Wow, this is truly unbelievable. Thank you so much to this brave family for posting this. As long as this blog is public, I think it is OK to link to it. Read this to understand what is happening in Nepal. If it does link, just copy and paste in your browser.
http://newbrownchild.blogspot.com/2010/09/embassy-meeting-from-sept-10th.html#comments
I am having a very hard time wrapping my brain around this.
Carrie
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Happy Birthday, Bro!
Today is my brother's birthday! Happy Birthday, Rob! I am so fortunate to be in one of those families where, for the most part, everyone gets along. We enjoy each other's company and appreciate each other. I am very proud of my siblings and the people they have become. My brother is an amazing, cool, wonderful man and father. Today is Rob's day! Love ya!
News from Kathmandu
Last Tuesday we got the copies of the documents that went with our I-600 to Kathmandu. Within these were all of the documents from the children’s home that will become the proof that little girl is a true orphan. Mike and I poured over this information. After looking at them, we felt pretty confident that she would be proven an orphan. The next morning we even discussed the logistics of going to Nepal.
THEN, on Friday, we got the “News from Kathmandu”. This was an email that was a copy of a blog post of a family that had been in Nepal, met and bonded with their child, and were not approved for a visa. They had to travel home without the child. It was devastating for them and I am sure for the child. Their file has been sent on to New Delhi. (Read previous blog post for what happens in Delhi). Sadly, they are not the only ones whose files have been sent on to New Delhi. At this point, I do not know of one family who has had the visa approved for their child under the new policy. The blog post says that it is expected that all of the files will be sent to New Delhi.
And it gets more complicated… Embassy officials are not saying why they are not approving the visas or what information they are getting from the Nepali paperwork that is questionable. Apparently there is a US law that says they don’t have to (or cannot) tell PAPs the results of the investigations they are doing. The PAP’s don’t have a clue. So when the files are sent to New Delhi, in 2 of the outcomes the PAP’s may provide additional information to prove orphan status. But, of course, most of us are a million miles away and have no clue what piece of information would be helpful. I hate to say this, but it seems pretty bleak.
It is so frustrating that our US laws are not making sense. I am not sure what greater good is being served by keeping kids in orphanages. It is so frustrating that the paperwork is not good enough. There must be some way to prove these children are orphans that meets US standards, but we don’t know what that is. I have asked about and looked up information on the legal definition of “abandoned” and “orphan” as it relates to international adoption, but it is vague. Are the people at the embassy not approving visas because of paperwork, when they know, in their hearts, that there is no family to come and get the child? How can that be?
So, it is not good news. But, I have a hope in my heart that this is meant to be and will work out. We will see… My prayer still is that if our little girl has a family who is willing and able to care for her, that they will come and get her. If she does not have a family, I am praying that all of her paperwork will be in order so that she can be granted a visa and join our family.
Love to all,
Carrie
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
What's Happening...
OK, we have had some progress within the last week. First, our I-600 request has been officially received by the US embassy in Nepal. All waiting parents received an email yesterday from DOS saying that although they have verbal assurance from the ministry that they will extend travel approvals for all those who have received it, they do not have this assurance in writing. So, the embassy will prioritize those cases who have received travel approval. I got an email this morning from an adoption worker at the US embassy in Nepal saying that all of our information has been received and that we are “in the queue”. It did not say how long the “queue” is, but I am glad that we are in it.
Also, it has been reported on the yahoo group that 2 cases have already been sent to New Delhi. The regional office of the USCIS is in New Delhi and this is where cases will go if they cannot clearly determine the child’s eligibility for adoption. In New Delhi they will do 1 of 4 things. 1. Review and approve. 2. Issue a request for more information. 3. Issue a Notice of Intent to Deny (NOID). 4. Issue a denial. I have not heard anything other than that the cases were sent there. I am hoping for the best for these families and children. At least things are now moving. People are working. I truly hope that they will be looking to see if the child is truly an orphan and not just denying because not all I’s are dotted and T’s are crossed. Of course we all want to adopt children who truly are orphans. How that is determined, I guess, is the question.
The third interesting thing that happened to me was that I got an email back from TX Senator John Cornyn’s office. The email was clearly a canned letter discussing immigration reform. When I sent him my first email, I had to check a box saying what the email was in reference to. I just checked immigration since there was no “US shuts down Nepal adoptions box”. I thought they would read the email. Clearly they did not. I replied to his email saying that I think he may have not read my email "correctly". I then attached my previous email. Hmmm… I thought of copying his response here on my blog, but I think I’ll give him a chance to respond to me first.
Finally, I found my car keys! Yea! Please continue to say prayers for our little girl and all the others waiting for families!
