One Step Closer..............

Our paperwork continues to be approved in record time!!  There is a small chance that we will be able to travel to China in early August -- which means that our college age daughter, Ashley, could travel with us!!!

Our I-800 was approved on June 22 and has been forwarded to the National Visa Center.  The NVC has entered our data into their system and provided us with a GUZ#.  In a few days we will receive an email of the NVC approval letter.  This file will be cabled to the US Embassy in Guangzhou, China.  This is approval of our visa petition.
 

As soon as I have the NVC letter, I will email it to our adoption agency in California.  They will start the process to obtain our Article 5 from the US Embassy.

 
The agency's in-China rep will take the NVC letter to the US Embassy in Guangzhou along with our DS-230 application and Parental LOA.  The consulate needs to review Harper's visa application (the DS-230), make sure it meets the qualifications for an immigrant visa, and then will sign off that everything is in order for the adoption to be completed. This is called the Article 5 letter. 

The consulate takes a standard two weeks to complete this process. If the paperwork is dropped off on a Monday, it will be picked up from the consulate by the agency rep two Mondays later.
 

Once it's picked up from the consulate, it will be delivered directly to the CCAA for Travel Approval!

 After Travel Approval (TA), most families leave 2-3 weeks later, depending on when the consulate appointment is at the US Embassy in Guangzhou, China.  Some families leave as soon as 7 days after travel approval.  

Wow!  Things are moving so quickly!!!  I need to go shopping!!!

Top 5 things I hope to avoid in China

5.  Lizard on a stick anyone??

I'm not an adventurous eater by any means.  However, lizard on a stick sounds better than dog brain soup, goat lungs with red peppers, grilled snake, or turkey vulture schnitzels.

 

 4. Fried scorpions 

Scorpions are said to make your blood hotter in cold weather.  If I eat these, would I still need my North Face jacket to stay warm at work?

3. Split pants

In China, children wear split seat pants.  Diapers are not commonly used, and it is customary for children to squat down wherever they are and go to the bathroom.  On a positive note, Chinese children are often potty trained much earlier than children in the US.  Regardless,  I think I will avoid wearing open toe shoes. You never know what you are stepping in.

2.  Chicken served with the head still on

Chicken is my favorite food.  And when I travel internationally, it's usually a safe bet.  Not so in China.  Most often, chicken is served with the head still on.

1. Squatty potties 

 This is really what toilets in China look like-- basically a hole in the floor.  

Public restrooms generally don't have toilet paper.  

Most bathrooms have running water at the sinks, but no soap.

Note to self:  Stock up on hand sanitizer and tissue packs!