[moneyhoney]

I am wondering if anybody has had only one parent travel to China? My husband is ready to make the trip solo so that I could stay at home and be rested to help the child adjust when she arrives home (plus- I am not a traveler and it would save us some money).

Follow-up question: how many weeks/months did it take to settle into a routine so the child could rest at night? My husband can go right back to sleep after getting up-I just lay there at night and become sleep deprived. We just want to be prepared!

[cfc]

hi MY dh traveled without me. I stayed home to take care of our other children and keep our business running. You just have to do a little extra paperwork, POA etc. and readopt when you get home to make it final, which we would have done anyway. It was a great decision for us and we do not regret it.
Each child really varies on the sleep thing... Caitlyn always got up once or twice for 4 months. The past couple of weeks at 15 months she has been sleeping much sounder. She has always slept late in the mornings. I put her down at 830 and wake her up at 9. There were alot of nights she took bottles in between there, but lately she has felt more secure it seems, and has finally learned to put herself to sleep and decided she is too big for a bottle!

[roseofchina]

We both traveled and it took our daughter about 2 weeks to get adjusted to time change, new place, etc. I learned really quick to nap while she was napping.

Sharon
dh - David
dd - Whitley Rose Hui

[odi]

I traveled without my husband and like was mentioned there is only a little paperwork difference. First you must take copies of your income taxes for the last 3 years, but I heard that might be changing. Then you must readopt in your state and fill out a 10-12 page form for Certificate of citizenship. I think it costs several hundred dollars.
I thought it was a real pain to fill out those extra pages and make an extra trip to the USCIS to get her final certificate. In our state we had to hire a lawyer to do the readoption so we didn't really save that much money.
I would check with your state to find the readoption process first. Then I would really consider traveling. I know of people who had their Dr prescribe a sleep aid for one parent to get them back on track while the other slowly worked back with the child. That is a possibility. But I also know some people have health issues and other children so not everyone can travel.
Diana

[cooperbabe]

I wonder what the rationale is in having to provide your tax returns?

I could see if that was required for everyone, but why just in cases where only one parent is traveling?

[odi]

I was told it has to do with the "sponser" for the immmagration. It is the proof that you meet the US governments requirements. It was used at the consulate appointment part and then I shredded them in the White Swan business office. Two parents traveling many years ago had to show tax returns as well, so I don't know if it is just a hold over and hadn't been changed or because the child travels on a differant visa (A IR#3 instead of the IR#4 I think or that may be backwards).
Diana

[cooperbabe]

ah, well, that's clear as mud ha ha. Your explanation was fine, it's just governmental bureauracy has a way of making my head spin