there who may need JCICS to help them one day like they helped us. They are directly responsible, in addition to your signatures on the petition, for all of us getting our I-600A extensions. Now they need our help, so please consider becoming a member.
Right now they are working very hard to get the Vietnamese government to re-open, something which may really be important to many of us, and getting the adoption tax-credit re-authorized. Their contact info. is in sidebar.

ANOTHER I-600A/I-800A UPDATE:
There has also been a change in the forms I-600A and I-800A parents will have to fill out after they receive their referral. Those changes are explained in the post below: http://i600a.blogspot.com/2009/01/letters-of-seeking-confirmation-what.html .
Thanks!
:)
Di

* What follows is stuff you can send to your USCIS office if it does not know about the I-600A renewal changes:
The crucial part of the USCIS press release is in paragraph 1.

http://www.uscis.gov/files/article/adoption_14oct08.pdf

“…may file one additional Form I-600A…”

The I-600A itself includes a one-time free renewal. So the filing of an I-600A would imply the inclusion of a one-time free renewal.

BELOW is the really crystal-clear evidence of this. Everyone should print and bring a copy of this document to their USCIS office when refiling:

http://www.uscis.gov/files/article/adoptionFAQ_14oct08.pdf
The most important part of this document is the example they give which clearly states that the new Form I-600A gets one extension (which is why in the example they give [below] the new form is filed February 1, 2010 and expires March 10, 2013. That’s over 36 months (ie, 18 months for the first and another 18 for the free renewal)! They can’t dispute this because it’s THEIR example…

Q: Can you give some examples of how the “grandfathering” interpretation works:
A: Yes, please see below.
𐂃 EXAMPLE: Form I-600A was approved, with the approval expiring on August 1, 2008. The
applicant requested and obtained a one-time extension, with the new approval period expiring
February 1, 2010. In January 2010, they still have not filed a Form I-600. On February 1, 2010,
they file a new Form I-600A. The “grandfathering” of the original Form I-600A will be extended
to the new Form I-600A, since it was filed before the approval of the original Form I-600A
expired.
𐂃 EXAMPLE: Form I-600A was approved, with the approval expiring on August 1, 2008. The
applicant requested and obtained a one-time extension, with the new approval period expiring
February 1, 2010. In January 2010, they still have not filed a Form I-600. On February 1, 2010,
they file a new Form I-600A. The “grandfathering” of the original Form I-600A will be extended
to include the new Form I-600A, since it was filed before the approval of the original Form I-
600A expired. The new Form I-600A is approved, with the approval (after one extension)
expiring March 10, 2013. On March 10, 2013, the applicant files yet another Form I-600A. This
third Form I-600A is not grandfathered, since, although the expiring Form I-600A was
grandfathered because the first Form I-600A was grandfathered, the expiring Form I-600A was
actually filed after April 1, 2008.

Letters of Seeking Confirmation??? What Does it Means to the I-600A Transitional Cases?

2009-01-27T19:30:00.000-08:00

By now, or very soon, you will be hearing a lot about governmental changes that will affect families adopting from China. The changes were mutually agreed-upon by CCAA and USCIS and are applicable for all Hague Inter-country Adoption Convention cases between China and any Hague Convention country.

It all adds up to (surprise!) more paperwork. Specific changes are regarding two documents that are sent to families from CCAA when the referral is sent:

1. Letter of Seeking Confirmation from Adopter
2. Letter of Seeking Confirmation - Central Authority of Receiving State

But don't open up that Heaven's Gate suicide beverage just yet; the news is not really bad for I-600a Transitional Cases. In fact, those with a current I-171H/I-797C under the I-600A application who plan on keeping their I-600A application current until traveling to adopt their child need not worry over these new changes.

Under the new process, as of January 1, 2009, CCAA will send out the same documents for ALL cases (transition cases and Convention cases). These documents will include the “Letter of Seeking Confirmation from the Adopter” and the “Letter of Seeking Confirmation - Central Authority of Receiving State” at the time the referral is sent. For transition cases, families will continue to sign and return the “Letter of
Seeking Confirmation from the Adopter.” No action is required on the “Letter of Seeking Confirmation from the U.S. Central Authority.”

So, good news (for a change) for Transitional cases.

Bottom line: You will have to sign and return a Letter of Seeking Confirmation from the Adopter. But this is nothing new or different. The process for when the referral is sent out is basically three-fold:

1. Receive referral and Letter of Seeking Confirmation from the Adopter.
2. Sign and return letter to CCAA.
3. Receive Travel approval.

Okay, the above is a Cliffs Notes example of the process at that point, but who wants to read War And Peace anyway? Those 3 steps above represent the crux of what happens. Transitional cases just need to remember that even though they will ALSO receive a second letter with their referral entitled "Letter of Seeking Confirmation - Central Authority of Receiving State", they do not need to do anything with this letter. Note this letter is listed on DOS as "Letter of Seeking Confirmation from the U.S. Central Authority" and DOS sums it up here: http://adoption.state.gov/news/china.html (the take-home is the last sentence of paragraph 1).

