Everyone who is familiar with the adoption process knows that although today was pretty much a formality... it's still a big event. We received our I-171H, "Notice of favorable determination concerning application for advance processing of orphan petition". This means that both the state government (via the homestudy) and federal government (via this approval) deem us law-abiding citizens and more importantly, "able to furnish proper care to an orphan or orphans as defined by Section 101(b)(1)(F) of the Immigration and Nationality Act".

Living in San Diego, we have the unique opportunity to visit the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Orphan Unit and have our papers processed in person. Back in November we submitted our I-600A. Then had our fingerprints taken. Today we hand delivered our homestudy during their walk-in hours.

Here's how our I-600A was processed:
1. Put our name on waiting list on window labeled "Adoptions only". Waited 30-35 minutes in dim lit waiting room with large picture of President George W Bush looking down on us.
2. Get called into office by very nice orphan officer. She pulls our manila file folder from filing cabinet. Within file are the I-600A paperwork we submitted in November (left side) and fingerprint results and check-off form (right side).
3. Orphan officer reviews homestudy cover page which says that we are approved to adopt "up to three children, including siblings, of either gender, between the ages of 2-8 years, in reasonably good health, from Russia". She also skims "Evalution and recommendation" part of homestudy. Initials and date stamps check-off form.
4. Orphan officer provides us with our "International Adoption Acknowledgement Notice" aka we turned in our I-600A and paid the application & fingerprint fees letter.
5. Orphan officer makes sure she has all components of I-600A in her folder (copies of passports, birth certificates, M's divorce decree, marriage certificate). Officer checks to make sure divorce occurred before we got married.
6. Orphan officer verbally confirms that I'm over 25. ;-)
7. Orphan officer performs "background check" on computer. Types in our names... flips through a few screens... Initials and date stamps check-off form.
8. Orphan officer looks again at fingerprint results.
9. Orphan officer types in fields on I-171H form letter & prints us a copy. Checks the boxes that say:

• Your advance processing application has been forwarded to the American Consulate or Embassy at Moscow, Russia.
• Fingerprint expiration date is 02/13/2008
• Number, gender, and age of orphan: 3/either gender/2-8 years

10. Orphan officer also puts a copy of the I-171H in the manila file. She sends an email to the Embassy in Moscow saying that we are approved and that our paper file will be arriving shortly. Officer puts sticky note on paper file and says she will send it to Moscow today.

11. Orphan officer also gives us information about "definition of an orphan" and would like us to send in pictures of the children when we are home.

We leave happy and ready to start the next phase.... the dossier! As you can see, even Thani is excited...