I'm on hold right now...the "anticipated" wait time is 20-30 minutes. They have this HORRIBLE repetitive hold music. I've counted and there are exactly 13 (for you music people, 4/4) measures that repeat over & over. And it's one of those melodies that has the potential of getting STUCK in the brain -- I believe I may be singing this in my sleep tonight! I bet this is a tactic that is used to frustrate people into not wanting to be on hold. As long as I can sit here and work while I'm on hold, that tactic won't work on me!! haha

Seriously - I'm trying to figure out if I have a case number so I can better determine where we are in this wait process. Amy doesn't think I will be successful in getting it...and she is probably right ... but my sanity depends on at least trying!!

I'll update later & let y'all know how it goes..... :) Back to work!

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UPDATE:

Okay - got some faulty information from the National Office...tried faxing a request to the Atlanta adoption office... talked to Amy...tried a 'test' email...got an automated response, and in it all, the automated response cleared up tons of information...ended up wishing I had the email address for the automated response a LONG time ago. My confusion came in because Amy was telling me one thing...the national website was saying something else, which was causing my stress (evidently the regional/national offices do not communicate as closely as I thought, and the information on the national website is waaay behind, even though the "update date" is Oct 12).

I also wish that all social workers would give this email address to adoptive parents, so that they can check, periodically, rather than feel like they are sitting on their hands waiting on nothing!! Amy kept trying to tell me the information IN the email, but I never understood where she was getting this information. Now I understand.

That was a long, confusing update.

Knowledge is power...or at least in my case (and probably many other adoptive parents' cases), knowledge is sanity. So I share this, hoping that an adoptive parent somewhere will read it and not experience the frustration that we've experienced with this process...or in the very least, retain some sanity, knowing that things are moving along normally even when it seems like things are so abnormal! :)

So - here's the automated email response, just FYI...in case you want/ have time to read it (remember, this is for the ATLANTA, GA office only...other regional offices may be/are probably different).
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**I've deleted a portion of the post, simply because it was l-o-n-g and was screwing up my blog design!! If you are interested in finding out how to contact your regional office, let me know**

From the email I received, here are the things that the USCIS Atlanta office determined are ... THE MOST COMMON QUESTIONS:

1. DOCUMENTS - You must submit proof of US citizenship or legal immigration status and if you are married, proof that you are legally married. Birth Certificates, Marriage Certificates, and legal proof of termination of each prior marriage are documents that must be issued by the appropriate state authority. Your documents support your application so they will be sent with the application to the American Consul where you will apply for a visa for your child. We will not be able to return them to you. Please be sure the copies are legible. You will need your original documents later in the process.


2. ARREST RECORDS - If you were ever arrested we need:

a) A statement from you, with original signature in blue ink, describing the circumstances of the arrest and mentioning any mitigating circumstances.

b) An original certified copy of the final disposition of the sentence imposed and it should include all charges against you from the court with jurisdiction over the place where the arrest took place. A final disposition is the official document issued by the court which informs us that you completed the requirements of the sentence or that charges were dismissed. If your fingerprints expire and you need to be fingerprinted again for another background check, you will again need an original certified copy of the disposition.


3. HOME STUDY - Must be an original document, (faxed copies are not acceptable), less than six months old. If you live in Georgia, the home study must have an original signature of both the home study preparer, and of an official of the Adoption Agency. If you live in Alabama, the home study must have an original signature of the preparer and of the "Responsible State Agency". We have no requirements that the home study be notarized.

4. UPDATED HOME STUDY - We require an amended or updated home study only under the following circumstances:

a) Before approval of the I600/I600A, only if there is a change in circumstances of the prospective parents. Some typical events that would require an amended home study are a move, another adult in the home, or a job change. Usually, a change in an element of the home study will trigger the need for an amended home study. These are examples only and there are many other changes in circumstances that would require an amended home study be submitted to us before approval.

b) After approval of the I600/I600A, an amended home study is required only if you are making a new request such as a new background check (because your fingerprints have expired) and there has been a change in your circumstances, for example, if you have moved, changed jobs or there is another adult living in your home. These are examples only. There are other reasons that would require that you submit an amended home study. If you are uncertain, please seek professional advice or read the regulations to determine if an amended home study is required when you are applying to be fingerprinted again.

c) Expiration of the I600A, and the adoption is not complete so you must file a new I600A Application, an update of the original home study (less than 6 months old), is fine.

5. THE NOTICE OF APPROVAL - The notice of approval is the form we issue when your I600A is approved. It is sometimes referred to as a form 171 or 797. The expiration date of the notice of approval is 18 months from the approval date on the notice, but it is not shown on the notice.


6. THE BACKGROUND CHECK (AND NEW FINGERPRINTS) - The background check is valid for 15 months, and is shown on the notice of approval by the fingerprint expiration date. It is not uncommon to need to be fingerprinted again. To request new fingerprints, mail us a written request to be fingerprinted again, a copy of the approval notice, and the fee for each person to be fingerprinted. We will immediately send you an appointment. When we get the results from the FBI, we will issue a new notice of approval with the new validity date of your background check/fingerprints.

Remember, you are requesting a new background check and if you have ever been arrested we will need certified copies of the disposition for each arrest, again. The disposition you sent us earlier has been sent to the Embassy or Consul. Also, if there has been a significant change in your circumstances, we will need an updated or amended home study. (See 4 above.)

It will take time for us to receive the results and to issue a new notice of approval, and for you to receive the notice of approval. We suggest you request to be reprinted two months before the expiration date.