I-800A's filed AFTER April 1, 2008 and those I-600A cases who have, unfortunately, let their paperwork expire, will need to sign and return both documents. Of course, all of this (as we've come to learn) is subject to change. But as of January 23, 2009, that be the story.

Deadline Is Tomorrow!

2009-01-22T12:14:00.000-08:00

Hey all:
JCICS is having a webinar about the US government and international adoption. Sign up here: http://www.jcics.org/webinar.htm
and here are the details:
This Webinar will explain the role of individual government agencies in the adoption process, while providing an overview of the responsibilities and decisions in their realm. It is our hope that this Webinar will not only increase your awareness of intercountry adoption, but also help you advocate for your case and avoid unnecessary delays.
The Role of the U.S. Government in Intercountry Adoptions Webinar will occur January 29th from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. EST.
Joint Council will be joined by Bill Bistransky from the U.S.Department of State; Karen Eckert from U.S. Citizenship & ImmigrationServices; Donna Campagnolo from the National Benefits Center (I800A processing); and Mark Moore from the Congressional Coalitition on Adoption Institite.
There will also be an opportunity for Q&A.
REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS TOMORROW 1/23.
:)
Di

Let's Wrap-up, Look Forward, and Say, "Thanks!"

2008-10-21T09:18:00.000-07:00

Wrap Up:
Let me begin this post by apologizing for not having written any updates since the petition worked it's magic last Tuesday. You might be surprised to know it, but running a petition took a huge amount of time. Dave and I were fielding a lot of questions through email, talking with the big-leaguers who could really help move our petition forward, and posting, posting, posting on various sites, groups, etc., to try to get notice and keep the ball rolling. And so, we had a lot of catching-up to do with our personal and professional lives. That's where we disappeared to. So please forgive us for our absence.
Secondly I would like to talk about something I saw out in web-land soon after the petition reached it's goal: depression. Is there such a thing as PPD (post-petition-depression?)? I think so. I saw quite a few people who were expressing a hopelessness over their Chinese adoptions, and basically feeling like, "so what the I600A is fixed? I'm still waiting, and this is hopeless."
I had the experience, while working on this petition, to run across another I600 plea, this one for speed of processing and from Vietnam-adopting parents. The petition was posted in January of 2008, is still active, and when I saw it had less than 2000 signatures. Our petition has over 17,000. How did we get those 17,000 signatures? Certainly not because parents thought, "Oh, this is hopeless." We got them directly because all of you, out there, waiting to adopt, worked your booties off and pushed and advocated for your adoptions and your children. That is a wonderful thing, and I hope you all feel like super-heroes, because you all are! All of you have made a huge difference in the life of a child.
Anatole France said that, "To accomplish great things, we must dream as well as act." With an adoption from China and the current time-frames, many times our only choice is to dream of the reality we desire as we wait. And then, periodically, we must act, updating forms, preparing our lives for a child, and all of you were able to switch into high gear very quickly when your adoption needed you. You all acted quickly and with great strength to resolve the issue of the I600A. And so I wish for each of you that you can take away some feeling of power and success because of this. You all have done so much to make this a success. You were all wonderful!

Look Forward:
On the victory, a point of clarification on what we all accomplished. Before our success the process was Apply to you country of choice (ours was China) sometime before April 2008, using the I600A. If your adoption is not completed in 18 months, apply for your free renewal using the I600A again. If your adoption is not completed in the following 18 months, switch to the I800A process.
Now the process works in this way:
Apply pre-April 2008 using the I600A. Pay for the I600A and fingerprinting. After 18 months renew for free using the I600A again, and get free fingerprinting. After 18 more months, apply again using the I600A, but pay the fee and for fingerprinting. If your adoption is still not completed 18 months later, apply again using the I600A for a free renewal of the I600A and fingerprints. So, 1600A pay, free renewal. I600A pay, free renewal. All together that should give each parent 6 years to get logged in with their country of choice and bring their child home.
I really do expect that will be enough time for all of us. Dave and I are LID March of 06 for China, and for the past 5 months, each time the new referral dates come out, our referral date is predicted to be May of 2009 by these people: http://www.chinaadoptionforecast.com/. And, each month it moves up a bit, so last May, it said to expect referral May 26, 09. This month it said to expect referral May 6, 09. If that site's predictions are accurate, that will be three years one month for us. That is a drop of our wait time by one month. I'm thinking that what that is showing me is that the wait for China is stabilizing and maybe even changing direction a bit.
If that is the case, then the four I600As should be more than enough for everyone to finish and return home. And if not, we'll mobilize all of you wonderful people again!

