[cooperbabe]

That's what one of the big agencies is telling prospective China adoptive parents the entire process will take (according to a friend of mine who just called them recently)

I know nothing is set in stone and that timeline could speed up or it could slow down even more.

We have friends of our who are this close to being DTC and they said they've been told the time to referral now could be 12-14 months.

Part of me is like this stinks. But as my friend said if the wait's longer it gives us more time to save for travel expenses. I guess that's a positive but still....

I dunno why this news is bringing me down like it is, but it is. Just kinda wanted to vent here.

[jetgirl]

I heard a rumor that CCAA officials who are visiting US now told one agency that expected LID to referral is now 10-14 months.

[cooperbabe]

My best guess is it may be the same agency - they recently (like yesterday maybe?) had a visit from CCAA officials.

I keep trying to stay positive but man, it's hard.

I just keep telling myself the end result is what's important.

[Sarah143]

I am trying to stay positive... we are just finishing our paperchase, and the way I am deciding to look at this is in a positive light. We have been through fertility treatments... I am looking at all of this paperchase phase as "paper-fertility treatments" and that when I have my LID, whether I have to wait 10- 14 months...or whatever, It will be like a long pregnancy where I will not get big and swollen, I will have no morning sickness, I will have lots of energy to do the things needed before a child arrives. I will have time to prepare a nursery, read up on attachment issues, prepare my ds for the arrival of his baby sister. I will no doubt want the time to go quickly...as every new expectant mother does, but I am really trying to keep this perspective. Otherwise it can be very hard and depressing having such a long wait. I know I will have my down days... Here's hoping I will keep this attitude for the long haul! ((hugs)) to everyone in the wait...

[Teekay74]

I'm trying to stay positive. But- someone new to the process was told to expect 20 24 month wait. This is someone I know. I really hope that their agency is giving that number so they are well prepared, but hope it will be sooner. The facts are, we really don't know. I don't think the agencys do either.

[Banjobean]

I am finding it very hard with all these rumors re the longer wait times.
I just want my daughter now!!!!

We also went through failed infertility treatments for 2 years. Again we are faced with a situation that is out of our control. At least we know at the end of this long wait we WILL be parents. But I am having a very hard time and just want to be a Mom asap. This will be our first child. I can handle a wait up to a year but anything over that I will go batty!!! Not much we can do but wait. At least we all have each other.

Tammy
DTC FEB 24
LID??
DH James

[jetgirl]

I like the positive thinking, Sarah! For me, what keeps me going is knowing that we will get our daughter one day, even if the wait is long, which is a much different feeling from all the failed IVFs. In the meantime, I am trying to milk my paper pregnancy (rather than bio preg) by exercising lots, drinking whenever I feel like it, eating yummy sushi, travelling, and doing everything that DH and I want to do for ourselves before becoming parents Hopefully, that will make the long wait more bearable!

[Ernabel]

Sarah - I am with you! Only positive thinking for us. We too had our issues with fertility.

[soontobethree]

From someone who has been through the process three times, all I can say is "hang in there!" For sure, one day this wait will be just a time span in your rearview mirror.

From start to finish, one of our adoptions took two years so I know your pain.

Melanie

[MissyAmomChina]

Hi All,

My heart goes out to all of you. I found the process difficult and the wait challenging. Please feel free to express whatever you need to during the wait---we all here can really relate.

If you connect with some families who have been around the chinese adoption community for some time, you may find some comfort. I know on some other lists, there are other families who have seen the wait time go up and down. I know there was a very similiar situation around 4 years ago when the wait went from around 6 months--to 12/13 months.

Take care,

[AmyDenise]

I think it's really great that agencies are telling people about the long wait. At least they can be prepared and any speed up in the process would be a pleasant surprise. We were told we would receive a referral 6 months after LID (which is what they believed at the time, they weren't intentionally giving us wrong information), so that would have had us receiving a referral in December or January. It is now the middle of April and we still haven't received a referral. That is depressing! If we knew upfront that it would take this long we would not be getting so upset about it.

Anyway, I think it's a good idea for agencies to give an accurate estimate (even if it seems so long) of referral time.

Amy

[cooperbabe]

I totally agree Amy. I"d rather hear ok, it's probably going to be a 16-20 month process instead of them saying, ok, start from finsih you should finish up in 12 months.

I'd much rather be pleasantly be surprised by a shorter wait

Here's hoping things speed up soon

[happynifer]

when we started our paperwork, the agencies were all saying 6 months from LID to referral (which they were). but things change, and our agency is now telling us 12 months LID to referral.
and next month who knows.
but unlike all the fertility treatments, we know we will be parents at the end of this journey.
so save money, decorate the nursery and take those baby free trips while you can

[morsedonna]

I know the wait seems long, but unlike fertility treatments its not if but when. That was why my DH and I decided to adopt rather than going through infertility treatments.
We can do this, so it may take longer than expected, but it will happen.

[Steffanie]

Wow!!! My agency said last week that it was still 10. months for a referral. Oh well we went throught this with Russia for 16 months and came up with nothing and just before we are DTC this happens. Sorry if I am not staying positive, but this news has really brought me down. Maybe I am just having one of those days. I just pray this adoption will happen for all of us. Hugs and well wishes to everyone.
-Steffanie