Two weeks ago I sent off our fingerprints to the FBI.  It normally takes 3 months+ to get back your criminal clearance, time we don't have.  Well, yesterday, I got our clearance!  It took them 2 weeks exactly.  Yipee!

Also, I have every document done and returned to our social worker for the homestudy.  We have our last visit with her next week and then she will write it and we will be done.  She said it's about the fastest homestudy she has ever done.  I should say so!!! Now I'm awaiting word from immigration and hoping to get the I600a processed quickly. 

Called today and the fingerprints are slated to be done and mailed back to us on Monday of next week.  That means we will get them back in about 3 weeks instead of the average 13.  Wow!

  

 

 

Our I-600a form is mailed……………should arrive in Texas by 10:30 AM Monday.  I kissed it for good luck!  These are important documents for immigration.  We have the help of our state representative on this one.  Once arrived, they are going to work with USCIS to help process the forms quickly.  We really, really hope this works!!!

This morning, just when I felt so much despair something big happened.  I literally was doing the dishes through my tears, feeling so scared, alone and unsure.  After reading the many blogs of families who are a few steps ahead I was feeling very low.  I believe that I mentioned in earlier posts that Dave Reichert’s office talked to an FBI agent in Seattle who because of his own sister doing an adoption in Uganda he agreed to see if we could get our fingerprints expedited.  Mind you, every family I know had to wait at least 3 months for the prints.  Well, Reichert’s assistant had told me that the FBI Seattle agent would help, but I have not heard a thing back.  When I called Reichert’s assistant yesterday, he seemed annoyed with me and said he hadn’t heard back from the FBI guy.  I couldn’t wait, not when Joseph is sitting on the other side of the world waiting for us.  I decided to do a search for the FBI phone number in West Virginia.  I found one, not knowing if it would work.  I dialed the number and guessed on which option to choose.  In two seconds “J” came on the line.  I explained to him the situation and that a guy from Seattle was supposed to call and talk to him.  “J” said, “Are you Suzy”?  Uhh, yes, that’s me…… “I’m the one that the Seattle agent talked to, and I’m working on getting your fingerprints expedited.  We don’t usually do this, but, my family member lived in Uganda from three months helping orphans and I can help you out”.  What, did  you just call me by name?  You know who I am without even telling you my name?  It just confirmed that HE knows who I am.  “J” was just put in place to do HIS work.  “J” said that the fingerprints  haven’t been processed, but that they will be soon.  He gave me his direct number and said that I can call anytime and advised me to do so on Monday.  After hanging up the phone, I melted into tears of thanks.   HE is in control.  I must remember that during the low moments.  I believe God wants Joseph to come home.  I would not be doing this otherwise.  This is one of the many miracles we are experiencing in bringing home our boy.

The waiting game has now begun.  Waiting for everything to trickle into CHI for our homestudy.  I have been a little discouraged as I read many blogs of families who are in Uganda now, and things are not going well.  For some, the end of the road is in site, for others only miracles will move the mountains.  Please pray for us that we will get our FBI fingerprints back quickly.  Right now, it is taking 13 weeks.  We can have everything else done in about a months.  We feel very strongly that we need to get Joseph home by this summer so that he can have time to adjust before school and so that the family can adjust.  Please pray specifically for those things.  Thanks!

What does the word representative mean?  Well, I think I found out!  Dave Reichert, our representative has come to the rescue, well maybe not quite, but, his assistant Lincoln (what a patriotic name) has!  This week, Lincoln has managed to talk to the director of our local USCIS office in Yakima and they are willing to help us with our immigration forms, that is, when they receive them, they are willing to help process our form quickly.  This is amazing news.  Lincoln is my knight in shining armor.  He is truly representing the needs of Reichert’s constituents.  You see, based on Joseph’s age, we must get him here quickly or he will “age” out and become ineligible for adoption.  Our hope is to get him here before summer as Ugandan courts close in the summer and if we don’t get him here, it may never happen.  Also, dear old (I actually think he is young) Lincoln was able to help us with our FBI fingerprints.  Washington law states that couples must get clearance from the FBI.  On the FBI website it states that fingerprints generally take about 10 weeks, time that we don’t have.  So, good old Lincoln called the Seattle FBI and went into detail about our situation.  It seems that the agent he spoke with has a sister who is adopting in Uganda and although he initially thought he wouldn’t be able to help, he has now agreed to work on helping us.  Imagine that! 

Ugh, really, this is the pits.  Phone calls, slammed doors, more phone calls…………..and then, something good happens.  It is really quite tricky figuring all of this out without the guidance of an agency.  I think I’m becoming an immigration expert, especially since I spent so much time on the phone with them today!  Thinking about Joseph makes it all worth it.  The boy does know how to have fun……….

 

I game I learned from Aunt Cheryl, Thanks, it made the car ride loads of fun when we had nothing to do!