Say, "Thanks!"
I would like to ask for one last favor. Our petition had a lot of impact on this process, but it did not accomplish it without some help from people of influence. I would like to ask that you take a moment and thank them, because, first of all, they like to know that they helped and that we appreciate it, and also because we may need their help again in the future.
So please say a quick thank you to:

Tom DiFilipo and staff at JCICS: Joint Council on International Children's Services117 South Saint Asaph Street; Alexandria, VA 22314 Phone: 703-535-8045 jcics@jcics.org
Your Congress-people
Kathleen Strottman at CCAI http://www.ccainstitute.org/about_bios.php 311 Massachusetts Avenue, NE, Washington, DC 20002 P: 202-544-8500 mailto:202-544-8500info@ccainstitute.org
And please also thank Michael Valverde at USCIS, who really did try to find a workable solution to our problem that would also allow him to keep USCIS inside the Hague law as they understand it. Considering he didn't have to help us, we really should thank him. Michael Valverde, Chief, Children's Issues, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of Homeland Security, 20 Massachusetts Avenue, NW., Suite 3300, Washington, DC 20529, telephone (202) 272-9176.

What drives one person to help another, a stranger, I don't know, but it is one of the more miraculous qualities of life. So, please thank those folks listed above for sprinkling some "miracle" on our adoptions, and thanks again to all of you who signed and helped promote the petition.

We're always open; if you have questions or comments please feel free to write us:

dianne@sleepinggiantcreations.com

If you have an adoption that will be affected by this ruling, we would love to update this blog from time to time with pictures of families that were completed due to this ruling. That would make a lovely visual "thank you" for all those involved, so please consider sending us your photos and a little story. We can turn this blog into the I600A story project!

Bye for now!

Love to all~

Dave and Di

"Be Ashamed to Die Until You Have Won Some Victory for Humanity." Horace Mann

2008-10-14T10:50:00.000-07:00

You and I know that even the smallest pebble makes a ripple on the water, but it is amazing when it makes a whole wave.

Dave and I are so very pleased to have the privilege of forwarding this announcement:

Joint Council Update

Program Advocacy
Date October 14, 2008
Regarding I-600A Process

Dear Families & Friends,
After advocating on behalf of adoptive families for the past 6 months, Joint Council is very pleased to confirm that USCIS has announced a very positive ruling concerning the I-600A process.

In summary, it is our understanding that, effective immediately, families who filed Form I-600A, Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition, prior to April 1, 2008 and whose USCIS approval of that petition (aka the I-171H) has not expired, will be able to proceed with their adoption under the I-600A process if they take certain steps while their approval remain valid. This means that families with valid Form I-600A approvals will not be required to transition to The Hague process via Form I-800A. In order to maintain their status as ‘grandfathered’ cases, families with non-expired Form I-600A approvals must request a one-time free extension. Then, prior to the expiration of the one-time free extension, families must file a new Form I-600A and pay the appropriate fee.

It is also our understanding that families with a Form I-600A approval that has expired and who have not obtained an extension or filed a new Form I-600A, will need to undertake the Hague process. The Hague process will also apply to any petitioner who has not completed their adoption by 2014.

As we noted in our Position Statement, this ruling will save adoptive families thousands of dollars, eliminate countless sleepless nights and ensures that their adoption can proceed to completion.

On behalf of over 10,000 adoptive families, Joint Council extends its appreciation to the following individuals and organizations for their tireless efforts.
· Diane Kunz, Executive Director of the Center for Adoption Policy
· Dianne Pearce, Waiting Parent and Co-Organizer of the Fairness for Families Petition
· Debbie Reynolds, Joint Council China Caucus Co-Chairperson
· Kathleen Strottman, Executive Director of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute
· David Yurkovich, Waiting Parent and Co-Organizer of the Fairness for Families Petition
· Members of the United States Congress
· United States Citizenship and Immigration Services
We offer our collective congratulations to everyone who participated in the Joint Council Call-To-Action and the Adoption for All: Fairness for Families petition. And we also send our congratulations to all who participated in the countless meetings, conference calls and emails over the past 6-months. Joint Council is built on a principle of collaboration and this very successful effort clearly demonstrates this principle in action. Our collective voice is definitely stronger than any singular organization or individual.
Joint Council notes that our interpretation of the ruling is offered as a courtesy only and should not be used in making determinations or decisions. Please refer to the full text of the announcements by USCIS which can be found at USCIS Announcement and USCIS Q&A in making any decisions.
Joint Council will provide more specifics as they become available and asks you to visit our website for the latest news and updates.

Thank you to every single one of you who signed our petition, and directly helped to win a "...victory for humanity!"

xx~

D&D

The Pen Is Mightier Than the Sword; The Parent Is Mightier Than the Board?

2008-10-13T14:23:00.000-07:00

Okay, I've been in class all morning trying to teach 18 year olds that writing skills are important. They don't believe me. And then I come home and see that we have passed 15,000! HA! I win this round college freshman!

I have to echo what Dave said in his earlier post. Each and everyone one of you have made an impact on the numbers, and we are grateful to you all.

