How a Vietnam Adoption Works

Good news. My agency received 2 referrals this week for healthy baby girls. That takes my number down to 42! Several of you have asked me how the adoption process works in Vietnam since each country has different rules and practices. Listed below is a summary of the steps. I am currently waiting to get my dossier together. However since the wait time is so long, our agency delays you putting your paperwork together until closer to a referral time. I hope they have me do it soon since I am coming up on 12 months on the wait list next month.

Basics on how the adoption process works:
• Application: The first step is the formal application to the agency and their approval
• Immigration Papers: Submit application to the CIS for the 171-H for government approval to bring an orphan into the U.S. (Lots of paperwork)
• Home Study: Visits (3) with a social worker to interview family and report on home environment. (Lots more paperwork)
• Waiting List: When you have the 171-H approval and the home study is completed you go onto a waiting list for referral of a child. Wait times vary tremendously. Currently, CHI is listing a wait time of 18-24 months for referral of a boy and over 2 years for a girl.
• Dossier: The dossier is the formal paperwork that gets sent to Vietnam. It includes things like employment documentation, physician letter, police clearance and more. Documents need to be notarized, state certified, and then authenticated by the Vietnamese Embassy in Washington, DC.
• Referral: The agency matches families up with a particular child at this point and sends available information (photos, medical data) to the family. After accepting a referral, the agency begins paperwork in Vietnam.
• Travel: Once a "Giving and Receiving" date is set, the family is scheduled to travel to Vietnam and bring home their child. Typically, this happens anywhere from 3-6 months after the referral is received.

Hope everyone has a great week!

Thanks for the Squares!

I want to thank all my dear family and friends who sent fabric squares for the 100 good wishes quilt. I've got 100 squares now and there is a wonderful variety. It will make such a treasure! I've attached a picture of a few of the squares and the book I put together with everyones wishes/thoughts that went with the squares. I have a wonderful lady who will put the squares into a quilt for me and I'll post a picture when I get it back. However, she is a little backlogged because she just moved. I'm very grateful to each of you and touched by your words. It means a lot to me and I know it will to Amelia someday also.

Good news! Our agency received 3 healthy and 2 special needs referrals this last week. I did not receive an updated number but am sure I am at least down to #44 based on the ages of the healthy referrals. Congratulations to all the familes who received their children this week!

Gigi Doesn't Want A Sister

I thought this next post ought to be about the #1 baby, my little four-legged girl Gigi. The world's most spoiled dog!


Gigi has patiently let me put the baby's bows in her hair, try out the pack'n'play and the crib. I even tried to put a monogrammed diaper cover on her but her tail got in the way (she was not happy). However, I think she likes being the center of attention and may have a difficult time at first with a new arrival. She hasn't been around kids too much but has been great with them when she has. I know she will be a great big sister and protector some day. And yes, her ears are always like that, one up and one down (isn't that precious?).

Update: I moved to #45 this week even though our agency did not have any new referrals. I'm not sure how that happened but will blissfully accept my new number and smile.

Welcome to my blog

This blog will document my adoption journey to my daughter. After a lot of soul searching and months of research, I decided to pursue an international adoption. God truly had a hand in guiding me to this decision and to Vietnam. I chose Children's Hope International (CHI) as my agency and started in on the paperwork and homestudy. I was given the go ahead by the Immigration Service and put on my agency's waiting list at #100 on Nov. 1, 2006. I've been patiently waiting (those of you who know me know that this is a new concept to me) for a referral since then but it may take up to 2 years. Once I receive a referral, which includes a picture and medical tests, I will travel to pick up Amelia after 3-5 months. I'll stay in Vietnam for the adoption to become legal about 2 weeks.

Please feel free to follow along as I post updates along the way.