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!
Congratulations!!!
Posted by: Jenn | Dec 19, 2007 at 03:13 PM
Oh, congratulations! What joy during the perfect time of year for it.
Posted by: PiquantMolly | Dec 19, 2007 at 03:55 PM
Congratulations! Now it's time to cross that off your list and have that party!
Posted by: Summer | Dec 20, 2007 at 02:54 PM
How nice of them to turn it into a party! Congratulations!
Posted by: Lut C. | Dec 24, 2007 at 04:03 PM
Oh yeah, congratulations... I'm sure it is an enormous relief to you
Posted by: ll | Dec 26, 2007 at 07:48 AM
Congratulations!
And good luck with the process for #2.
Posted by: JennyK | Dec 27, 2007 at 08:02 AM
CONGRATULATIONS! I am so incredibly happy for all of you. Best of luck in 2008 and beyond.
Posted by: Sophie | Dec 27, 2007 at 04:48 PM
Congratulations! That's wonderful news!
Posted by: ali | Dec 29, 2007 at 06:30 PM
Whohoo! Congratulations! So glad to hear you got this done and that Munchkin is officially yours. Not a bad way to close out the year.
And Number Two? Go you!
Posted by: Amyesq | Jan 01, 2008 at 07:58 PM
Congratulations, good to see you post! So glad things are final. Hopefully our finalization will happen before our son turns 18, lol.
Posted by: Kimmer | Jan 14, 2008 at 03:30 PM
I was told our birth certificate could take around 6 months to receive and you can't do much without it.
I remember the relief when we walked out of the courtroom.
Congrats!
Posted by: Lisa | Jan 14, 2008 at 06:19 PM
congratulations to you three!
Posted by: Anna H. | Jan 18, 2008 at 04:13 PM
Congratulations! I am so happy for you!
Posted by: MLO | Jan 25, 2008 at 09:21 AM
Oh congrats!!! What an exciting (and relieving) day that must have been! :))
Posted by: Linda | Feb 15, 2008 at 05:41 PM
Congratulations! I am very happy for you and your family.
I also wanted to thank you for sharing your journey. I am going thru my 2nd ectopic and I am nervous since my first one ruptured after 2 methotrexate shots. I only have the left tube left and a million thoughts are going thru my head. What we have been thru was traumic and life threatening, but I find it helpful to read what others have experienced. (All the things the doctors don't tell you)
Posted by: Jodi | Apr 14, 2008 at 11:43 PM
Congrats on him! What a blessing.
Posted by: Kate | Apr 26, 2008 at 04:12 PM
I'm still checking in on you every now and then, wondering how you are and if you have any plans to bring home a sibling for Munchkin.
I hope you are all doing well!
Posted by: Megan | Jul 09, 2008 at 02:34 PM