US Embassy . . . minor snag . . . I think, I HOPE!

When I traveled to Russia in 2004 to adopt my son, Nicholas, I was somewhat removed from all the details of court and US embassy. My agency did most of that work and all I did was "show up"! :)

With Pakistan being such a new program, I have had to become immersed in the details (and I actually really enjoy it!). With court, as the petitioner, I was required to register my own case. With the US Embassy, I am required to do all the leg-work of obtaining the visa for Sweet Pea. This immersion in the details has educated me on foreign affairs and international adoption beyond anything I have ever known! And, like I said, I DO ENJOY IT! I guess I should have chosen an international career (diplomat or Red Cross worker!) Anyway, I have really enjoyed the interaction and role I have played in my 2nd adoption. It has been so much fun, somewhat stressful, but I love getting my "hands" into the detail!

Anyway, to explain our minor snag in the US Embassy visa process . . . that hopefully will not turn into a major delay . . .

I had originally applied for my I-600A for the country of Russia. For 3 years, I had been keeping my I-171H updated for Russia. The USCIS approval (I-171H) expires after 18 months, at which time you have to do an update to receive an additional 18 months. So, every 18 months, as my I-171H expired, I did an update . . . since July 2006! Then in August, 2009, I decided to change my country from Russia to Pakistan with the referral of Sweet Pea. Prior to traveling to Pakistan, I verified with the USCIS office in OKC that my update had been sent to Islamabad. I was told everything should be in order. But . . . (sigh!) I should have double checked (I was so busy during that time, that I didn't take it a step farther, which is my usual thoroughness, and double check with the NVC & US Embassy in Islamabad!). A word of advice to other PAP coming after me to Pakistan, double check the status of your embassy file with the US Embassy in Islamabad, BEFORE YOU TRAVEL! And . . . then check again immediately when you arrive in Pakistan!

OK, so that is the background of my file . . .

On Monday afternoon, after traveling for about 15 minutes to the Diplomatic Enclave, then another 30 minutes to find the specific guard house that we were to enter through, then through multiple security inspections (women through one door, men through another) and then finally through the security scanners (all electronic devices were taken and put in a small numbered cubby & we were given a round token with the cubby number on, we would receive our electronic devices on our way back out) . . . we finally were at the American Citizen Services Unit of the US Embassy.

. . . only to be told that my file was not accessible to the Islamabad US Embassy. It was not there! Even though I had a hard copy of my updated I-171H approval. The US Embassy could not begin the visa process without this verification of my file in Islamabad. So, I had to find a way of figuring it all out . . . not truly knowing who to call or what questions to ask. This was new territory for me! But, I was up for the challenge!!! My daughter CANNOT leave Pakistan without her visa!

So, after 3 nights of making calls to the US and another US Embassy visit on Wednesday afternoon, what I know now that I didn't know on Monday is . . . with a country change update the original I-600A potentially can be left in the original country of application. Even though according to US Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) & National Visa Center (NVC) my country update to my I-171H was sent to Islamabad. Since it was an update, my case # remained a "MOS" (Moscow) number and did not become an "ISL" (Islamabad) case number. What this means is . . . part of my file is supposedly still in Moscow and Islamabad needs it! So, a transfer has been requested by the Chief of the American Citizen Services Unit here at the US Embassy. However, it might take a "week or more" until it is sent by Russia and received by Islamabad. Then Sweet Pea's visa can be issued.

Our return flights are scheduled for next Thursday (10/15/09). Will we make it??? We don't know right now.

But, I talked with the NVC (again) tonight and they said that the August 2009 country change update file was uploaded again to Islamabad today 10/7/09 from the NVC in US. The update from NVC takes about 24 hours until it is accessible. My hope is that tomorrow when it is finally accessible to the US Embassy here, all the documents that are needed for my "electronic/physical file" will be included in this new "upload" and the transfer from Moscow will not be needed. Then Sweet Pea's visa can process as planned.

Small minor challenges that will make for wonderful stories to tell!!! LOL! (I'm trying to keep a smile about it all).

If we have to, we will simply extend our Visas and rebook the back end of our flight until we can get it all resolved! It will all work out! And . . . as I have said before . . . I can withstand anything as long as I have my baby girl (but, I am missing my sweet boy something terrible!).

So . . . this is why there has been a delay in posts to the blog over the last 3 days - - - my evenings, when I do most of my blog writing, has been spent on Skype, calling the US, trying to resolve this "electronic/physical file issue" with the USCIS, NVC & US Embassy!

I am a resourceful person and I certainly like challenges . . . I'll turn over every stone, if I have to to get this issue resolved! But, Pray for me!!!

