The Paperchase

July 2007 - Requested information packets from several adoption agencies, including America World Adoption Agency August 2007- Made the decision to expand our family through adoption from China September 2007- Attended Spirit of Adoption Seminar by America World and made the decision to apply to AWAA September 27 -Application to AWAA was approved October 1 - Applied for Passports October 12 - Got Background Checks and fingerprints from local police dept October 16 - Began homestudy process October 29 - Septic Tank Inspection for homestudy November 9 -Everyone got physicals and shots, even the animals November 24 - Homestudy completed December 11 - Mailed application to USCIS and began the certification process for all documents except the 171-H January 10, 2008 - Added our names to AWAA’s interested families list for waiting children, requesting female age 0-4 with minor correctible special needs January 15 - Fingerprints done and documents sent to USCIS for processing February 20 - Received 171-H from USCIS March 5 - Received the famous “Brown Envelope” from Chinese Consulate March 10 - Dossier sent to AWAA for review and authentication March 14 - FINALLY DTC!! We are in travel group 350. March 19 - Our official Log In Date May 9 - Requested referral review of a file for a 2 ½ year old girl on the waiting child list but returned the file. We both felt that this was not our daughter. The wait continues.. June 12 - REFERRAL!! Surprise call came from Melissa at AWAA with the file of a 3 year old girl for us to review. She is beautiful and healthy and her birthday is the day before Holt’s. This is definitely our daughter. June 13 - Letter of Intent sent to AWAA accepting the referral of LuXinMei June 27 - Received Pre-Approval to adopt Lu XinMei September 9 - Letter of Acceptance received, granting us permission to make Lu XinMei our daughter TBA - Travel Arrangements to go to China and bring Maili home

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