Our Timeline - The "Short" Version

5/23/2005: Finalizing Home Study agency.

5/27/2005: Mailed agency application

6/13/05: Received approval!

6/17/05 mailed signed paperwork/fees to agency.

6/17/05 Mailed Home Study Paperwork/fees

6/14/2005 – DH applied for more copies of his birth cert.

6/20/05 – DH received birth cert copies

6/20/05 – received approval w/home study. Waiting for addtl materials.

6/22/05 – Received additional home study materials. Discussed w/HS agency

7/5/05 – Home Study visit by social worker

7/6/05 – DH turns in his “employment verify.” To work, & health insurance proof to HR.

7/7/05 – Gave “friend” reference letter info to Friend #1.

7/12/05 – applied for Passport at Post Office. Didn't smile for picture (didn't think I should). Clerk says, "Gee, you don't look very happy to be going to China!"

7/14/05 – Sent “friend” reference letter info to Friend #2.

7/15/05 – Sent “friend” reference letter to Friend #3.

7/19/05 – Completed fingerprints for the I600-A at INS.

7/25/05 – Completed fingerprints for DOJ.

7/23/05 – DH applied for a passport

7/26/05 – Oops, forgot to send out one “friend” letter. Sent today.

8/03/05 – Received Employment letter for agency (to be notarized).

8/04/05 – Medical appt for me today.

8/04/05 – Average Daily Balance letter completed by our bank.

8/04/05 – Requested Police Clearances from Sheriff’s office.

8/9/05 – DH's doctor appt.

8/10/05 – Received Police Clearance Reports - Whew! Nothing bad!

8/11/05 – Received my Passport.

8/12/05 – Reminded friend #2 via email about the “friends” letter. Agency decides to move locations right as our friends are attempting to mail in their letters.

8/13/05 – Notarized Financial Report and Adoption Petition. Copied my Passport.

8/15/05 – Mailed “Guardian” letter to relatives

8/17/05 – Gave DH another copy of Health coverage for HR. Lost?

8/17/05 – Confirmed health reports sent directly to home study agency.

8/17/05 – Confirmed w/agency to write and fax to her autobiographies for our social worker.

8/18/05 – Gave DH another HR letter for health coverage for new baby. Home Study Agenc did not receive original back yet.

8/18/05 – Notarized DH's employment verification.

8/18/05 – Notarized my Non-employment letter.

8/19/05 – FedEx’d to Home Study Agency: “no record”, “No-employ”, Employ verify, bio for me, Financial Stmt, Adoption Petition, 2 DS Photos.

8/21/05 – Mailed AO Health exam for DH (Original) to AO. Dr's office refused to mail it for us…

8/21/05 – Took and ordered the last of the family/couple photos needed for both agencies. Overnight shipping.

8/22/05 – Received DH's biography. Will mail to home study agency.

8/22/05 – Home Study Agency called. Financial Stmt incorrect. Balances don't match. Does not have dead-beat friend # 1 & 4's letters. DH's physical.

8/27/05 – Notarized revised Financial Statement, physicals.

8/29/05 – FedEx’d revised Financial Statement(copy), “Non employ” (orig) for me, 4-5 couple pix, and copies of my passport to home study agency.

8/29/05 – Photocopied Passports for agency. 2 copies.

8/31/05 – Mailed reference letter to friend #5, as deadbeat friend #4 has not responded to emails/call to send back letter.

8/31/05 – Emailed deadbeat friend #1 a reminder to send & Fax letter since it's now soo late.

9/5/05 – Reminded friend #1 AGAIN about the referral letter. Friend is a bit nervous about what to say.

9/16/05 – Faxed over most of Dossier Docs to our agency.

9/17/05 – Friend #5: sent reference letter yet?

9/18/05 – Relative mailed guardian letter to AO.

9/19/05 – Agecny verified docs for dossier look good. Just need one more line filled in for my doc.

9/21/05 – Friend #1 faxed over her reference letter.

9/26/05 – Friend #5 has written letter, needs to fax.

10/22/05 – HOME STUDY COMPLETED.

11/10/05 – I-171-H RECEIVED!!! Our advance processing application has been forwarded to the American Consulate/embassy at Guangzhou, China.

11/12/05 – EXPRESS-MAILED ALL DOCS TO SEC. OF STATE.

11/15/05 – All docs at Sec of State received & signed for on 11/14/05, am. Should receive back sometime around 12/06/05, allowing 15 working days.

12/1/05 – Received back all docs. Certified!!!

12/02/05 – FedEx’d all docs to Chinese Consulate in LA.

12/16/05 – Received all docs back authenticated/certified, etc. Just need a few more photos!

12/22/05 – Got 6 more passport photos

12/23/05 – FedEx’d Dossier materials to agency!!!

12/27/05 – Dossier officially received at agency.

1/12/06 – DTC! Today.

(1/14/06 – Joined FCC-SD)

2/13/06 – Received our LID of 1/27/06.

3/4/06 – Received our Case # from US Consulate in Guangzhou.