This blog was created by Dana, to share with you, our family and friends, our journey to China for our daughter Meili Renee. (this is the name we have chosen).
Mei is the phonetic spelling for the word beauty or plum blossom in Chinese, Li means beautiful or jasmine.
We first started thinking about adopting from China when we visited there in 1999 as part of Burt's BYU MBA program international business trip. So we have had a daughter from China in our minds for a long time. Finally we decided we are in a position to do the international adoption. This is a very long and expensive process.
We started researching in in April 2005 and chose CASI Foundation for Children in Boise, Idaho as our Agency. We had to re-do our home study as the one from LDS Family services can not be used for International adoption. We got that done and then started the additional paper work needed which included fingerprinting with the CIS, medical exams, financial statements and employer letters, and a local police background check. We also had to get certified original copies of our birth certificates and marriage licence. All of the documents then had to be noterized and certified with the state seal. Needless to say, this put us out a few thousand dollars and we finally got everything finished and sent to the agency in October 2005.
The agency then sent our paperwork to DC where it received the US seal to verify the state seals and then on to the Chinese embassy to certifiy the US seal. This whole package of paperwork is our dossier. Then it was finally sent to China on November 2, 2005. This is our "DTC" (dossier to China )date. Then a few weeks later on November 18, 2005 our dossier was logged in at the CCAA (China Center for Adoption Affairs). This is our "LID" (log in date) and is the date we go by to see how soon we might receive our referral.
Our referral will be pictures and information regarding the child that has been matched with our family. Currently the wait time from LID to referral is 10 - 12 months. When we first applied, the wait time was 6 - 8 months. Unfortunately we happend to be applying just after a few months where the number of applicants was double the normal number and so there are delays trying to match the families who applied during these months. If we are lucky, they will be able to catch up somewhat in the coming months as some of the later months have fewer than normal applicants. Right now the families who have LID's in May and June 2005 are being matched. If the time frame stays as is, we are expecting a referral in September or October. We will be thrilled if it comes sooner.
Once we receive our referral, we will then send back an acceptance letter and then wait 4 to 6 weeks for travel authorization. Part of waiting to travel is getting an appointment with the US consulate in Guangzhou, Guangdong, China. We are planning on taking Andrew and Zach with us as we feel it is important for them to be part of the whole process and be able to meet and bond with their new little sister (mei mei) right away. We will be in China for 10 to 14 days. We will either post our daily journal here or on another web site specific to adoption journeys.
We will be having some kind of fundraising event to help us earn some of the money we need for all of us to travel to China. We will let you know what that will be so that you can contribute if you want to. Our deepest thanks to those of you who have already made contributions. We cannot thank you enough.
I will post any updates or news as received and I will post things of interest. Thanks for visiting and please return often to follow our journey.
Please feel free to leave comments here or to email me. As you can tell, this is my obsession right now.
Dana