Fact:
October 2nd we had 4700 signatures.
Today we have over 15,000.
Okay, I teach English not math, but that's a heck of a lot of signatures in like, what, 10, 11 days?
Wow.

Dave and I got to see some new arrivals from China yesterday, and earlier last week I got to meet a new arrival from Russia. I'll tell you all, I would work day and night on 100 petitions after that. Each child I met was so precious, beautiful, and captivating. What miracles they are, and what they have been through. The child from Russia lived in a hospital for (I believe the mommy said) almost a year because there was "no room at the inn" in any of the orphanages. Some of the children came from institutions, some from foster care, and some had SNs beyond those of being an orphan, and everyone was an amazing little survior, thriving and smiling and adapting to a family so quickly and easily. All is right with the world at those moments. Children are supposed to grow in families.

A lot of times, when you're in the process, you're doing what you need to do, and what you have to do, and you jump through the hoops thinking, "Yes, ghost child out there somewhere, I would jump through a million hoops for you," but you do it without really knowing for sure. You trust yourself and try to find the motivation inside for each hurtle. Sometimes, I think, we all have moments were we are just, tired, would you say that is how to describe it?

Well, when I saw all those children this past week they were all so very real and wonderful that I knew suddenly for certain that there wasn't a hoop in existence that I wouldn't jump through for Sophie.

Yes, I would jump through any darn hoop they can throw at me for Sophie, and I know you would too.

Here's hoping that we don't have to. Here's hoping that USCIS hears our voices, and feels our love for these little souls out there waiting for someone to call their own. And here's hoping that they let compassion rule the day and help the process along rather than slowing it down, or stopping it completely.

And if they do hear us, it will be because of each name on the petition, and each question on the blog, and each posting you put on a group, and each email you sent to your friends, your congress, etc., and because of each time one of you worked the JCICS plan, and for each time you encouraged someone waiting for their child, and finally it will be because of the effort of each individual one of you.
xx~
Di & Dave too

15,000...

2008-10-13T14:12:00.000-07:00

We just hit 15,000 signatures. We are awestruck and grateful to everyone who has signed the petition. Thank you.

It's Saturday night...

2008-10-11T21:09:00.001-07:00

...As I write this.
Dave and I received some messages today that concerned us as they were from people saying that they are just now getting information about this from their agencies. Please send this to your agency, just in case you have other WPs from your agency who haven't received it yet. I know it's hard to believe in this computer-age we're in, but some people don't visit the web. They prefer to only hear from their agency. So please send this to yours so that they can help spread the word!
We are really hopeful that we will have good news for you soon.
Also please keep working the JCICS plan: http://www.jcics.org/5WaystoHelp.htm
We are so fortunate that JCICS is helping us, so please help them to help us.
Not sure what to do to help JCICS?
Check our post on who to email:
http://i600a.blogspot.com/2008/10/what-to-email-and-who-to-email-it-to.html

Well, as I said, it's Saturday night. What are you doing this weekend? Dave and I are going to meet with some other local WPs for brunch tomorrow (and some have their children now!), so we are very excited about that. We really couldn't have imagined how much it feels like "home" to meet up with other WPs when we began this journey. But then, we have over 13,000 signatures on the petition; time and time again we keep re-learning that the adoption community is a very supportive place. And I hope you all have found some support, family, friends, other WPs, to help keep your spirit fed and watered on this long journey to our children!

So, what's the buzz phrase for today?
6642, that is all we need from you!
Yup, why, once I thought we'd never hit 6 thousand with this little petition. Now we only need 6 thousand (and change) to hit our goal of 20,000!
WOW!
So, I wish you goodnight, good weekend, and remember:
6642, that is all we need from you!
xx~
D & D too

13,000 Signatures Approach'th

2008-10-10T21:44:00.000-07:00

The weekend approach'th, and so does our 13,000th signature. We are very excited to be closing on 20,000. As you may know, the petition end'th on Halloween. So we still need to aquire an additional 7,000 sigs in 21 days; I think this is highly do-able given the fantastic support we've received thus far. Based on some of the more recent comments posted on the petition, it's become apparent that some agencies are only now making their waiting parents aware of the petition and advocating for them to sign it. Better late than never, say'th we.

Wishing everyone a good weekend, and hoping that next week brings good news for all of us waiting parents...

Approaching 12,000

2008-10-09T20:47:00.000-07:00

It seems that no sooner did we reach 10,000 signatures then that number was ancient history. It's the end of the the day, Thursday, here on the west coast (well, a few more hours until midnight), and we've already passed 11,500 signatures. Let's keep the momentum going!

We hope to have good news to report soon! ;) ;) The more signatures the better!
xx~
Daddy2B Dave

TEN THOUSAND!

2008-10-09T10:32:00.000-07:00

Sometime in the early morning hours...

we passed the 10,000 mark!

Here's a shout-out to Jason from TX who was # 10,000!!!

