NOC is HERE!

We have NOC!  Don't know when exactly it came, but the case has been filed in court, so I am now waiting on that ruling.  One step closer.  Will be posting updated pictures soon.

Maybe soon?

 Latest news from India is that they have a backlog - you think?  To deal with this backlog, they are extending the moratorium on new dossiers until the end of the year to try and process all the waiting dossiers.  Lisa, the director of the India program for the agency I'm using, has a meeting with the head of CARA on October 19.  Say a few prayers that she walks away with my NOC along with some others.  Once I have the NOC, I can move on to waiting for the courts to review the case.  The process is not looking good for having Priya home by Christmas.

Still Waiting

Four months and counting since the Article 5 letter.  More than a month since I was told I would have NOC.  Why is time so unimportant to people processing adoptions?

No News

Three weeks since I was "supposed" to have NOC - nothing.  No explanation for the delay.  Don't need anything else, just haven't done it yet.  I'm not sure when it will come.  I'm beginning to get VERY frustrated at the slowness of this process.

Possibly good news!

Got the call from the agency yesterday.  Committee only had one issue with my paperwork - they want a letter verifying that I won't change my mind about caring for and raising my children if I get married and guaranteeing that I won't marry anyone that does not like my girls.  I didn't realize that it was an option to just quit raising your kids, but evidently it is over there.  Besides, I'm pretty sure that Grace is more than capable of scaring off anyone she doesn't like.  We all know that she's not afraid to make her opinions known.  I've dumped guys for suggesting I should dump my cat - I'm certainly not going to keep one around who suggests I get rid of my kids!  Okay, there are those moments when the idea has some merit - though usually my thoughts go to can I run away from home rather than send them away.  :D  Anyway, the letter is written, notarized, and sent to the agency.  A copy was also sent via email to be sent on to India. 

Now for the good part - the director of the orphanage has the follow-up meeting concerning my file set with the NOC committee for next week.  She's pretty sure that they will act on the copy as long as they are assured that the original is on its way.  She believes that NOC should come through by the end of next week.  Cross you fingers, say prayers, send good thoughts, wish on a star, or whatever else you can think of, but hopefully by next Friday we will be on to the next step - court.  Yes, it is still a hurry up and wait situation, but at least we may be one step closer.

I don't know who the girl is, but Priya evidently likes her.

Same Old Story

"We'll hear something any day now."  I remember those words so well while waiting for news about Grace.  Different country now, but same story.  No news yet on how the case is progressing.  On the bright side, I did get new measurements.  She is now up to 21 lbs. (16 lbs. one year ago) and about 34".  At 40 months, this is still tiny, but at least she is growing.  Now, if only we can get her home.  I already have Grace to teach me patience, I don't think I need any additional lessons.  Anyway, I'll add a couple of new photos.

Still waiting.

We're starting to get anxious here waiting for the NOC.  I know everything slows down in the summer in India, due to the monsoons, but I'm still hoping for news before Grace's birthday.  On the bright side, I haven't heard that they want any additional papers, so maybe that means they are satisfied with what I've submitted.  Keep the prayers/positive thoughts coming. 

Article 5

For my birthday I received my Article 5 approval from the U.S. Embassy.  Now just waiting on CARA in India to give me the NOC (No Objection Certificate).  Those are generally taking anywhere from one month to 3 months, though there is no timeline to count on.  I should have it for Grace's birthday and can then get in line for a court hearing.

One step closer.

Got the I800 provisional approval!  Now just waiting for Article 5 approval from embassy in New Dehli so that CARA can process the NOC.  The article 5 should be here within the next couple of weeks.  Then our government is done and I am dealing with India only, at least until I travel.  That's when the LONG wait starts. NOC's have no set time for being completed in reality.  Technically it i supposed to be done in 30 days.  Reality can be several months.  Keep those prayers coming - they are working so far.

In process

No government shut down means that they are actually processing my I800 request.  For those of you unfamiliar with adoption paperwork - this means that the U.S. Government will pre-approve Priyanjali for immigration.  Her background will be investigated to determine if she meets the legal definition of an orphan.  Since she was left abandoned in the cradle at the police station and I was able to find her parental search notification online, this hopefully won't take too long.  USCIS indicates that it should be less than 30 days - of course that means 3 months possibly.  Of course that means they have 30 days before I start emailing them to check on status.  60 days results in me emailing them with cc's to my congressmen, and 90 days before cc's to my congressmen and the head office in D.C..  Once I have the approval, India will then consider my application and can grant the NOC - no objection certificate.  Then my file goes to court and the real wait begins.  This will probably be really true since my file will hit court right in the middle of monsoon season.  Still praying for that miracle time line though.  Of course if a miracle occurs, then I'll travel in monsoon season, which won't be fun.  If I get the travel in the average timeline, I'll be going in winter when the average temp is 70-80 during the day.  That sounds better than traveling when the average temp is 105 with lows in the 90's and 100% humidity, monster rains, and rolling power outages resulting in no air conditioning.  We'll see where my luck falls.

Paperwork is now in progress.

Everything has now been sent to every organization that needs it.  Now we just wait for both our government and India to process the papers.  If the government shuts down, I may have an even longer wait than I thought.  Grace is beyond excited and has even started going through old clothes from the garage sale box to save for Priyanjali.