Here's a little update: Our paperwork should be going to South Korea now. This is great news. Once its there at the Korean agency, it will be reviewed and translated into Korean. Once ready, it will be submitted for Emigration Permission approval in Batch 2. Batch 2 is the second group of Korean adoptees being submitted for approval to emigrate. Please pray the paperwork is translated in a timely manner (as Batch 1 took 3-4 months to be translated for some reason, partially due to figuring out which docs the courts/govt, wanted). We are hoping the translation of our documents takes less than 1 month and get submitted for approval in July. We'll see. We'll pray for that. This particular step of submission for E.P. approval to actually being "approved" has been taking about 1-2 months at least. Let's pray again that that step is on the short end. This set of paperwork JUST went to South Korea yesterday.
So here are the steps we are looking at:
June 12th - Paperwork goes to S. Korean Agency
June - Paperwork is reviewed and translated
July-August (hopefully and very optimistically, but possibly unlikely) - Benjamin is submitted for Emigration Permission Approval
August-Octoberish (though more likely September, even October) - Benjamin's Emigration Permission is "approved"
September - Our sweet boy will turn 2 years old
Octoberish - 1st Court Date is scheduled - we will know about 1 month ahead of when we'll need to travel
November - January (My guess and Estimation) -
-1st Trip: Meet Benjamin (so special), documents submitted to court, sightsee while we wait for court appearance and hopefully have more meetings with Benny, Appear in Family Court
-Once Court Appearance is done, 14 Day Waiting Period starts the next business day.
-We will travel home during 14 Day waiting period.
- 14 Day Waiting Period ends. Korean agency does paperwork, submits it to U.S. Embassy for Travel Visa and Exit Visa Interview for Benjamin will be scheduled.
- We will travel back to Seoul. Exit Visa Interview takes place. 2-3 days later visa is issued. Get ready to bring our son home! While we wait for visa, we will have custody of Benjamin and get to know him and bond.
(The whole two trip process will occur over about 5 weeks).
These are just estimations due to current timeframes and I may even have some of the steps wrong (its all new). Judges have expressed in the first few court dates that they are surprised how long the families and children have been waiting for each other, and expressed a desire to move things along faster, so naturally this makes one hopeful. However, we stay on the cautious side, knowing the desire to expedite a process isn't always possible due to the many parties involved and the assorted desks paperwork must be passed to and from - these things just take time and only move forward on business days. All this is to say though is please pray that God would open doors for children to be met with their families more quickly. I'd really LOVE to have my son home for Christmas. Gosh, I'd love that.
Thanks for praying! Praying for our son, for us, for the process and those involved is the biggest blessing you can give.
In other news - this is a really special day - 10 years ago today was our wedding rehearsal and dinner and 10 years ago tomorrow is our 10th Wedding Anniversary. (I love you Adam more than could ever be expressed here on a blog but I know you'll stop by here to see this post so Hi Hunner!) I know one day we'll share this blog with Benjamin - so guess what Benjamin? Mommy and Daddy have been married for 10 years tomorrow Buddy! Little did we know on that day 10 years ago the blessings God would give us in the next 10 years, not only in each other, but in Annabelle, Oliver, and Benjamin Tae-Ju, and in a deeper understanding of the awesome love of our Saviour. God has truly blessed us and walked with us through the past 10 years - its so special to reflect on His leading in our family together and reflect on the many chapters and moves, especially as we start a new chapter now! Here's to many more Adam!
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| You make me so happy. Love you. A page is turned in this life, he's making her his wife And there is no secret to the source of this much life When the grace that falls like rain is washing them again Just a chance to somehow rise above this land Our Wedding Song: A Page is Turned by the man himself, Bebo Norman |
