Clearance

Today I received my immigration clearance in the mail.  This was the document I was waiting for.  Once I speak to CHI I'll get all the necessary signatures and stamps on the new documents and then they will go to CHI and onto Russia.

Moving Along.... Slowly

Today I received a call from the Department of Homeland Security, it was so unexpected that I thought it was a prank call.  Then the officer told me who she was and why she was calling, she needed another form for my new clearance.  She said everything else looked good, as soon as she received this additional information she would complete her job and send it to her supervisor for review and approval.  When I got home from work I found the form she needed and faxed it to her.  Hopefully she has everything she needs now and I'll get my clearance in the next couple of weeks.  More waiting.... 

Happy Birthday Little Man

Today my little man turns 4 years old. From the time I met him, first on paper; then in person, I thought this day would be special for both of us. I don’t know what we would have done, but I know we would have done it together. I don’t know what or if they can do anything for the children in the orphanages on their birthdays, I hope they do something for him to make his day special. Happy birthday little man, I love you.

Time Goes By...

Due to the delays I have experienced while waiting for a court date, my immigration clearance has now expired. I met with my social worker last week and I will be resubmitting to the US Immigration Services for new clearance this week.

It seems like time goes by faster than anything else in this process.  I hope the children I have met in this process and all of the other children in the orphanages are well taken care of and that someday soon someone says yes so these children can have homes.  All I can do now is to continue to wait and watch the time go by…. Chris

Still Waiting

Not much to say but I thought I would post because I know some of you check my blog regularly. The meetings between the US and Russia have taken place and fortunately CHI (the adoption agency I’m working with) has the required accreditation needed to continue working in Russia.  At this point I’m still waiting for a court date, hopefully I will be assigned a date very soon. I think about my little man all the time, wondering how he’s doing, what he’s doing, how he’ll react when he see’s me again, etc, etc. I hope to see him again very soon but for now all I can do is continue to wait. Take care, Chris

Clearance

Yesterday I received the required clearance I was waiting for. I spoke to a very helpful woman at the FBI, I explained my situation to her and she processed my clearance immediately. I got very lucky, if not for the compassion she showed towards my plight, I could have been waiting until July for this clearance.

This week this document will go to Russia and with all of the other documents that have been prepared by me and CHI they will be submitted to the Astrakhan court to request a court date. Hopefully that will be sooner rather than later but I have no way of knowing. The sooner I get my court date, the sooner I see my little man again!

I hope to update you all again soon with a court date. Take care, Chris

It’s Been Awhile

I know it’s been awhile since I’ve posted to my blog, I thought today might be a good day to post an update in light of all of the adoption news coming out of Russia the last few days.

I’ve been busy over the past couple of weeks preparing additional documents requested for the court. I finished the documents last week. I am waiting for one of my clearances to come through; as soon as it does it will go to Russia with all of the other documents I have prepared.

As you may know, for good reason there is outrage in Russia right now towards the U.S. adoption community. I can’t imagine what that woman was thinking, I hope the little boy is well taken care of now and that he recovers quickly from everything he’s been through.

I can only hope and pray that her actions do not prevent me from bringing my little man home soon. All I can do now is wait for my clearance, hope that adoptions continue in Russia and continue to pray for a quick and successful outcome to my adoption journey. I ask that all of you continue to keep me, my little man and all of the other adoptive families and children in your thoughts and prayers.  Thanks, Chris