Total Expenses So Far: $21,531
Select country (Korea) (11/14/05)
Select agency (11/17/05)
Tell our families
Receive preliminary application
Preliminary App filed (12/5/05):
Fill in application
Photo of us, photo of house
Write medical statement, elaborating on treatment for depression
Line up four non-relative references
One copy of tax returns from past three years
Pay $200 fee
Notarized adoption services agreement $10
Fedex to Agency $15
Receive Big App (12/15/05)
Receive Korea
Adoption Guidebook
Home Study Paperwork:
(1/19/06)
S: Complete "Personal Data" form with 67 essay questions
S: 1 photocopy birth certificate
S: Complete Authorization of Release of Information - Employer
Verification
S: Criminal Record Statement
S: LiveScan fingerprint form (for State of California: criminal
and child abuse index)
S: Schedule LiveScan fingerprinting appointments
S: LiveScan fingerprints done, pay $65
S: Medical Exam, including HIV and TB tests
S: Medical Report filled out by doctor
T: Complete 51 essay question "Personal Data" form
T: 1 photocopy birth certificate
T: Complete Authorization of Release of Information - Employer
Verification
T: Criminal Record Statement
T: LiveScan fingerprint form (for State of California: criminal
and child abuse index)
T: Schedule LiveScan fingerprinting appointments
T: LiveScan fingerprints done, pay $65
T: Medical Exam, including HIV and TB tests
T: Medical Report filled out by doctor
Complete detailed Financial Statement
1 photocopy marriage license
Photo of baby's room
Map & directions to home
Copy all, keep for records
FedEx packet to agency, $15 (1/12/06)
All 4 non-relative references return 3-page, 10-essay
questionnaires directly to agency (1/28/06)
Home Study Part 2:
(4/3/2006)
Receive & pay invoice for home study $3066
(2/1/06)
Schedule social worker visits (2/10/06)
Childproof house (smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, outlet
covers) $40
Social worker visit #1 (joint) (2/21/06)
Acceptable Medical Conditions Form (2/27/06)
From that details how "open" an adoption we are willing to
consider (2/27/06)
Social worker visit #2 (S only) (2/28/06)
Social worker visit #3 (T only) (2/28/06)
Sign up for module 1 & 2 of parenting class
Book travel for parenting class in Southern California
Modules 1 & 2 of agency parenting class (in SoCal)
$500 (1/21/06)
Receive 2 completed, certified, notarized copies of Home
Study (4/3/2006)
Agency sends Home Study to Korea
(HSTK) (4/7/2006)
Sign up for modules 3 & 4 of agency parenting class
Take modules 3 & 4 of agency
parenting class (4/9/06)
I-600A filed with US-CIS (Advanced
Processing of Orphan Petition for Visa) (4/6/2006):
I-600A form
Copy certified Home Study
S: Photocopy of birth certificate
T: Photocopy of birth certificate
Photocopy of marriage license
Copy of most recent federal tax return
Proof of medical insurance
$545 fee + $140 for FBI fingerprints = $685
Cover letter
Copy all for records
Mail to US-CIS San Francisco
FBI Fingerprinting:
US-CIS acknowledges receipt of I-600A (4/12/06)
FBI Fingerprinting appt. scheduled (different than LiveScan
fingerprints)
FBI Fingerprinting completed, for each (4/28/06)
Receive I-171H (Approval of I-600A) (5/11/06)
Pick baby name
Arrange for medical evaluation of referral
Receive Referral (12/29/06)
Child's presentation letter
Child's information
Photographs
Medical records
Confidential background information
Medical evaluation of Referral by Oakland Children's Hospital (1/10/2007)
File Referral Acceptance Paperwork: ($140 + $12)
(1/6/2007)
Child Information Transmittal
Pay invoice for $17,500
3 Placement Agreements - all notarized
T: 4 Statements of Adoption (for child's Korean passport) - all
notarized
3 Travel Option forms
1 Foreign Travel Release - notarized
T: 2 Affidavit re INS Vaccination Requirements
T: 2 I-864 Affidavit of Support for Immigration
S: 2 I-864A Contract between Sponsor and Household Member
Copy of entire last year tax return, with ALL attachments
Copy of all last year W-2 and 1099 forms
T: Photocopy of birth certificate (again)
S: Photocopy of birth certificate (again)
T: Copy of 2006 paystubs
S: Copy of 2006 paystubs
Photocopy of marriage license (again)
Photocopy everything for records
FedEx to agency (1/6/2007)