As I write this we are at 10668. I am in awe.

Jason is very special, but you are all very special, giving people.

Thank you so much for your love, and your belief in the USA's intrinsic fairness and love for children!

Hopefully all of you are showing USCIS and NBC the way to best help those thousands of waiting children!

xx~

D&D too!

PS. See the post below, and keep working the JCICS plan!

What to Email and Who to Email It to:

2008-10-08T14:38:00.000-07:00

Hopefully this will help make following JCICS' plan quick and easy.

There are two emails you and everyone who's helping you need to send.

#1:
Send the first email to this guy: mark@ccainstitute.org
(Make sure to change the signature to yours!)

Dear Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute,
I am writing to inform you that we fully support the Joint Council Position Paper on I-600A Renewals. Please take every effort possible to ensure that waiting families who began their adoptions with I600-A are allowed to continue their adoptions with I-600A.
Thank you!
(Sign with your Name, Address, & Phone #)

#2:
Send the second email to JCICS: advocate@jcics.org
(Make sure to change the signature to yours!)

Dear JCICS,
I am writing to inform you that I fully support the Joint Council Position Paper on I-600A Renewals. I commend your efforts to ensure that waiting families who began their adoptions with I600-A are allowed to continue their adoptions with I-600A.
Thank you!
(Sign with your Name, Address, & Phone #)

If Grandma or Aunt Ruth don't have emails, send one for them and include their contact information in the signature line so their existence and support can be verified. We don't want to exclude anybody who can help! Same goes for signing the petition.

That'll do it. We topped 8000 on the petition as I write this. JCICS is also asking for us to send 10,000 of those emails listed above, so, the time for writer's cramp is now!

Let's pause to give a shout-out to the RQ, who put us on the BLOG today! http://chinaadopttalk.com/
Wooo-Hooo!

And thanks to all you future (or current) mommy and daddies who are already protecting your childrens' futures by doing these letters, petitions, and emails! I wish I could write each one of you a personal letter of endorsement for your home studies!

We love you folks!
xx~
D&D

Follow the JCICS Plan!

2008-10-07T06:55:00.000-07:00

Action! Action! We want action! A-C-T! I-O-N!
Action! Action! We want action! A-C-T! I-O-N!

Did you have that cheer for your HS teams? We did.
Action is our key word now too. Don't forget our action plan; that's the way to get the job done.
Follow the action plan at JCICS today!
http://www.jcics.org/5WaystoHelp.htm
YAY TEAM!
wooo-hooo!
D&D

The Milk Issue In China

2008-10-07T06:42:00.000-07:00

Just FYI, JCICS would like everyone to know that they also have collected a lot of good information about China's current trouble with tainted milk.
You can find the information here:
http://www.jcics.org/China.htm
That is their China page. Scroll down past the petition news to the FAQs for the milk information.
Also, Ask Jane in China (a Yahoo group for adoption from China) has a lot of milk information in it's group messages as well:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/askjaneinchina/
If you know of other milk-related resources, please let us know.
Best~
D&D

Excellent Update News! We Are On JCICS!

2008-10-06T14:57:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone, and thank you for signing the petition! We are now officially part of JCICS' website! YOU did that! Everyone of YOU! You are fantastic people!

Thank you for what you have done, and please visit JCICS to see what you still can do!

http://www.jcics.org/5WaystoHelp.htm

Here is the Copy and Paste from that page:

5 Ways to Help Us

1. Today, please read the Joint Council Position Paper on I-600A Renewals at www.jcics.org.

2. Today, send an email in support of the Joint Council Position Paper on I-600A Renewals to Joint Council at advocate@jcics.org and the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute at mark@ccainstitute.org.
a. Joint Council will deliver a petition supporting an immediate resolution, including all emails, to USCIS on October 18th. To be sure that your email is included, please send your email no later than October 16th.

3. Today, go to Adoption for All: the Fairness for Families Petition and sign the petition.
a. Joint Council, in collaboration with Adoption For All organizers David Yurkovich and Dianne Pearce, will present the petition and all signatories to Congressional leaders on October 18th. To ensure that your signature is included, please sign the petition no later than October 16th.

4. On October 14th, 15th, and 16th, contact your Congressional representatives, both in the House and Senate.
a. Joint Council is working with Members of Congress and seeks their participation in resolving this issue.
b. You can find your Senators’ phone numbers and email addresses at www.senate.gov.
c. You can find your Representative’s phone number and email address at www.house.gov.
d. Include the following in your calls and emails.
· A brief explanation of the situation.
· “I/we understand that USCIS is actively engaged in seeking a resolution to the I-600A issue. I/we respectfully ask the Senator/Congressperson to contact USCIS and express their support of efforts to find an immediate resolution to the I-600A Extension issue.”
· A kind ‘thank you’.

