China is getting closer

Just in the last few days we received confirmation from our adoption agency that the US Consulate in Guangzhou has received our DS-260 documents. What does that mean you might ask?  Well... it basically means that our window of travel will be anywhere from 1-4 weeks from June 18 (when our Article V approval is scheduled to be issued.)

Given that most families depart the U.S. on a Wednesday, we can pretty much narrow our departure to one of four dates:  June 26, July 3, July 10 or July 17.  This basically depends on how many families they are able to get together to travel at the same time.

Here's a little breakdown of what the trip will be like:

It will take roughly 14 days.  We arrive in Beijing (RED pin on map) on a Thursday and spend a few days getting acclimated to the time and culture, while also getting to be tourists.  (Peter's going to love this!)  This part is key in helping families get settled and rested before they start in on the very unsettling process of removing a child from the only home they know.

After about thee days in Beijing, we travel to Nanchang, (BLUE pin on map) the city where Emilia lives in the orphanage.  We'll take custody of her almost immediately and begin our new lives together.  We're told that the next several days are incredibly hard.  They'll be spent finalizing the adoption on the China side, getting her passport and just taking care of her, while doing everything possible to establish positive bonding.

From Nanchang, we'll travel to Guangzhou, (GREEN pin on map) the home of the U.S. Consulate. We'll be there for a few days, doing some touristy things, and then the final major step... obtaining her Visa to enter the U.S.

The trip home comes next and here's the cool thing:  Based upon the fact that the U.S. and China have adopted the policies of the Hague Convention, the moment she passes Immigration coming into the U.S., she becomes a U.S. citizen.

So there you have it.  Thanks for joining us in praying for our sweet Emilia and her transition into the Carey family.  More to come!