Also, it has been reported on the yahoo group that 2 cases have already been sent to New Delhi. The regional office of the USCIS is in New Delhi and this is where cases will go if they cannot clearly determine the child’s eligibility for adoption. In New Delhi they will do 1 of 4 things. 1. Review and approve. 2. Issue a request for more information. 3. Issue a Notice of Intent to Deny (NOID). 4. Issue a denial. I have not heard anything other than that the cases were sent there. I am hoping for the best for these families and children. At least things are now moving. People are working. I truly hope that they will be looking to see if the child is truly an orphan and not just denying because not all I’s are dotted and T’s are crossed. Of course we all want to adopt children who truly are orphans. How that is determined, I guess, is the question.
The third interesting thing that happened to me was that I got an email back from TX Senator John Cornyn’s office. The email was clearly a canned letter discussing immigration reform. When I sent him my first email, I had to check a box saying what the email was in reference to. I just checked immigration since there was no “US shuts down Nepal adoptions box”. I thought they would read the email. Clearly they did not. I replied to his email saying that I think he may have not read my email "correctly". I then attached my previous email. Hmmm… I thought of copying his response here on my blog, but I think I’ll give him a chance to respond to me first.
Finally, I found my car keys! Yea! Please continue to say prayers for our little girl and all the others waiting for families!
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Enjoying the moment
I had one of those days. You know, too much to do, too little time. I was on a tight time schedule. It was a delicate balance to get everyone where they needed to be at the correct time. Then, as I was leaving work to go home, I COULD NOT FIND MY KEYS! Nowhere to be found. So, called Mike, got a ride home with Angela, ran Riley over to neighbors house who was taking him to football, ran to middle school to pick up Blaine from football, drove Blaine home for shower, rode 20 minutes to my school with Mike, did NOT find keys in car, drove 20 minutes home, picked up Blaine, and got to the home of Blaine's violin trio recital FIRST! So I guess you could say, I was a bit frazzled. BUT then the trio began to play. Two boys, 13 years old, one little girl (maybe 11). It was delightful. It just was. I know that is an old lady's word, but it was SO delightful! I sat back, relaxed and listened to my baby play his violin with two others. AND then, I truly enjoyed the moment. I know I will be taking myself back to that moment when stress calls (like tomorrow when I again search for my keys). Thanks, Blaine for the moment! I am so proud of you!
Carrie
Carrie
US DOS Update
On Friday the US Department of State (DOS) posted an announcement that they were ready to begin the Orphans First initiative. Through this the US embassy in Nepal will be investigating the orphan status of the child before prospective adoptive parents travel to Nepal and adopt their child. This cuts down on the possibility of a family adopting a child who will not receive a visa to immigrate to the US. Since the suspension, those of us with referrals have been waiting for this to begin. We were all very anxious because we were afraid it would take months to get this program running. We were also all very anxious because for those of us who have received travel approval, we were only given 60 days to complete the adoption. The US has negotiated with Nepal to extend the travel approvals on a case by case basis, as needed to conduct the investigations. While this is a relief, we are all still very fearful about the outcome of the investigations. Rumors were that the embassy would be investigating these “pipeline” cases more vigorously than the previous cases and that most of the visas would be denied. But these are rumors and DOS will not say how they are investigating the cases.
Now we just need to pray. There is nothing else we can do. We sent our paperwork (it is on its way to Nepal as we speak). We are waiting for an appointment to have our fingerprints renewed. There is nothing else we can do. We have no power over this situation. This is my prayer. .. That if our little girl does have a family that is willing and able to care for her, that they are found and she is reunited with them. However, if she does not have this family, it is my prayer that all of her paperwork will be in order (sufficient to approve a visa) and that she be granted a visa. What I will not be able to live with is if she does not have a family and does not have sufficient data to prove she is an orphan. That means she may spend the rest of her life in an orphanage. That will be very difficult for me to live with. Please pray with me. Thanks!
Carrie
Now we just need to pray. There is nothing else we can do. We sent our paperwork (it is on its way to Nepal as we speak). We are waiting for an appointment to have our fingerprints renewed. There is nothing else we can do. We have no power over this situation. This is my prayer. .. That if our little girl does have a family that is willing and able to care for her, that they are found and she is reunited with them. However, if she does not have this family, it is my prayer that all of her paperwork will be in order (sufficient to approve a visa) and that she be granted a visa. What I will not be able to live with is if she does not have a family and does not have sufficient data to prove she is an orphan. That means she may spend the rest of her life in an orphanage. That will be very difficult for me to live with. Please pray with me. Thanks!
Carrie
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