Friday, June 6, 2008

Frustrated...

Happy Friday, everyone! To top off an already stressful week at work, we received a letter in the mail yesterday from CIS (Citizenship and Immigration Services). Not the I-171H that we were hoping for, but a letter stating that our home study "did not indidcate whether the living accommodations met applicable State standards" and for us to submit an addendum addressing this deficiency. WHAT?!? First of all, this is the 2nd home study that we have sent them (China and then this one for Ethiopia), and they say the exact same thing...VERBATIM. They approved the 1st one, so what's the deal?

So, I called the agency today and told them what we received. They pulled the file and can't believe that we received the letter either. A social worker at the office e-mailed the CIS folks to see if they just missed that part of the home study, or what. She also went ahead and prepared an addendum, just in case. This could potentially delay things 4-6 MORE weeks; therefore, we wouldn't receive our I-171H back until early-mid July. With the courts being closed from August until October in Ethiopia, this would mean that we would more than likely not have the kiddos home by the end of the year. We are pushing it anyway at this stage in the game, but if it is postponed 4-6 more weeks, we are almost guaranteed a delay.

This is just one example of how frustrating and tedious the paperwork can be and how difficult they make it to adopt a child. No wonder more people don't do it...

Have a great weekend. It is going to be a crazy one in Music City with the CMA Music Festival in town!

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