5. Stand ready to expand and intensify your efforts if needed.
Joint Council may contact you with a revised Call To Action if needed

Okay, so, we wanted help, and JCICS is once again helping adoptive families. Please visit their website for more in-depth information and answers to your questions and concerns.

http://www.jcics.org/5WaystoHelp.htm

Thank you, and thank you, and thank you again for your help, your efforts, and your friendship!

xx~

D&D

UPDATE: Good News?

2008-10-04T21:44:00.000-07:00

We think the petition just may be working!
We were told in confidence that the petition is helping, and we were asked by callers to please keep increasing the petition numbers as much as we can.
We were also asked to have a cut-off date on the petition of 10/31.
So, I would like to ask everyone to please keep getting signatures on the petition. Ask your neighbor, your pastor, your aunt Margie, everybody who cares about you, to please sign on.
*REMEMBER, for the petition to be VALID, you cannot sign twice, so get everyone you know to sign once instead! Signers must be of voting age and a US citizen. :o)http://www.gopetition.com/online/22112.html for the petition, or click those adorable pair of eyes in the top right corner to go directly to it.
We cannot thank you enough for all your help!
And remember, if this does work it will universally help all of us who filed pre-April 2008.
Here's to all of us!
xx~
Di

A Comment on Upsetting People:What Is True?

2008-10-03T19:37:00.000-07:00

Hi All~
We received this comment today:

~I just talked with my agency because I was freaking out about the getting out of line thing. They said the comment about changing agencies is not true. The i600/i800 only has to do with the us govt, not with china. No one is in danger of losing their place. Please take this off this blog as it is not correct and causing undue stress to waiting families. ~

Well, the commentor is right, and wrong.
It is true, this paperwork is only a USA thing, and has nothing to do with China.
BUT
If your agency is not Hague-accredited (and many are not; I personally know of 10 that aren't), the USA will force you to switch agencies.
WHEN you switch agencies, you will be forced to tell China.
CHINA DOES NOT CURRENTLY ALLOW WPs TO SWITCH AGENCIES FOR ANY REASON EXCEPT AN AGENCY GOING BANKRUPT or OUT OF BUSINESS.
So, if the US government FORCES you to go I800A, and that FORCES YOU to change to a Hague-approved agency, China WILL force you to pull your dossier and resubmit.
How do I know this? I asked agencies; I asked LWB; I asked China.
I know that in the China adoption process we are often subject to sensationalistic rumours that get us upset and go nowhere. If you know me at all, or belong to the Rate Your China Adoption Agency group or the Worth Waiting For group, you know that I have consistently de-bunked those rumours. I think saying stuff that is upsetting without knowing if it's true is wrong. I don't/won't do that.
I really appreciate the comment, because I'm sure a lot of people think the same thing.
TRUTH: if your agency is not Hague-approved, and you get forced to switch to I800A, you will have to get a new agency (with all the fees that entails).
TRUTH: if you get a new agency, China will recognize you only as a new dossier with a new LID.
Do you want an LID of 2009 after having an LID of 2006? I do not.
Please sign the petition and pass the truth on.
http://www.gopetition.com/online/22112.html
Thanks so much again for the great question!
Di

4700 Signatures (and counting)

2008-10-02T08:25:00.001-07:00

MORE THAN 4700 have signed the adoption petition since it was posted online on September 23, 2008. I've sent copies to our Congress people, and have talked with their local liaisons. Several people have contacted me, stating that they plan to take further action (by meeting personally in Washington, DC, with members of Congress). I hope it's enough. I hope that our combined efforts will be enough to move this seemingly immovable wall known as USCIS.

We're #1!

2008-09-29T15:14:00.000-07:00

We are currently the #1 most active petition on the Go Petition website.
That is so wonderful! Keep it going folks! Only you can keep the flame burning in our own version of the torch run for China!
xx~
Di

Fame Helps The Game

2008-09-26T19:25:00.000-07:00

One thing we are trying to do by having this petition is to get noticed by our government officials.

To that end we have been reaching out to groups like National Public Radio and the American Civil Liberties Union.

We also live in a country where news of celebrity adoptions are news.
Is there anyone out there who knows someone who knows someone who knows a politician who has adopted, or a local newscaster who has adopted, or knows Meg Ryan or Angelina Jolie? (The adoption-world's connections are, after all, strong and far-reaching.) If we can get some media attention for our petition it will increase its impact, and increase our signatures by the thousands we need. If you know someone, can you put the six degrees of seperation rule into affect and reach out?

If you are out there and you have not yet signed the petition, would you please help us? If you know someone who has not yet signed, would you please ask them to do so?

Several people have written me wanting more information, and I am only too happy to tell you everything I know and everything I can about this situation. Please feel free to email me anytime: dianne@sleepinggiantcreations.com

The response so far in signatures on the petition from the posts on the adoption sites we have access to has been wonderful. As I write this it is day 3 of the petition and we are up, so quickly, to 1499! We should all be proud of that number and our outreach efforts.

