Adoption Timeline

May/June 2011- We began researching countries and agencies and decided on Democratic Republic of the Congo and One World Adoption Services.  We looked at a number of countries but in the end decided that although there is great need all across the world, the DRC was the best match for us. 

       

Late July 2011- We officially began the adoption process!  We applied to use One World as our adoption agency, and were accepted.  We began gathering documents for our home study such as our birth certificates and marriage license, letters of recommendation, letters from employers, tax returns, medical documentation, and the list goes on.  We had to complete a healthy stack of paperwork and get extensive background checks, which can be quite a task when you have lived as many places as we have in the last five years. :)   

August 2011- We finished gathering documents for our home study and scheduled our home study visits. 

September 2011- We had our home study visits with Rebecca, our home study specialist.  She was a huge blessing; an experience that can be extremely stressful for couples was simple for us because of her attitude and encouragement.  She asked a lot of questions about us and our families, and visited our home to make sure it was suitable for children.  She completed the writing of our official home study and a few days after our last meeting with her our home study was approved by Adoption Assistance, the local agency we used.

October 2011- We completed and mailed our dossier, which is another set of extensive paperwork that is compiled and sent to the DRC.  Thankfully a lot of our dossier paperwork for the DRC overlapped with documents we gathered for our home study.  Also, our dossier requirements seemed to be simpler and less demanding than those of some other countries, so for that we were grateful!  Additionally, we applied for and received our approval from US Immigration, granting that our two little adopted children will be given citizenship in the US.  In addition to our approval, we were given a fingerprint appointment date.  We also worked hard on connecting with organizations and filling out grant applications during this time.

November 2011- We were fingerprinted so that the FBI could perform background checks, and this completed the last step in the process until we receive referrals for our precious little ones. 

December 2011 and January 2012- We continue to wait on referrals, and wait to hear back about the grant applications we completed.  We have worked on fundraising ideas, created our blog, and are in the process of making t-shirts to sell for our adoption.  We will certainly update you all as we know more.  We wait with great anticipation for the day we have referrals, because upon receiving them we will be given a court date and will make arrangements to travel to the DRC to meet and bring home our little Henry’s!