[Nicole1975]

We were DTC June 9th and so excited after an 8 month paperchase - only to discover that our dossier (along with 3 other families') was lost by the shipping company (not sure if I am allowed to post their name) on it's way to China. The company is still conducting a "physical search" which was initially supposed to take 48 hours but it began last Wednesday with no progress to this point. We are devastated and I am sure the 3 other families are as well. I was wondering if anyone else has had this experience?? We are about to start re-collecting all of the dossier documents.

[ChinaMamaWannaBe]

I am so sorry this happened! I am not in the process yet, but wanted you to know that I will pray that your and the other families' dossiers be found quickly. Please let us know when they turn up. God love you all.

[smbcpc]

Oh no! I am so sorry to hear about this. We did not have to go through something like this but I do understand how you feel. When you are going through the adoption process it feels like every single day that goes by counts.

I hope that it is not too involved to prepare all the documents again and send them to China. Your agency should have everything it needs.

My thoughts are with you and hopefully your new dossier will be on its way to China again in no time.

[Ernabel]

Oh, I am soooooo sorry this happened to you and the 3 other familes. You have to gather your dossier again! It's terrible. I just don't know what I would do. I really feel for you.

[cungar]

I know if this happened to me and my agency told me I had to start from scratch, I'd be hiring a good lawyer. I can't imagine they'd make you do this all over again. If they do, they should hire a dossier gathering firm to do it for you.

[Teekay74]

Oh my gosh- that is terrible. And so frustrating. If you have to redo things, what do you have to do? Hopefully not the whole paperchase. I feel terrible. That is so disapointing. Please keep us updated!

[specialk4b]

Oh, Nicole, I'm so sorry! You've had a heckuva time with this paperchase. I hope they are able to locate your dossiers.

I really hope you don't have to go through the authentication process again. At least you won't have to do the I-171h process again.

BTW, I seem to remember that there was a situation like this in the past and CCAA processed a special batch of referrals for those whose LID was delayed due to being lost in shipment. Does anyone remember the details of that? Maybe I'm mis-remembering.

[jbzanie]

Nicole,

this must be devastating. I cannot imagine.
do you have to go back and get originals of everything and get things authenticated again?

Jen

[KDhappygal]

Heartbreaking....I hope the shipping company does locate your dossier!

Karen, the missing dossiers were referrals from CCAA. They went missing on the way back to the agency at referral time, not DTC time.

[Threekids4me]

Hi Nicole, I am so sorry to hear about your lost papers!

I also seem to remember something like this happening in the past to a group of people's dossiers- it seems like they were located in a short time, not sure how long, and then logged in OK.

I wish you luck and will be hoping everything gets straightened out soon. Hang in there!!!!

-Amy

[Nicole1975]

Thanks for all of the kind words! We did have a rough and long paperchase and that horrible wait with Atlanta USCIS (b&k - have you heard anything at all about how much longer you will have to wait? fingers crossed that it will be any day now). We have to go through all of the gathering documents and authentication - that means background checks, birth certificates, financial statement, employer letters, medical report, etc. and the wait for them to go to the county, state and consulate again plus re-creating the pictures which I think I saved on our digital camera. There is a small chance at this point that the package will be found but who knows how long we would have to wait to get the final word - no one at the shipping company can give me any timeline except that the physical search usually lasts 3 days (already passed) and then it goes to the claims department. I am still a little in shock but appreciate everyone's thoughts as we work this out.

[smbcpc]

Unbelievable. This process is both time consuming and costly. I think that the shipping company should at least offer you some compensation so that you do not have to pay for everything out of your own pocket. I know this does not make up for the lost time but it's something.
Again, I am so sorry and wish you luck and success as you gather all the documents for the dossier.

[oleson1]

Wow-- I am so sorry to hear about your situation. I definitely agree that the shipping company needs to pay for your costs to re-do everything if it should come down to that.

I will be crossing my fingers and praying for your originals to be found!!

[vickih65]

Our dossier was also misplaced by a shipping company on the way to our agency. I posted about it on an online group and one of the parents had a spouse who worked for the shipping company. Long story short, and after a physical search, they found it. I took about four days, hang in there and keep the faith. I definately know what you are going through. I was sick to my stomach for four days. I'll keep my fingers crossed!!!!!

Vicki

[specialk4b]

Nicole, we're still waiting for the I-171h. No word, but our agency has filed a formal complaint on our behalf.

Like my mom always says. "Lost items have to be somewhere." I just hope the shipping company can find them and they're not someplace that no one knows what they are or what to do with them!