USCIS Update and Information About Dossiers

If you regularly read this blog, I owe you an apology. I haven't updated in nearly a month even though there is a reason to update!

I got a letter from USCIS the Friday before Memorial weekend stating that a few things were missing from my home study. I finally got my new copy of the home study earlier in the week and mailed it in to USCIS on Wednesday. Hopefully it will only be a short time before I have official USCIS approval! I'm anxiously awaiting their approval!

Once I have USCIS approval, I will be able to submit my dossier. Since I know many of my friends and family members are new to the whole adoption thing, you're probably thinking, "What exactly is a dossier?" A dossier is a set of documents that are necessary to meet the legal requirements for adoption from a foreign country. Each country has their own specific requirements as to what goes in the dossier. These documents include a health statement from adoptive parents (written by your physician), financial information (income, expenses, etc.), an adoption petition, certified copies of birth (and marriage) certificates, employment verification, a certified copy of the home study, results of the criminal background check, letters of reference, most recent Federal income tax return, and photographs of family, relatives, pets, and house.

Next month is Zola's birthday. I'm trying to plan something fun to celebrate her birthday. If you happen to have any ideas, I'd love to hear them. I am hoping that Zola's third birthday will be her last one in an orphanage. Here's to hoping Zola will be able to celebrate her fourth birthday knowing the love of a family!