I personally am very moved by the response, and very moved by the comments of need and support and fighting spirit some people have attached to their signatures. I am also moved each time I signatures from entire families who have come out to support the issue, and help their friends and loved ones bring their children home. And each signature that has been put on the list, whether you sign for yourself, or sign in support of others, each name on the roll helps us all, and is so valuable, and is a great gift. Keep the spirit going!

Thank you all so much for your help, and have a lovely weekend!

How Do I Know If This Is My Situation? Q&A

2008-09-24T15:02:00.000-07:00

What if you read all of this and you say, "I don't understand this all." or "My agency has not told me this." Or, "How do I know if this is my situation?"
I will try to short-cut it all for you. And I admit it is complicated and confusing!

Begin by taking the I800 test, if one of the following statements is true for you, than you will be affected by USCIS and NBC choosing to ignore the law:

If you filed an I600A when you began your adoption, and the country you are adopting from is a Hague country, and your child is not home with you yet, this applies to you. (Therefore, although a lot of the information we have is about the effect on China adopters, if you are with a Hague country and expecting to need to re-file/renew your I600A, this affects you too.)
If you have filed for an I600A renewal before, and your child is still not home with you, and you will need to renew again before your child comes home, this applies to you.
If you filed an I600A to begin your adoption, and your adoption is not finalized, and your agency does not currently have a "Hague Approval," this applies to you.

Q: Will every China WP have to get out of line for China?
A: No, the following people will not have to get out of line for China:

People who are expedited due to Chinese Heritage (CH). The CH people are being processed (currently) over one year faster than all the other Chinese adopters. The United States government is not allowed to favor one group over another, but China is, and does. So, all the CH adopters are finishing their adoption in time not to have to worry about this. This also begs the question of USA discrimination, because, due to China's choice for CH parents, and due to the USCIS' contravene of the Hague law, the US is unintentionally favoring one group over another.
People who began their adoption with an I800A are not affected by this no matter where you are adopting from.
People who may be forced by USCIS to switch to the I800A, but are working with a Hague-approved agency will not (to our knowledge) have to get out of line for China.

Q: Who will lose their place in line in China if the congress doesn't force USCIS to comply with the law?
A: Any family who has to refile their paperwork (for their I171H form) before they will get their referral, and who is working with an agency who did not receive Hague-accreditation, will have to get out of line for China.
Why?

Well, in order to pass the I800A NBC review, those parents will have to change adoption agencies to find one that is Hague-accredited. Once they do that, they will have changed agencies. China no longer allows agency changes for any reason. So, anyone who changes agencies because they are forced to do so by USCIS will also be forced by China to leave their place in line, and re-apply.
That also means that to re-apply they will have to meet China's new rules. So, if this happened to you, and you were, for example, a single woman adopter, your adoption in China would be over. No more China adoption. No kidding.

NOTE: Your agency may be accredited by Hague, but you still may not be with a Hague-accredited agency.
Q: HUH? How can this be?
A: China only allows a limited number of licenses to be a China adoption agency. So, throughout the USA, many agencies will work together and share a license that, in reality, only belongs to one agency. My agency, for example, which is Adoption Guides, passed Hague accreditation, but, they were sharing the China license of West Sands, which did not. Therefore all the WPs from my agency (and the 9 or so other agencies sharing with West Sands) will be forced by USCIS/NBC and the I800 process to sign with a new agency. When China sees that we are no longer with West Sands, we will have to re-apply to China. Hello, and welcome to the back of a very long line.

Q: Is there any other way my adoption can be affected by this?

A:

Yes. All I800 forms must go through the new office (one for the whole country) called National Benefits Council (NBC). It is our understanding from discussions with agencies that NBC currently has 4 employees processing I800 forms. The process is slow, taking on average 6 months. This slow processing time could impact your legal right to accept the referral of a child. If the referral comes and the USA has not approved you to adopt, you will not be able to accept the referral.
Also, it is our understanding from agencies that the I800 process is much more rigorous, and to date they are "passing" applications at a rate of 5%, with 95% being sent back to the WPs for a re-do. That will also lengthen the already long process.
Finally, when that office becomes deluged with all the I600A people being forced to switch by USCIS, we expect the processing time will get even longer.

Are their more questions you may have? If so, please leave them as a comment to this post, and we will research the answer for you.

Okay, one last Q: Can any of this mess be avoided?

A:

Yes. All that has to happen is the Congress has to tell USCIS and NBC to stop creating their own rules, and to follow the law as written.
Please send a letter to your federal officials to ask them to do this today, and please sign the petition (click the photo in the top right corner to find the petition.).

PS. Please only sign the petition once. Everyone you know who is an American of voting age can sign it, but just one signature per person. Thanks for your help!

Cut-and-Paste Letter for Your Congress-Person

2008-09-23T22:57:00.000-07:00

Please use this letter to request help from congress.
Please feel free to edit as needed. (FYI: Items in RED need to be personalized with your info.)
Please send the letter by US Postal Service. Your Congress-Person needs a paper letter in order to "take-on" your case.
Best of luck, and please let us know your response.

