[MoonKitty77]

That is how I feel right now. We started this process and late April. We had our 1st homestudy visit early May and final visit 2 weeks later. Well here it is.....going into 2nd week in July and our homestudy STILL isn't completed and we STILL aren't in immigration yet.
Our agency is making us wait until our homestudy is completed and send it in w/the 1600a.
The problem lies in my husband's state police clearance letter. He has some past arrests from over 10 yrs ago that are on there, so that's what is holding it up. We have been waiting for this clearance letter since EARLY May. Our Social Worker sent us this email today w/the status:

I hate to email you with this info., but remember there are things just out of our/your control. I know you are eager to continue with your adoption, and this is an unsightly delay.
I called the state police, and they said that they are waiting on an "outside source" to send them info b/4 they are able to complete your husband's police check. They said the deadline for the other agency to get them their info is 7/18th, and then they get an additional 10 days from there to respond. They said the latest we should have the info back from them is mid to late August. It could be before, but that should be the lastest. It doesn't look like it will be before the beginning of August, b/c they don't expect the "otside source" to send the info b/4 their 10 day grace period.

I am really sorry to have to tell you this. I still don't think it means bad news, it just means it is taking a long time to complete this home study. I feel really bad for you, I know you are anxious to finish this, but unfortunately we just have to wait right now.
I hope this info doesn't ruin your weekend,

WELL...IT DID RUIN MY WEEKEND!!!!!!
Does anyone have any clue what this "outside source" could be??

I AM SO BUMMED! I just want to throw in the towel at this point. We've been through so much heartache with our infertility and this is just as hard to handle.

[Mindybeth6]

I am so sorry that you are going through all of this. It is so hard at the beginning...the paperwork, INS, the homestudy. THE DELAYS. I remember them all. Just hang in there...it has to get better. Don't give up....please don't. It will happen. I son't understnad, however, why you can't at least submit your 1600a so you could get your fingerprints out of the way. We worked with the Cleveland Office and it took 3 months from filing the application to getting our approval and that is commong for them. Not sure who you will be going though. Good luck and hang in there...it WILL get done.

Many Hugs

[DianaPrince]

My homestudy was plagued with delays, as well . . . not just paperwork delays, but summer vacations and people leaving their jobs unexpectedly, etc., etc. At times I wanted to scream, or cry, or both. It actually took me almost five months from start to finish when it should have taken more like five weeks. The good news is, many of us have been through it, and we're here to offer encouragement. The bad news is, this is just the beginning.

That said, if you continue to feel discouraged, perhaps it wouldn't be a bad idea to take some time away from the situation. It doesn't sound like you are too far in at this point, and it does seem like maybe you are still grieving your infertility which you should absolutely take the time to do before taking on the stress of an adoption.

Everything will work out!

Valerie

[dspakowsky]

It sounds like you'll just have to sit back and wait. Hang in there though! Don't give up. You've been wanting to become a mother and this is what you have to go through to be one. IT'S SO WORTH IT! It may not feel that way now, but for the next 18+ years you'll have your little one and know that you made the right choice to stay in the game. I see you haven't posted much on this forum... try posting more and talking about your feelings. It really helps. You'll find other moms who've been through what your're talking about and can relate. Chances are, you (like most of us) don't have many people around us that have adopted. So, they don't always encourage us to keep pressing on. But only you can keep the process going. If you decide to quit, your dream of motherhood will be gone (most likely).

I've been through so many obsticales to get where I am it's not even funny! Dob't give up

I hope someone else can write in about "outside sources." I'm not familiar with that.

[DD Amasa]

Hang in there. You have a lot of company. The adoption process is one series of frustrations after the other unfortunately, until you bring your little one home. My homestudy took over three months because the FBI lost my fingerprints and I had to redo them. Then the USCIS screwed up my fingerprint appt with them and I got the notice too late to go and had to reschedule: the next appt they had was three months later which in turn held up my I700. And it goes on. Then I couldn't get DNA authorization. Now I'm stuck in PGN.

Parenthood is also full of trials and frustrations, difficulties and worries, along with the joy. You just have to develop the patience and stamina for it all. Because it's worth it.

[MoonKitty77]

Thank you so much for your replies! I had a FREAK OUT moment there....and I cried and I got over it. You all have helped me. It's just that....when we started the process, our agency was telling us that we would probably have a baby home by Christmas time. I don't know why they would EVER tell anyone that. So, I can't let go of that timeline and I get frustrated. I wish they would have never told me that, b/c it's going to be WAAAAY after that.

I don't post much here b/c I don't feel like I'm far enough along in the process to post. Silly, isn't it?

[dspakowsky]

Originally Posted by MoonKitty77

I don't post much here b/c I don't feel like I'm far enough along in the process to post. Silly, isn't it?

Keep posting. The process is emotional too, and I'm sure you've gone through a lot of emotions already I hope you hear something soon about from the other police source. Take care.

[spokanemom]

I hate paperwork. From the time we started our 1-600 and homestudy until we submitted the dossier it was 7 mos. I thought it would never end. I may seems like a lot of people quickly get though this but there are also just as many of us who take and long time and experience delays at every step.

[Michelle Smiles]

Yes, I've thought about giving up many times. The paperchase is painfully difficult sometimes and I got to the point I didn't feel like I could possibly re-do another document. Forums like this help keep me going. I see others going through more difficult journeys and get encouragement from those who have been there, done that. I'm so sorry you have to wait like this. I don't know what the outside source is but I hope they hurry up!

[alreadylove2005]

I hope you get some good news soon. Once in awhile there are actually some happy surprises in the paperwork chase where something goes quicker than you expect.

Pat yourself on the back for being strong enough to even start this process. It's very difficult and use whatever resources you can to get support ( like this forum !)

Good luck and keep us posted on how things go!

[mildredjohn]

Hello, I 'm sorry that you feel like that so soon in the process. The paperwork is a draining process and in my personal opinion the agency is wrong making you wait to submitt the I600A. They should let you go ahead with this part so both things are done simultaneously. Then you are going to have to wait three months more for your fingerprints.

This place is for us in the bad and in the goods, don't be shy to use our support!

[jaenelle]

Well, we don't have any arrests or anything they could possibly think is wrong with us, and we're still waiting more than three months from when we started to gather our paperwork. And this is for domestic which from what I understand is supposed to be much quicker than international process. Take heart that your child will come to you when they're meant to -- that's what I have been trying to do.

[kerrib]

Just to let you know, my agency had me wait to file my I600A until my home study was completed. In Los Angeles, they won't even accept one unless the home study is included. The good news was it only took five weeks to get my approval!

[jeannecr]

Hang in there! It took us 6 months to get from beginning our applications to getting our I-171h, because of delays with the homestudy process, and then getting fingerprinting results. Every CIS office is different; ours wouldn't have let us do fingerprints until the homestudy and supporting documents were in, anyway. It drove us crazy that it was taking so long, but once we got our referral, we didn't care about it anymore.

Take some deep breaths! It's a good idea to give up specific dates in your mind. That only causes so much stress. You will see people going faster, people going slower, and it doesn't mean anything in the end. We will all be parents.

[MoonKitty77]

Thank you SO MUCH for all of your wonderful advice! It really does help ALOT! If I just let go of those timeframes I was told, I can get through this. I am just so anxious to become a mommy and I am so in love with me child even though I don't know who it is yet. My heart is bursting at the seams with love and I cant wait to share it.