May 2, 2008

Now that our application part 2 is approved, we are now able to schedule our home study update. Our social worker is out of town, but we hope to have her visit in the next week or so. We will keep you posted and let you know when we have her scheduled.

Once the social worker visits, she will write the update and send it to Dillon for approval. Once the homestudy is approved, we can sign the formal child assignment papers and file our orphan petition (I-600 form) with the USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services). The I-600/orphan petition can be submitted in person at the our USCIS office. This is when we will have our fingerprints done for FBI background checks.

Once we have a completed home study, we can begin to apply for adoption grants.

The our state has now changed how they do their background checks. We have to go to the local police station and have our fingerprints done to submitt with our application for our state background checks. We will have this done next week were we live. This is in addition to the FBI background checks. Just one more piece to complete the puzzle.

Thank you again for your thoughts and prayers.
Cherri