"NOTICE OF FAVORABLE DETERMINATION CONCERNING APPLICATION FOR ADVANCE PROCESSING OF AN ORPHAN PETITION"
I'm sorry for the long delay in posting. When nothing too exciting is going on it's hard to think of things to write. Today that is NOT the case; I have some really great news. Okay, let me give you the time line. We've been done with our home study meetings since December 8th. On January 19th our case manager/social worker, Beverly, gave us a rough draft which we approved and then turn in to our International Family Coordinator to review. She had minor corrections that needed to me made (specify what type of special needs were permissible etc). Jan. 25th we turned it back in to Beverly to make the final corrections. She made the corrections and we sent it back to our family coordinator for FINAL approval. On Feb.5 we were told it was sent to Springfield, IL to receive state certification. Actually it was not turned in until Feb. 25 because Beverly needed to have the head of Lutheran Child and Family Services signature and she was out of town and then sick. (FRUSTRATING!!)We then waited 4 weeks and 6 days (who's counting) to receive our certified home study. We also received our State of IL foster license. The certified home study was then sent to the USCIS in Chicago to complete our I-600 application(remember we had our fingerprints and application and $860.00 already submitted. Then we waited again...are you sensing a theme here...). Each day I checked the mail and still no approval. I know the mailman thought I was crazy as I hovered over his shoulder...
On Saturday the 17th of April Scott was at an adoption conference at our church, the boys and I had just gotten home from a soccer game and I quickly checked the mail...our approval arrived!!!! 
This was the FINAL document we have been waiting for since December 8th. Finally!
The second Scott walked in the door I took a quick picture then I ran out the door. It was 12:50 and the post office closed at 1:00. I made it. I made photo copies and then carefully packaged our dossier (group of paper work that will eventually be translated and sent to Ethiopia).
I just have to show you all the list of documents that make up our dossier.
Application Letter
Husband’s Birth Certificate
Wife’s Birth Certificate
Marriage License Divorce Decree (if applicable)
Husband’s Physical Exam Form
Husband’s Doctor’s Letter (if applicable)
Wife’s Physical Exam Form
Wife’s Doctor’s Letter (if applicable)
Proof of Medical Insurance
Proof of Life Insurance
Financial Statement
Husband’s Employment Verification Letter
Wife’s Employment Verification Letter
Home Study
1st Letter of Reference
2nd Letter of Reference
3rd Letter of Reference
Husband’s Police Report
Wife’s Police Report
USCIS Approval
Agency Recommendation
Agency Post-Placement Commitment
Holy cow! I can't believe that Scott and I got this all done!!
We got an email with specific instructions on how to submit these documents.
Hello Katie,
Please see below for instructions on sending your dossier to AWAA. It includes everything that will be needed for your dossier at dossier submission.
Dossier to AWAA Instructions
Send in 3 copies of your Dossier Information Sheet paper clipped together. Next, securely attach your check or a copy of your online payment confirmation to one of the copies.
Please put your original dossier in the following order:
· Photo Pages
· Passport Pages
· Power Of Attorney (certified)
· Dossier Cover Sheet (certified)
· Please put the remaining documents in the order they are listed on the Dossier Cover Sheet.
o All documents need to be originals with exception of your I-171H, proof of health insurance, and proof of life insurance (which are notarized under a “Notarized Copy of an Original” form).
o Please note that if you have any criminal history (even if it did not show up on your background check), you will need to add a notarized repentance letter in your dossier. This will need to be reviewed by me.
o If you have been divorced, a divorce decree will need to be added to your dossier.
Next, put two COMPLETE and FULL copies of your original dossier (everything included in the list above) together. Use the aforementioned order for your copies, as well.
Last, place your passport photos in an envelope and include ONE copy of your BOTH Hague Certificates.
Send to:
America World Adoption Association
Attn: Caitlin Edwards
6723 Whittier Ave
McLean, VA
22101
I also suggest obtaining a tracking number for this package.
***Important Reminders:
· Be sure to not send in your original I171H as you will need the original when travelling.
· Please do not unstaple or tamper with anything that has been stapled together.
· Please be sure to check page 5 & page 19 of your Dossier Guidelines to ensure all documents that need to be notarized and/or certified are.
· Verify that all notaries’ commissions have not expired AND that all documents are under one year old.
· It is very important all directions on here are followed to ensure quick processing of your dossier in order for it to be sent out as soon as possible.
I hope this is helpful. Let me know if you have any further questions!
Many Blessings,
Caitlin Edwards
Africa Family Coordinator
I sent the dossier certified and it was received yesterday (April 19th). Here's the email that I've been waiting for MONTHS to receive.
Hi Katie,
I successfully received your dossier. Congratulations on receiving your I-171H!
Your dossier looks great. However, I will need you to scan me a signed copy of your passport page. The one put in your dossier is not signed by you.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
God Bless,
Caitlin Edwards
Africa Family Coordinator
But I forgot to sign my darn passport!! I signed it and then raced it over to Scott at church he scanned it and then emailed it as a PDF file (so glad he's techno). So here's where we stand.
Timeline after submitting dossier to AWAA:
1. Dossier receives two staff checks.
2. Dossier is taken to the State Department and Ethiopian Embassy for additional authentication.
3. Dossier is sent to Ethiopia within 1-3 weeks of arriving at AWAA.
a. DTE (Dossier to Ethiopia) date is the Friday date the dossier is mailed to Ethiopia.
b. On this same day, families receive an email from an Ethiopia Family coordinator that includes the Fed-Ex tracking number for the dossiers’ journey to Ethiopia.
c. Your wait begins!
We should hear by this Friday if our dossier is on it's way to Ethiopia. Worst case scenario is the 2nd week of May. I can't begin to tell you how excited Scott and I are to have this giant step completed. We are thankful to God for all the details that have fallen into place. I know so many of you have asked how you can get involved in helping us bring our child home from Ethiopia and I want to thank each of you for your interest and care. Soon we will let you know all about fundraisers and other ideas we have to raise the remaining $$ we need. God has provided for us this far and we are confident He will continue.
Please pray for this journey, for our new child and for our little sweethearts already under our roof. Pray that God would prepare each heart in our family for the changes that are ahead.
If you've read all this you have way more patience than I do:)
Much love!