DATE
YOUR STREET ADDRESS
YOUR CITY, STATE, ZIP CODE

Dear Representative/Senator (and add NAME OF your REPRESENTATIVE or SENATOR):

I am writing to ask you to intercede (on my behalf / on behalf of my friend/son/daughter/etc) with a government agency.

Recently, the rules and regulations in the United States of America regarding international adoption have changed. Congress passed The Hague into law. When this was done, Congress explicitly stated that families who are in the process of adopting a child internationally and who have been in process prior to April 1, 2008, are considered “transition cases.” As such, these families are, by law, grandfathered into the adoption rules and regulations that existed PRIOR TO April 1, 2008 until their adoptions are completed, and these families DO NOT have to re-file under the new Hague guidelines. However, the Department of State and the US Department of Homeland Security’s CIS (Citizenship and Immigration Services, aka USCIS) bureau are blatantly ignoring this law and forcing all transitional families to abide by the new regulations. This not only contravenes the law as written, but also creates undue hardship for the thousands of US families affected, and will likely cause the disruption of the adoption.

The Hague Convention on International Adoption, which was implemented this year, states the following regarding the transition rule:

"SEC. 505 (b) TRANSITION RULE The Convention and this Act shall not apply--(1) in the case of a child immigrating to the United states, if the application for advance processing of an orphan petition or petition to classify an orphan as an immediate relative for the child is filed before the effective date described in subsection (a)(2)" which was April 1, 2008.

I/we am/are therefore asking for your help. We are asking for you to intercede for us (for our daughter/friend/etc.) with the government agencies of USCIS and NBC, and allow us (our son’s family/my friend/etc.) to complete the adoption that is in process under the I600A as an I600A case until the adoption is finalized.

Very Best Regards,

YOUR NAME

The Reason for This Blog

2008-09-23T21:43:00.001-07:00

We have created this blog to help American families who are in process for an international adoption, and who began that adoption as an I600A case, and are now being forced to switch to an I800 case by the United States Department of Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the National Benefits Council (NBC).
In 2008, the US Congress passed the Hague Adoption Treaty into law. When they did, they wrote into the law that ALL ADOPTERS who had begun their adoption prior to April 2008 as an I600 or I600A case could continue their adoption that way until it was completed.
USCIS and the NBC have since decided that they don't want to do it that way and are informing adoption agencies (AAs) and waiting parents (WPs) that they have no choice but to do the new I800 Hague process.
First of all, this is unfair, as it directly goes against the law as passed by Congress.
Secondly, this is having, and will continue to have, disastrous effects on the in-process adoptions as all will be faced with increased costs and will have their adoption process severely delayed, and some will have their adoption journey ended completely by this rule.
The number of WPs/adoptive families in the USA this affects is easily over 10,000, and adoption agency insiders estimate it to be over 23,000!
This affects many international adoptions, including Guatemala and China, where adoption referral waits have grown.
This "change" demanded by USCIS and NBC is not required by the countries referring the children. It is not even required by the US government. It is only required by those two offices.
That civil servants, office workers, feel that they have the right to indelibly alter WPs' lives for their own convenience is criminal, and should be stopped by our Congress.
We know that in the USA now we face elections, and our politicians are busy with that, but serving their people is what their job is about and they should make time to serve us in our time of need.
We also know that the USA is having a financial crisis, and we understand that much of that crisis was brought on by lack of government oversight, just like the crisis WPs face with their adoptions. However, unlike fat-cat corporations, we are not asking for a financial hand-out or money from the American tax payers. We are asking that the law our Congress passed be followed as written, and that all the affected WPs be allowed to complete their adoptions as they were begun. We will gladly pay the continued I600A fees and the fingerprint fees. We do not want anything for free; we simply do not want random bureaucrats re-interpreting a law designed to help us so that it instead helps them. That is wrong, and we need Congressional oversight.
If you click on the photo in the top right corner of this blog you will be taken to the online petition where you can sign on to help your own adoption, or the adoption of a friend or loved one. Or, to simply help one less child grow up without a family.
Please check back periodically for blog updates to see how many signatures we have collected and any changes that have occurred in this situation.
Remember that we are competing with elections and Wall Street for Congress' attention, so please pass this on and try to "collect" as many signatures as possible.
Thanks so much for your time and effort. It means the world to so many Americans, and to so many children.

PS. Although the petition asks for your email address, no emails will be visible to the public. As several people have already signed the petition, you can see that this is true. We need to collect the emails to prove you are real people, and not just names we pulled from a phonebook. We will not email you or spam you. We very much respect your privacy, and your contribution to the petition.
ALSO NOTE: We are not asking for any money from anybody for anything. Should anyone contact you requesting financial assistance it is not us. We are all volunteers.