7/27/2007 - Received loan for the adoption
7/30/2007 - We meet with Bethany Case worker to move forward. Got word that there was another family going into the Kalamazoo office for the South Korea adoptions and we might have to move to another office but will have to wait and see.
8/04/2007 - We got word that a spot is open in the Holland Office so we went ahead and moved to that office. We filled out the formal application and had 3 office visits from Aug. thru the month of Sept.
9/6/2007 - On Sept. 6th and 8th we finished the Hague Adoption Class we had to take online which was 175.00 for both of us to take.
10/5/2007 - We had the home study done.
11/14/2007 - Our Home Study was approved and we were offically added to the Bethany Adoption list.
1/19/2008 - We sent our I-600A form along with other documents and $830.00
to Detroit immigration to be approved and get finger printed in Grand Rapids MI.
2/4/2008 - We got a letter in the mail to say Detroit Immigration got our papers and our finger printing will be on Feb. 13th 2008 in Grand Rapids, MI.
2/13/2008 - Went to Grand Rapids MI. to have finger printing done. Completed. Now we wait for approval from Detroit immigration.
4/11/2008 - Finally...We got Pre Approval on 3/29/2008 from USCIS today which should move things along faster when the time comes when we get a referral. It took 1 month 4 weeks and one day for the pre approval process. Bring on the referral.
4/26/2008 - Went to Holland,MI and took part in adoption classes. Parenting the Adopted child and Post Adoption:What to expect.
8/20/2008 - Still in the waiting process. No referral yet. Reading everything we can on adoption and the wonderful country of South Korea.
11/10/08 - Renewed the HomeStudy due to it was to expire after a year. Still no referral news.
11/18/08 - The most wonderful news came this day at 2:20pm. My wife and I were notified we have a referral...A little girl.
On Jan. 20th 2009
We received word today that our paper work came back from South Korea. Now it goes
to Lansing for court review then on to Detroit for approval. It took 1 month 3 weeks
and 4 days.
On Jan. 22th 2009
Paperwork arrived in Lansing for approval
On Jan 29th the paper work came back from Lansing then
sent to our local courts for approval.
On Feb 17th - Local courts gave approval
On Feb 18th - Adoption papers sent to Detroit for Visa
On April 9th - Finally received the Visa Approval. Now its a short trip
to Washington DC for approval and then to Korea for her travel date.
On May 15, 2009 we welcomed our beautiful daughter Emily home!