Receive child's "legals" from Korea (in English &
Korean): (1/22/2007)
Affirmation and Oath Certificate (attests these documents are true
and correct)
Certificate of the Guardian (certifies Korean agency was guardian)
Statement of Guardianship (transfers guardianship from Korean
agency to American agency)
Extract of Family Register (birth certificate equivalent)
I-600 visa petition form filed w/ US-CIS: (1/25/2007)
I-600 form
Copy of I-171H
Copies of child's legals
Originals of child's legals, with note and SASE envelope
requesting they be returned
Copy of child report
Copy of child photos
Copy of most recent 1040 tax form
Copy of I-864
Copy of I-864A
Letter with visa cable instructions
Fedex to US-CIS San Francisco $25
Meanwhile, the Korean agency works away:
Our application is translated
Korean agency applies for Emigration Permit with Korean Ministry
of Health and Welfare
Ministry approves Emigration Permit (aka "EP")
Agency gets I-171 (I-600 approval) cable from US Embassy in Seoul
Baby tested for Hepatitis B & HIV
Visa physical for baby
Submit application for baby's IR-4 Visa
Resubmit our I-600 visa petition after US-CIS screws up
(2/9/2007)
Buy baby gear (3/17/07)
Baby CPR & safety class (2/17/07)
Line up a regular pediatrician (3/5/07)
Line up a pediatric cardiologist (3/14/07)
Investigate childcare options (3/17/07)
Line up Daycare (5/25/07)
Get on preschool waiting list (1/5/07)
Setup nursery(3/19/07)
Get life insurance for both
Write wills with statements of guardianship wishes (both)
Set up trust
S: Get pre-approval family leave with HR (1/24/2007)
Buy gifts for foster family, Korean agency staff
(3/16/07)
Make travel arrangements to Korea ($185 plus 240,000 frequent flyer
miles) (3/13/07)
Wrap-up job for a 15-week leave (3/12/07-3/16/07)
Finalize leave plans with HR (3/15/07)
Travel to Korea (3/19/07 - 3/25/07)
Meet both foster mothers (3/21/07, 3/22/07,
3/23/07)
In-Korea pre-flight medical exam (3/22/07)
Go to US Embassy in Seoul to process Class-B Waiver (acceptance of
medical condition) 3/22/07
Get the final Visa paperwork (3/22/07)
Take custody of child! (3/23/07)
Long plane ride back to USA (3/25/07)
USA Medical Evaluations
Add baby to my health insurance (3/28/07)
Evaluation by regular pediatrician (3/30/07)
US immunizations (3/30/07)
Evaluation by pediatric cardiologist (4/18/07)
Receive Placement Confirmation Notice from Agency
(3/28/06)
Receive baby's Green Card in mail (4/16/07)
Get social security number under baby's Korean Name as permanent
resident (4/27/07)
Receive post-placement packet in mail from
Agency(4/15/07)
Post-placement visits from social worker: (9/12/07)
Visit #1 (4/28/07)
Visit #2 (6/30/07)
Visit #3 (7/26/07)
Visit #4 (9/12/07)
Create and file child "progress reports" with 8-18 photos each, for Korean
agency and government, and a letter with photos for foster family (9/12/07)
1-month progress report (4/28/07)
3-month progress report (6/30/07)
4-month progress report (7/26/07)
6-month progress report (9/12/07)
File US Physician's Examination Report with Agency
(4/17/07)
File Adoption Finalization Paperwork in our county in California (5/1/07) ($20)
Form ADOPT-200 (Adoption Request) (5/1/07)
Form ADOPT-210 (Adoption Agreement) (5/1/07)
Form ADOPT-215 (Adoption Order) (5/1/07)
Form ADOPT-230 (Adoption Expenses) (5/1/07)
RE-File Finalization Paperwork the State changed in July '07 (ARGH!) (11/13/07)
Form ADOPT-210 (Adoption Agreement) (11/13/07)
Form ADOPT-215 (Adoption Order) (11/3/07)
Finalize Adoption in County Court
Receive "Consent to Adoption" from agency (11/2/07) Schedule court hearing (coming in December '07!)- Adoption finalization court hearing (Munchkin is now a US citizen, and his
American name is now his legal name!)
- Have a HUGE Party to celebrate!
- Send agency/Korea copy of child's adoption decree (child is no longer
considered a Korean citizen)
- Send adoption announcements
Secure proof of US citizenship for child:
- Complete & file N-600 with US-CIS, pay fee
- Receive Certificate of Citizenship
- File passport application
- Receive passport
- Apply to SSA to get status changed from resident alien to citizen, SS#
name changed (passport is proof)
Start the process all over again for kid #2!
