• Dossiers land in DC at 8:24 a.m., and are picked up by courier at 9:02 a.m.
• Vlad emails from Ukraine to say he has started translating the advance copy

Thu, 04 December 2003

Courier in DC reports that dossiers have cleared the US State Dept., and have been submitted to the Ukrainian Consulate. Dossiers will finish at Embassy and ship to Ukraine on Tue, 09 December, right on schedule.

Tue, 09 December 2003

My dossiers are on the way to Kiev.

Fri, 12 December 2003

Dossiers arrive in Kiev at 8:54 am, and there was much rejoicing.

Tue, 16 December 2003

• Translator writes to say that he has finished the translations and will deliver the dossiers to the National Adoption Center tomorrow (Wed).
• Translator also says, "As to the approval, I do not think it will happen by the end of this year and since the AC will be closed until mid-January, I guess it will happen in late January. I will keep you updated."
• Approval in late-January means travel in April or May, unless I get lucky and they have an opening sooner. The AC is being very strict about only processing 10 families per day, so the appointment is mostly a matter of getting in the queue and waiting.

Tue, 23 December 2003

The US Embassy in Warsaw wrote to confirm that they received my cable from the Dallas INS/BCIS/USCIS office (I do wish they'd stop changing the name), and are sending me a bunch of stuff via diplomatic pouch.

Fri, 09 January 2004

• Most of Ukraine is still shut down for the winter holidays, but reports from a few parents are trickling in. Some have had terrible trouble satisfying judges in various regions (Dnip being the worst, as always), and one couple returned without a child. Bummer.
• Many parents reporting that they can't get the 30-day waiting period waived, even in regions that historically have always waived it. While two trips has always been a possibility, it's looking more and more likely. If judges are clamping down now, then my chances of getting the 30 days waived several months from now are pretty slim.
• Will get my visa approved for multiple entries, just to be safe.
• Finished installing child-safety latches on sliding doors leading to the pool, and on all drawers and cabinets in the kitchen. Only childproofing left is minor pick-up around the house, stairwell gates, and moving cleaning supplies to one of the locking cabinets. No hurry on any of these things.

Sat, 10 January 2004

• Took passport photos needed to obtain the visa to enter Ukraine.
• Called my good friend C, who has agreed to accompany me to Ukraine if her job schedule permits. Wanted to ask her to get passport photos taken and drop off the photos and passport so I can get her visa. Found out she is about two months pregnant. I knew she was trying, but didn't know she had succeeded. If my appointment at the NAC is within the next couple of months, she's still willing to go. After that, it will be up to her doctor.
• Will go ahead and get C's visa for single entry. She will probably be able to go for at least the first week of the first trip. Even if she can't be there through the whole court proceedings, it will be wonderful to have her at the NAC and at the orphanage. Choosing children will probably be the most stressful part of the trip, and C is a wonderfully practical and level-headed person.
• Will check into finding someone else to travel with me on the (likely) second trip. Even if C's health is good, she won't be able to take more time off work. Might have to do the second trip alone, which is okay, but not terribly convenient...am having visions of dragging luggage and two children who don't speak English through airports, customs, and immigration on my own...not a happy thought.

Wed, 14 January 2004

C's doctor says she cannot travel overseas during her pregnancy, even if we left tomorrow. In order for her pregnancy to have the best chance of coming to term without problems, the OBGYN wants her to stay close to home and avoid unnecessary stress and travel.

Thu, 15 January 2004

A couple whose dossiers landed in Kiev two weeks before mine just got their approval, and were told to ask for an appointment in May. Looks like the NAC is running further behind than usual (if anything over there can be said to be "usual"). Each person's experience with the NAC is unique, but it certainly looks as if my estimates are on target so far: I should hear of my approval in the next couple of weeks, and will probably travel in May.

Fri, 16 January 2004

• More data from others getting their approvals and appointment dates: Those whose dossiers arrived in Kiev in late November or early December are getting mostly April appointments. May seems likely for me.
• Parents are reporting that the NAC has reverted to sending letters via the post instead of letting the facilitator know. Bummer.
• Received the long-promised packet from the US Embassy in Warsaw. Contains a nice confirmation letter, some basic instructions for what to do after obtaining my children but before taking them to Warsaw, and a pile of forms. These appear to be import declaration forms (visa applications) written in typical governmentese. The forms are accompanied by several pages of instructions. Looks like I can fill out some of the blanks now, but much of the information won't be known until after I have my kids in hand.

