Now, it doesn't really matter that I have earned a doctorate...this process is meant to drive sane people nuts. At the beginning of February (4 weeks, not including the 2 week winter holiday) we recieved an e-mail from the adoption agency saying that there were some changes that needed to be made in the homestudy. Some of the things that they want out are things that IL require. They are going to figure it out I guess. Then we needed to provide all these finanical documents that I offered up months ago, but our homestudy agency said we didn't need. I guess now we do.
Now there is a break in comminication about the figerprint process. The paperwork from the adoption agency says one thing and the homestudy agency told me to do another thing. This question was poseed to the adoption agency: "Also David and Wynter were not fingerprinted using the FBI fingerprinting cards and sending those off to the FBI directly. The method mostly used in Illinois is to use Accurate Biometrics which scans the prints directly into the system and then using our agency's ORI number, sends a report directly to us. So the documentation for both state and FBI will be a print out - not cards. " What the heck is the difference between cards and a print out????
So we wait to see if we need to do something else. So, after adoption agency approves once again, it is off to DCFS for approval which I am told takes another 3 weeks.
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It looks like you are where many of us were a few months ago. Nothing makes sense, everyone has a different answer and the adoptive parents are the only ones who use logic.
ReplyDeleteSoon enough you will be through it. I just looked back at my own blog last night and was surprised by all that we have gone through to finally get our approval. Keep us posted!
We needed to have a letter directly from the FBI stating that we have a clear record. This is a document needed for the dossier. We also needed a state clearance that our home study agency pulled for us. I would make sure to find out soon about the FBI fingerprints, ours took 11 weeks to come back. When I called to inquire about them they said we were supposed to write "adoption" on the outside of the envelope so they can put them in the front of the line. GOOD LUCK!!
ReplyDeleteWe are on our way to get our USCIS fingerprints today, hopefully we can get through it with no problems.
Take heart! You will get through the process and be holding your sweet angel before you know it. We ran into similar trouble when we were adopting our daughter from Guatemala. The Guatemalan government wanted a document one way, and our state agency refused to comply.
ReplyDeleteWe finally contacted our senator. The issue was cleared up within a day, so keep that in mind if you run into any roadblocks. I know someone who used to work as an aid to a senator. He said anytime someone writes a letter to a senator, the staff members jump! Your senator - and congressmen - work for you, and they know you vote, so by all means don't be hesitant about contacting them.
Good luck!
Susan
http://www.international-adoption-facts-and-information.com
Yeah fingerprinting was confusing. We had our homestudy prints done on cards at the police station. We wrote "adoption" on the envelope but when I called to check, they said they only expedite if there was already a child waiting. I'm not sure how long it took because we had it sent to our agency. Our biggest delay was getting the doctor's statements notarized.
ReplyDeleteDon't worry you'll get through it all!
Rose,
ReplyDeleteWelcome to Illinois!! I guess 99% of the rest of the US uses the cards, but we have the Accurate Biometrics which will go right to the FBI. The first time around (before my agency had the approval to do the direct send) I did the biometrics and then they printed on the card for me. After they were not approved, my agency had just received authorization to send prints direct(which it sounds like yours does) and that was what I did.
We received our DCFS approval today- it took 20 days. But now we have to get a "homestudy approval letter" from the agency and send that for approval to DCFS! I guess that's how it goes!!
Yes, frustrating & confusing!! You will get through this & it will all be worth it! Keep plugging along, there is a light at the end of the tunnel :-)
ReplyDeleteWe used biometrics as well in Minnesota for our federal prints. I loved it! It meant that we knew right on the spot if they were acceptable or not. And honestly, it was quite an experience in and of itself.
ReplyDeleteNavigating the (sometimes contradictory) differences between state and federal requirements is a huge challenge. We were lucky to have an excellent agency handle our home study and help us through the trickiest parts. Ask lots of questions and don't be afraid to ask some more an hour later when more arise! :)