Major Adoption-Related Events

  • 09-04-29 Part One Sponsorship Application Completed and Sent
  • 08-11-04 Dossier in Ethiopia -- the wait begins
  • 08-10-24 Dossier on its way to Ethiopia
  • 08-10-23 Dossier back to Imagine
  • 08-10-17 Dossier to Ottawa
  • 08-10-07 Dossier (finally complete) at Imagine
  • 08-09-10 Dossier (most) Sent to Imagine
  • 08-09-04 Provincial Approval Received
  • 08-07-08 Completed Dossier Sent to Province for Approval
  • 08-06-26 HAR Signed and sent back to ABC
  • 08-05-16 HAR Started
  • 08-04-22 Int'l Adoption Self-Study Course Completed
  • 08-04-07 Application sent to ABC
  • 08-02-19 Initial Application faxed to Imagine
  • 08-02-16 References Requested from Friends

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Immigration and Lusty Scots

I called the gals at Imagine Adoption today. After months of emailing to pick their brains for info, I just needed to hear a voice on the phone to reassure me that indeed these people really exist. It did much to put my mind at ease.
I talked with Colleen, one of the immigration specialists to find out which was the best (fastest) way to get my little gal home. She said that Permanent Residency is quicker by 2 or 3 weeks, but that I should consider the long term. Will I want to go for citizenship eventually? Well then, she said, I may as well go for it now. It's only a couple of weeks difference, and isn't always quicker. I just think that a couple of weeks is a couple of weeks and I'm going to do PR right now, and go for citizenship later. I mean, it's not like we're going anywhere right after she gets here anyway, and it only makes things more complicated for travel in that I have to apply for a visa for her to travel. That's fine. I just want her home ASAP... let the bonding begin!
I also talked to Erica, who filled me in a bit about what it'll be like to travel there. I guess the first day is for getting settled, the second will be for visiting my gal, and on the third day, I can take her with me if she's okay, or I'll visit again and then come get her the next day. I'm going to try to work it out that I can visit one of the international schools while I'm there. It'd be great to go back when she is old enough to remember Ethiopia and teach for a year, with the kids in school there. Just a thought, but it would be nice to check into while I'm there anyway. Erica's checking into the feasibility of that.
She also said that once they get my stuff, it should probably be about a year until pickup. That's better than the 15 months I originally expected. I'm so excited. That puts us at next August, which admittedly is expensive travel season, but after spending like, a million dollars on this adoption (not literally of course), whatever.
Anyway, that was my day. On a complete aside, Gerard Butler... YOWZA (I'm watching P.S. I Love You right now). Anyway...

6 comments:

Chad, Laura, Sara and Seth said...

Did she really tell you 3-4 months? I am having a difficult time with IA timeline constantly changing - talk about pulling on my heart strings. I just want to know for sure!

Good luck in your journey - I will check in from time to time to see how things are going.

Laura

Chad, Laura, Sara and Seth said...

FYI - I just heard back from our caseworker and she said "For a toddler, the wait time is approximately 3-4 months. For an infant, the wait time is approximately 6+ months for a referral. Things have not changed in this regard..."

Back to the drawing board I guess...

Laura

Melissa said...

Yeah, I'm pretty sure. I know she said a year from start to finish.

Melissa said...

6+ eh? That sucks. I wish there was some consistency there.

The Warren Family said...

Hi there, I am enjoying checking out your blog (just found it). Do you mind if I link to it from mine?
I had the same feelings as you about PRV vs. Canadian Cit.

Melissa said...

Yeah, that's fine, thanks. I love cruising through other blogs of people who are in the same process. Good luck with your adoption.