Latest happenings

Latest warning concerning adoptions from Vietnam http://vietnam.usembassy.gov/adoption_warning0408.html

Positives from the warning: deadlines provided for PAP- Dossiers will be accepted by MOJ until 7/1/08 and those families with dossiers matched to a child by 9/1/08 will be able to complete their adoptions. At least those of us waiting have some concrete deadlines. If we do not have a referral by 9/1, then we will have to start a new plan. We will remain hopeful for now that we will not have to start a new plan.

It has been an exciting week on the Holt board with at least four families receiving referrals. Referral days are so exciting- it wonderful to see children being matched to forever families that have waited and prayed for so long. I have forced myself to not call Holt to find out our place on the "list." I know they are very busy and a phone call from a curious PAP without a legitimate question seems distracting. I will wait until I hear that our dossier has been sent to MOJ. On 4/3/08 it was sent for translation and that was expected to take about 3 weeks - which it has been. However, based on the movement of other families, I believe that we are likely in the single digits. Wow! I started working on our baby registry this afternoon at Target. :)

DTV!

I finally received an email today from Holt that our dossier is being sent to Vietnam! This is also known as DTV - dossier to Vietnam. In Vietnam, our dossier will be translated, which may take a few weeks, and then it will be sent to the Ministry of Justice (MOJ). I was beginning to worry since our dossier had been in San Fransisco since 3/14 for authentication. I suppose it can be attributed to a large number of dossiers being submitted for processing all at one time. I am just thankful that it is heading to Vietnam. Now I can update the timeline that I created.
Next step will be when our dossier is sent to MOJ. I will receive notification from Holt once this occurs. Then we wait some more. Some days I'm better at waiting then others. Hopefully the fact that we are DTV will help the waiting.

John's employment letter is still in San Fransisco for authentication. It will follow the rest of our dossier to Vietnam shortly. Since the letter was issued and notarized in Ohio, county certification and state certifcation were required (by Ohio). Earlier in March I had a day scheduled off from work for a doctor's appointment. After the appointment I drove to Toledo for county certification. My mother came along for the ride. I then sent it overnight to Columbus for state certification. Surpisingly the state was very prompt with the certification. It was processed the same day and returned to me overnight. Then it needed to be sent overnight to Holt. Now, as I said, it is in San Fransisco for authentication. So many steps in this process. But worth every one.