[mko]

So, we've been waiting for I800A approval for about 120 days, and calling, and finally heard that we need more information. So now our agency and social worker are trying to get everything together and pretty much adding every possible thing to make sure it goes through this time!

Then after approval, we will do the I-800, I-864W, apply for visas, and travel! I'm not sure how long it will all take. Has anyone had experience with this since the post-April new Hague requirements?

I'm hoping the I-800 doesn't take as long as the I-800A

[meganicolson]

Oh, Kerry! So sorry it is taking so long! We squeaked by with an I-600A pre-April and the wait for that approval was long, but it sounds like the I-800 and new regulations have complicated things quite a bit!

The waiting is so very hard, especially when the wait is unknown and your child is there waiting for you!

I'm praying that the rest of the requirements just fly by as soon as you get your I-800A!

Your friendly vent is certainly welcome and understood! I have to say I've had my share of not-so-friendly vents this past week. There's something about the uncontrolability of this process that can at times reduce the adoptive parent's (speaking personally here) emotional capacity to those of a toddler.

Hang in there! I'm hoping you get your final I-800A approval quickly and everything else falls into place!

Megan

[stephandshawn]

Some info from a fellow I-800 family...

My husband and I did our I-800A in June and waited only about 1 month for approval. We got our referral September 23rd and started working on the I-800. We submitted it on October 16th and just found out yesterday that we were approved.

There seems to be a hold-up with the I-800 getting into the correct hands at the National Benefit Center in a timely manner. Once you mail it in, I would call a few days later and make sure they know you have sent it in. Once they know to start looking for your I-800, they will work on it faster. I was told that their goal is to process the 800s in 3-5 business days (if everything is done correctly in the the application). I called pretty much every other day to make sure things were going well

We are now in a waiting stage at the National Visa Center. After I-800 approval, everything gets sent here and I was told it could be 2-4 weeks before they send it on to the embassy in Colombia. We are trying to find out if there is a way to make this go faster...any advice anyone has would be great!

Just keep plugging along...we will all be with our children soon!! But I totally understand the venting. Our poor agency rep has heard more then her fair share of venting from us the last few weeks