Tue, 20 January 2004

• Vlad wrote to say, "Unfortunately, I do not have any news for you so far. They keep telling us that they are going to post a list with newly approved families. But no one knows when exactly it's gonna happen. I will keep you informed."
• Children's dresser and twin bed (sleigh bed with slide-out storage drawers underneath) arrived. I won't buy another bed until after I know whether or not I'll have two children. Toy chest, bookcase, and children's work table set to arrive next week.
• Looking around the house after installing the new bed, I realize I have to do some major spring cleaning. No problem with dirt, but so much ... stuff. Where does it all come from? Where can I put it all?

Fri, 23 January 2004

Possible snag. The NAC has (retroactively) changed the required medical form. They say that the new form is only needed for dossiers submitted after 01 January 2004, but they also say it's required for dossiers registered after the 1st. Since my dossiers were submitted before the end of the year, but not yet registered (as far as I know), it's unclear whether or not they'll process my dossiers without the new form.

One family reports being told they must use the new form, while another reports that they received their notification of registration using the old form—both families having submitted their dossiers about the same time I did.

Will write to Vlad and ask him to clarify, but will plan on getting the new form done anyway. Fortunately, I'm going to see the doctor again next week anyway, and now that authentications aren't required, it should only take two weeks to get the new form into Vlad's hands. But still....

Tue, 27 January 2004

• Still no word from Vlad.
• Toychest, bookcase, and playtable/chairs arrived.

Thu, 29 January 2004

• A couple whose dossier landed in Kiev two weeks before mine just got their registration number, and have been told to request a March or April appointment date. This bodes well for me, since obviously the NAC isn't booked solid through April yet.
• Doc says he'll have the notarized forms for me tomorrow (Friday). I'll prepare the cover letter and FedEx forms tonight, and hope to ship stuff off to Austin tomorrow.

Fri, 30 January 2004

• Doc won't have the notarized forms ready for me until Monday morning. Poop.
• Still unclear whether or not dossiers waiting for a registration number are being held up until the new medical form is supplied, or if parents must bring the new form with them when they go to Ukraine. However, some parents have been told they won't be registered until the new form is sent, so it seems likely this is why I haven't gotten my registration number.
• Waiting bites.

Mon, 02 February 2004

Picked up signed forms from doctor and sent off to Austin for apostilles. Hoping to get them back by return FedEx on Wednesday.

Wed, 04 February 2004

Apostilles left Austin at 4:30 p.m. for arrival tomorrow (Thursday). Will FedEx them directly to Vlad upon arrival.

Thu, 05 February 2004

FedEx from Austin arrived, but no apostilles enclosed. Turns out I used an old version of the request form which had incorrect information, so they sent everything back to me.

Thirty minutes after receipt, the request (with proper form) was back in the FedEx system. I called this time to make sure everything would be acceptable, and they agreed to send Vlad's copies directly to him. So, 'round about Monday, I should get my copy, and perhaps next Wednesday, Vlad will get his.

Tue, 10 February 2004

• The Texas Secretary of State returned my notarized medical forms with appropriate apostilles this morning at 9:15 a.m.
• For whatever reason, they didn't send Vlad's copies directly to him, so I'm forwarding them to Ukraine.

Fri, 13 February 2004

Medical forms arrived in Kiev at 8:17 a.m. Now for Vlad to translate them and deliver them to the NAC.

Tue, 17 February 2004

My homestudy agency got their annual letter certifying licensure. Since my dossiers contain a copy of last year's letter, we're sending the new one (notarized and apostilled, of course) over as an addendum. Exciting news, huh? Bet you're glad you checked the site for updates today!

Wed, 18 February 2004

• Vlad wrote to say that he'd finished translating my new medical forms and would be delivering them to the NAC soon.
• Vlad also mentioned that the NAC director announced a new policy yesterday. According to the new policy, the NAC will clear out the backlog of married applicants before dealing with singles.
• No one knows what this means other than there will be delays. Singles who were told the exact same thing last year were able to complete their adoptions.

Fri, 20 February 2004

Updated agency letter arrives in Kiev.

Fri, 27 February 2004

Sending another set of doctor's forms. Vlad tells me the NAC won't accept them unless they are on the doctor's letterhead.