Love to ALL

~Hugs
Mama, Uppa D & Sweet Pea

P.S. - Sweet Pea is doing great - growing like a weed! She has discovered her voice this week. She will shriek and then look around as if to say "Who did that!" She also has learned to blow bubbles! Milk bubbles, slobber bubbles, you name it!

Both are absolutely the cutest to watch and we have gotten some good video of her doing both! I'm loving my baby girl . . . she is already growing waaayyy too fast!

(Sorry, no pictures to post tonight - - - way to tired!)

:)

Slow & Steady . . . I-171H Update

The only new adoption news is an I-171H update. But for me, a 3rd update, it has been somewhat of an ordeal!!!

For those of you wondering what this cryptic document is . . . I'll explain.

An I-171H is the official approval from USCIS/Homeland Security for a PAP to adopt an international child. It all starts with an initial form called the I-600A. This is the application that petitions the gov't (USCIS/Homeland Security) to allow you to process an international adoption. Along with the I-600A application form, a valid homestudy and biometrics (fingerprints) are required to process the I-600A. Once the I-600A is approved, an I-171H is issued. The I171-H is a required document included in the dossier for court needed for the international adoption. There are a couple of expirations involved with an I-171H. The biometrics part expires after 15 months and the entire I-171H approval expires after 18 months. Yes, it is tricky with the 3 month difference if your adoption court date falls within that 3 month gap! There is a fee for processing an I-600A with I-171H approval. The I-600A application fee is $670 + biometrics fee of $80 (per adult living in household). Once you have completed the adoption, an I-600 is filed to classify the adopted child an an immediate family member.

So, basically - the I-600A application results in an I-171H approval. Then an I-600 is filed that results in a US Certizenship Certificate.

I have weathered through 2, 18 month expirations!!! Yes, I have been through at least 36 months (2 x 18 months) of processing an international adoption, in regards to the USCIS approvals. With each 18 month expiration, the I-171H has to be renewed/updated.

For every PAID I-600A application, a 1x FREE extension is available (when the 18 month expiration is reached). A written request for the extension and a valid homestudy must accompany the extension request. So, that takes care of the 1st expiration, after the initial 18 months of wait. Well, I am past the 1st expiration of 18 months and I'm at the 2nd expiration of 18 months (I have used my 1x free extension). So, I had to do some research to find out what to do on a 3rd I-171H update. Below is what I found out.

1. A new I-600A application needs to be processed.
2. Fees of $670 (I600-A) & $80 (biometrics/fingerprints) required.
3. Valid Homestudy.

Now, because this is a 3rd I-171H, there are additional requirements and are a little bit tricky. The next set of requirements depends on whether your country is a Hague Country or not (this means has the country radified the Hague International Adoption Treaty). If the country is a Hague country, you need to be grandfathered in with the approval date of your 1st I-600A application (like China). Or, you will have to abide by the Hague Treaty and apply for the I-171H using I-800A (not I-600A). Yes, I know it can get so very confusing. But, as of 9/1/2008, the forms changed due to the Hague Treaty Agreements. So, for most Hague country PAP's who are in the process prior to 2008, they may want to keep their grandfathered status so they don't have to comply with the I-800A. Important to know if your country is a Hague country.

But . . . Russia is NOT a Hague Country, has never radified the Hague Treaty . . . so what does this have to do with how you update the I-171H???? It means you can do it either way . . . . Yes, I know, more options only make for more confusion. So, for Russia . . .

1. Either form I-600A or I-800A can be used (I-600A can only be used if you are going through an update & have used the I-600A previously).
2. If you use an I-600A you can elect to have the I-171H approval dated with the grandfathered date (in my case 5/2006) or have an entirely new approval date based on the most current I-600A application (in my case 5/2009).
3. If you decide to use the grandfathered approval date, then 2 additional documents are required.
- copy of most current child abuse background check
- affidavit statement that you have not processed an I-600 since the inital I-600A.

Since this is all so new and I didn't want to switch to an I800-A (since I haven't completed the adoption) I decided to just stay grandfathered with my initial 5/2006 approval date. So, I will need to send the 2 additional docs to my USCIS office on Monday. My Homestudy agency was able to copy all my current child abuse background checks for me very quickly and all I need to do is write up the affidavit statement (doesn't have to be notarized or apostilled).

Hopefully, with all of that research and discovery, I can finally get my updated I-171H in the next month. What does that give me??? Another 18 months to hopefully complete my 2nd adoption.

Praying that I will not see the need for a 4th update! (but, remember with every paid application, the next is free, LOL!)

Hoping for a referral very soon!