Most approval notices have detailed instructions as to how to obtain an appointment for fingerprints.


7. CHANGING THE APPOINTMENT TO BE FINGERPRINTED – Read the information on your appointment notice. You will find very specific instructions regarding a new appointment.

8. YOU WANT TO ADOPT MORE CHILDREN THAN YOU HAVE BEEN APPROVED TO ADOPT - To determine the number of children a prospective parent can adopt, we follow exactly the recommendation of the adoption agency as indicated in the home study. Read it carefully before you send it to us to be sure it is correct and shows the actual number of children you want to adopt. Sometimes there is a discrepancy between what is indicated on the application and what the home study recommends. After the application has been adjudicated and the notice of approval is issued, the number of children you may adopt cannot be changed unless you go through a long, expensive process. A new I 600A or a Motion to Reopen must be filed along with a new home study and accompanying documents.

9. YOU WISH TO CHANGE THE COUNTRY WHERE YOU WILL ADOPT – Use Form I-824, Application for Action on an Approved Application or Petition.

10. YOUR I600A HAS EXPIRED AND THE ADOPTION IS NOT COMPLETE - An I600A Application cannot be extended beyond the 18 month validity period. The 18 months begins from the date of approval as shown on the Approval Notice. The Application is considered abandoned if you have not filed the I600 within that 18 months. If that happens, you must file a completely new I600A Application, including all the documentation and the fees, even though they were submitted with the first I600A Application. This is because we sent your original Application and all the accompanying documents to the American Consul or Embassy you designated. This is becoming a common problem for those adopting from CHINA because of Chinese government processing times. To file again, you will need:

a) An updated home study and a photocopy of the original home study;

b) If your fingerprints have been extended and are valid, you do not need new fingerprints.

c) Photocopies of all documents you originally submitted, such as marriage certificates, birth certificates, etc.

d) If you have an arrest record, we will need original, certified copies of the dispositions, again.

d) Please include a copy of the previous approval with the application.



NOTES FOR HOME STUDY PREPARERS - MOST COMMON ERRORS

Per 8 CFR Part 204.3 (e) ..The purpose of the home study is to screen prospective adoptive parents for the protection of the orphan…

To protect the orphans, the preparer must make assessments, evaluations, and determinations. Please do not describe the home or the income in great detail, and then stop before you make an assessment or evaluation. Though it may seem obvious to you, CIS cannot assume. This is a legal process, and we cannot make assumptions based on your descriptions of finances or living accommodations. We need for you to make a conclusion.

8 CFR Part 204.3 (e) (3) Living accommodations … a detailed description of the living accommodations … must include an assessment of the suitability of accommodations for a child and a determination whether such space meets applicable State requirements, if any.

8 CFR Part 204.3(e)(2)(ii) Finances - Assessment of the finances of the prospective adoptive parents ... The home study should make a determination that the funds available for the support of the prospective adoptive child are sufficient.

Do not tell the prospective parents that they should request two children, then recommend only one child. The parents get upset.


THE VERY MOST IMPORTANT THINGS FOR EVERYBODY TO REMEMBER


DO NOT LET YOUR APPLICATION FOR ADVANCE PROCESSING (I600A) EXPIRE

THE NOTICE OF APPROVAL (171 OR 797) DOES NOT SHOW AN EXPIRATION DATE FOR THE I600A, BUT IT DOES SHOW AN APPROVAL DATE. THE I600A IS VALID FOR 18 MONTHS FROM THE APPROVAL DATE. IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO EXTEND THE I600A APPLICATION.

YOU MUST FILE THE ORPHAN PETITION WITHIN 18 MONTHS OF THE APPROVAL DATE OF YOUR I600A. IF YOU DO NOT, YOU WILL HAVE TO FILE A NEW I600A APPLICATION.

THE FINGERPRINT EXPIRATION DATE IS NOT THE EXPIRATION DATE OF THE NOTICE OF APPROVAL.

DO NOT LET YOUR FINGERPRINTS EXPIRE

THE EXPIRATION DATE OF YOUR BACKGROUND CHECK IS SHOWN ON THE APPROVAL NOTICE BY THE "FINGERPRINT EXPIRATION DATE". APPLY TO BE FINGERPRINTED AGAIN TWO MONTHS BEFORE THE FINGERPRINTS EXPIRE. WHEN WE RECEIVE THE NEW PRINTS AND BACKGROUND CHECK INFORMATION, WE CAN ISSUE A NEW NOTICE OF APPROVAL WITH THE NEW EXPIRATION DATE OF YOUR BACKGROUND CHECK.

DO NOT LEAVE THE UNITED STATES UNTIL YOU HAVE A VALID APPROVAL

TOO OFTEN WE HEAR OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE TRAVELED OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES AND FIND THEY MUST COME HOME BECAUSE THEY NEED TO COMPLETE THE APPLICATION, NEED TO BE FINGERPRINTED AGAIN, OR NEED TO FILE AGAIN. THEY ARE NOT HAPPY CAMPERS!!


DO NOT SEND US FAXES. We do not receive them. We are hoping the that this auto reply and email communication will replace the old fax system.

DO NOT ATTEMPT TO USE INFO PASS OR THE CIS WEBSITE to check on your adoption application or to schedule an appointment. Your inquiry/request will not be directed to adoptions. The best way to contact us is, after you have read this auto response, to email us.

DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CHECK ON THE STATUS OF YOUR I600A until the we have had the home study for 75 days.