[SisterBear]

We started this process in January and are still not near completion of our paperwork. I see people's timelines (I know, I shouldn't be looking!) and I am amazed by how quick some get through the homestudy and Dossier paperwork. Granted, my husband has been travelling off and on since February and we've had 10 million other interruptions but I'm getting discouraged!

I'll just keep on going and someday I will be done!

[apetry26]

It took us about 5 months to complete the paperwork when we started our Russian adoption in 8/04. It is very frustrating. Keep trudging along at it, you will finish- i promise.

Angie

[NJRach]

You're not alone. We started the paperchase in September and the dossier wasn't complete until January. I have NO idea how people can get a homestudy and dossier together in a few weeks - kudos to them though.

[uom88]

I'm amazed at how stressfull the paper chase is but hang in there. Just keep telling yourself you'll get the child you are meant to have so the delays are just a part of the big plan. There are days, though, that I wish my plan was a quick adoption process!! Good luck!

[lmvsmom]

The paperchase was THE worst part of our experience. I had so much trouble with each document it seemed, including a near breakdown in the county clerk's office exclaiming, "you people have got to help me! I can't be the only person in this county who has tried to do an international adoption!!"

I shiver still thinking about it. Hang in there, you'll get it done, one piece of paper at a time!

[wannabamom]

In my case, after my agency gave me the requirements of Docs., for the Home Study, I collected it all in TWO WEEKS and gave it back to them, but THEY TOOK 4 MONTHS TO COMPLETE MY HS and just gave it back to me now, and with ERRORS, they don't want to correct!!!!!! I'm so fed up with them, but until Post placement, (which is a long way off), I can't do a D*** thing!!!!!!!-- And my dossier, they gave me the list only now too, and I am almost done with it!!!!--

Good luck, and don't feel bad, because it'll all happen in it's own time, even though, I too am frustrated, and can't wait to be done with the whole thing!!!!!!!!

[Maedchen]

Your timeline doesn't seem unusual to me. We started with the homestudy paperwork in December, 1st visit with SW 12/28 and first dossier mtg at agency 1/17. Homestudy was completed 2/9 and dossier was just finally done and mailed yesterday - 4/6. I think every agency has different procedures, just like every BCIS office has different rules, which is something we don't always see when looking at timelines... And I know a lot of people who submitted their i600a before they started their homestudy process...

[june23]

I feel the same way! We started the paper chase weeks ago but it feels like months!! We are not very far in the process and I know it is going to take us a couple months to finish. We just try and focus on what this is all about and that is what keeps us going.

[krambk]

The only way we have gotten this far is because I got the majority of my dossier completed during the kids springbreak, I took vacation from work that week also.

We are still waiting on 2 items, state fingerprints and one letter of reference from our pastor.

Pastor coming out this monday, to meet with us to write our letter next week.

Still waiting for state background checks. its been 2 1/2 weeks it was only supose to take 5-7 days so much for counting on that.

anyways longwinded explantation, hope to be done in next couple of weeks started chasing paper 3/16/06

Brandee

[saranbr]

Our paper chase took October to the end of March, though perhaps I wasn't as agressive as I could have been, especially initially. I did, however, take FOREVER for the INS junk-- 7 wks to even get a finger printing apt, 3 wks until, and 8 more to get the I171. Apparently our state is known to be problematic in this area.

Keep working on it-- you will get there even if it feels like the time will NEVER come! I felt that way last Jan-Feb and a year ago today we got our referral!

[arthymom]

Because of my husband's and my foreign birth certificates,
compounded by the fact that he is not a U.S. citizen, our
dossier is taking forever. We've already had to re-do stuff and to convince people....

So hang in there...We'll be in the 4-5 month club to completion is my guess by the time we're done too.

Take care

[annaguat]

I think by now we are pros at it. Also we own our own business so there was some flexibility as to when we can take off to get stuff done. With our first adoption it took much longer, mainly the homestudy took months to get from the agency. Now I know better. I think 3 to 6 months is not unusual. One thing that helps us is to make a simple flow chart to see what needs to be done first and what expires when. If you are not sure on the how too you might find a family who has been there done that and is willing to take you under their wings. Just keep plodding along. It took us 3 1/2 yrs before our first adoption was completed. Two of those years was finding our children and getting a homestudy done. Anna

[Michelle Smiles]

I've just started, but I've become the queen of lists this week. I feel good that I've made some progress on every item for the dossier and homestudy. But some things just take time. My husband was born in CA and he has to fill out a form, have it notarized, then send it in with the fee and wait. I ordered mine over the internet. My husband hasn't seen a doctor in a year so we have to wait for an appointment for his physical for the medical letter. I was excited today because I got calls that both my employment verification letter and our local police letters are notarized and ready to be picked up. I got our marriage certificate on Tuesday. I feel pretty good at our progress a week in...but once I start running into having to wait on other people I know we will slow way down.

Now, if I could just make myself take the leap and sign with an agency....lol

[SisterBear]

Thanks! I am feeling a little better now! My husband got some major things done today (contacted his business reference and finished his childcare training classes) so I feel good about that! Tomorrow we are going in for fingerprinting for the I-600A so that's good.

Lana

[euphemie]

I'm getting pretty good with all this paperwork. I chose an agency that did both HS & placement, promptly filled in all the forms they sent, but before mailing them the app. we switched. I filled in all the blanks on #2 HS app, associated forms & mailed them in on the 1st. Then they scheduled the class which there was no way we were going to to able to attend and won't have another till fall. HS agency #3- I have to write an autobiography instead of fill in the blanks, so it will take a little longer, other wise all the forms are signed and ready to go. Turns out I will save a bunch of money this way as well as avoid any classes as this HS does not require them. I'm collecting what I need for the dossier, luckily we only have to deal with 3 nearby states, and they all fall under the same consulate.