Just.... wow.....
I'm speechless, and so very, very happy for you... x
Posted by: Patience | Mar 28, 2007 at 01:16 AM
I'm so thrilled for you. I feel the same way about Braeden.
Posted by: Bonnie | Mar 28, 2007 at 03:27 AM
Wow. I remember that. I still feel it. Happy days eh?
Posted by: Cathy | Mar 28, 2007 at 04:06 AM
Congrats! I'm so excited for you. I feel the same way about my little guy we are hoping to adopt.
Posted by: Lisa | Mar 28, 2007 at 06:21 AM
Congratulations! I'm so so happy for you and your new family. Glad you're home safe.
Posted by: JennyK | Mar 28, 2007 at 06:37 AM
Oh, I'm so very happy for all three of you! Congratulations on your beautiful son--I'm so glad he's finally home with you!
Posted by: Erin | Mar 28, 2007 at 07:18 AM
"I am now glad that I was infertile" -- what an amazing statement to read on a "recovering" IFers blog! ;) I am so beyond ecstatic for you and your family. Enjoy being at home with your son, MOMMY!!!
Posted by: lucky#2 | Mar 28, 2007 at 07:25 AM
Awwwwww . . .
*sigh*
Posted by: Mollywogger | Mar 28, 2007 at 07:48 AM
Fantastic news! I'm so happy for you all.
Posted by: SusanG | Mar 28, 2007 at 09:01 AM
Crying big tears. My sentiments exactly! When my son runs around the playground and makes a zillion new friends, I knew there is no way this shy girl could have produced such a wonderful boy.
Posted by: judi | Mar 28, 2007 at 09:24 AM
There you are! Welcome home with your baby boy. So happy for you. You and your beautiful family.
Posted by: amber | Mar 28, 2007 at 10:30 AM
Oh S, I've read many adoption announcements and only sometimes do they make me cry. But this did. You sound so happy, he sounds so happy, it is just utterly wonderful to read about such happiness. Totally totally worth it. Thank you.
Posted by: thalia | Mar 28, 2007 at 12:11 PM
Congratulations! My eyes welled up reading your post. I'm so very happy for you.
Pax,
MLO
Posted by: MLO | Mar 28, 2007 at 12:50 PM
Congratulations on your baby boy! I wish you all the happiness in the world!
Take care, Lin
Posted by: lin | Mar 28, 2007 at 02:32 PM
Congratulations on your baby boy! I wish you all the happiness in the world!
Take care, Lin
Posted by: lin | Mar 28, 2007 at 02:32 PM
So, so happy for you! Congratulations and may much more happiness come your way as you get to know your little boy.:)
Posted by: zarqa | Mar 28, 2007 at 04:26 PM
I have no words. This post was incredibly touching. It's wonderful to know you feel so content.
Posted by: Summer | Mar 28, 2007 at 05:13 PM
HOW WONDERFUL! You are such an amazing mother!
Posted by: Robin | Mar 28, 2007 at 07:51 PM
CONGRATULATIONS!!! :o) You must be beaming! I could feel your joy and excitement while reading this post. Cuddle with your son and treasure your happy landing and arrival to the land of parenthood!
Posted by: Tracy | Mar 28, 2007 at 09:21 PM
i'm am beyond happy for you that you've finally arrived. congrats!
Posted by: caro | Mar 29, 2007 at 04:37 AM
CONGRATULATIONS! My heart is overflowing for you. I love it when a plan comes together (however twisted and bewildering it may have been along the way...) Now is all that matters.
Posted by: Sophie | Mar 29, 2007 at 05:00 AM
YIPEEEEEE !!! I adopted 6 months ago and it is amazing. It still feels like it is not real, after wanting and trying to be a family for so long. Have Fun!!! Any pictures? Maggie
Posted by: maggie | Mar 29, 2007 at 05:20 AM
Wow, I have goosebumps reading your post. I am so happy for you all!
Posted by: Jennifer | Mar 29, 2007 at 05:53 AM
Wow. I'm so happy for you all. Yay!
Posted by: Ali | Mar 29, 2007 at 03:57 PM
Reading this makes me all teary. Damn you!!!! I'm so happy for you. We'll have to get together, I want to see this beautiful boy.
Posted by: statia | Mar 29, 2007 at 04:29 PM