Moving Along....

Our next step in Josie's adoption is to get our fingerprints taken.  These fingerprints are for USCIS, which is our homeland security clearance.  The U.S. has to give us permission to adopt internationally before we send our dossier (paperwork) to China.  First, we had to have a finalized home study.  Then, we sent that home study, along with the application and $890 to them.  Now, we have to have our fingerprints done electronically down in our state capital.  We have that appointment date for this next Monday.  Once that is done, we wait.  It could be a month.  It could be 2 months.  USCIS takes our fingerprints (makes sure we aren't felons) and reviews our home study.  Our home study has to be written exactly according to specifications in order for them to approve us.  Hopefully, our social worker did it right.  Sometimes, USCIS "pink slips" and needs wording changed or more information.  This sets you back in your timeline though so let's just pray it clears quickly.  Once we have approval, we can mail off our dossier to China.  And then we wait more.  I love waiting.  It is so much fun.