Mon, 01 March 2004

• And we're off and running again! The third set of doctor's forms have arrived in Kiev. Vlad will translate them and present them to the NAC, which will either register my dossiers or find some other reason to delay things.
• And to keep things interesting, moments after posting the above line, I was informed the NAC is saying they need to see a notarized and apostilled copy of the doctor's license. It would have been nice if they'd mentioned this last week....
• Doctor doesn't want to give out copies of his license. Seems professional standards in Texas require him to write "VOID" in big letters across any copies to keep anyone who gets a copy from setting up shop as a licensed physician. A voided license will probably not satisfy the NAC, so we're working on ways to get a copy that satisfies everyone. Oh, the pain, the pain.

Wed, 03 March 2004

Copy of doctor's license on its way to Austin for apostilling.

Tue, 09 March 2004

Apostilles came back from Austin, so the doctor's license is on its way to Kiev.

Thu, 11 March 2004

Doctor's license arrived in Kiev and was release for delivery at 8:47 a.m. And there was much rejoicing.

Fri, 12 March 2004

New medical forms delivered to the NAC. The 20-day countdown should begin as of now.

Mon, 29 March 2004

• Bad News: Heard (unconfirmed) that the NAC director has been away for the past two weeks or so, and won't be back until after April 1st. Since she's the one who must give final approval to dossiers, apparently nothing's happened for at least two weeks. When she returns, she'll have a five-foot pile of dossiers to go through. Oh, boy, more delays!
• Good News: Beginning 19 April 2004, the U.S. Embassy in Kiev will start processing IR-3 and IR-4 immigrant visas for orphans adopted by U.S. citizens in Ukraine. This means I can skip the entire Warsaw leg.

Sat, 03 April 2004

Another single guy who submitted his dossiers about the same time I did just got approved. This guy went through the same kinds of delays and resubmission problems that I did, but beat me by about a week because he didn't have to do his medicals three times (only twice).

This bodes well. I'd heard other indications that things were moving at the NAC again, but this is about as close as I can get to receiving my own approval without actually doing so.

If the other guy got his approval near the 20-day mark, perhaps I shall, too. In which case, I should get my approval next week.

Tue, 06 April 2004

Dossiers approved today! Yay! First available appointments are in July and August. I'm requesting the first week in July.

Sun, 11 April 2004

Finished Ukraine visa applications, wrote check for fees, found passport and photo, put all together into envelope, FedExed to Jeff Doyle.

I'm requesting double entry in case I have to make two trips, but not expedited service. The normal two-week turnaround time should be fine.

The visa is only good for six months from the date of issuance, so the act of requesting a visa is my way of saying I'm confident I'll be travelling soon.

Fri, 16 April 2004

Looks like T, mom of four (three bio and one adopted from Ukraine) will be able to travel with me. We won't know for sure until I get my appointment date, but if it's in July as expected, T wants to tag along.

I'm really pleased to have her company. It'll be great having someone with me who's been through the process before. Plus, she will be able to help hauling kids around while I'm struggling with paperwork and luggage.

Fri, 23 April 2004

• Moved most of remaining music stuff out of former music room (the studio equipment went to a friend's house last week). Only a guitar, computer, and some miscellaneous junk remain.
• Cleaned out closet of former music room. Put some stuff on high shelves for long-term storage, and will cross fingers hoping kid(s) don't climb well.
• Moved bedroom furniture into former music room; changed name of room from "former music room" to "bedroom" as of today.

Tue, 27 April 2004

Vlad recommended sending a letter to the Director of the NAC as a followup to my request for appointment. Letter composed and FedExed today.

Thu, 29 April 2004

• Received Ukraine visa. It's good until October 20th, 2004 (six months from April 20th).
• Arranged for contractors to build door at entrance to kids' bedroom.

Fri, 30 April 2004

Letter to Director of the NAC arrived in Ukraine, and was delivered at 12:25 p.m. Vlad will translate it and deliver it to the Director.

Wed, 12 May 2004

• Looked at my registration letter today and noticed the NAC thinks my name is "Dzheffree Dveyeit."
• Vlad tells me that the director is still on vacation, and won't return until Tuesday, 17 May 2004. She'll see my letters asking for an appointment when she returns.

Wed, 26 May 2004

FedEx envelope appears to be on its way from Kiev to Plano, scheduled for delivery on Friday. Contents unknown, but hoped to be the appointment letter.

Thu, 27 May 2004

• Received FedEx with appointment date letter. My appointment is June 29, 2004.
• Need to notify everyone who's waiting to hear, make travel arrangements, make house-sitting arrangements, and a thousand other things.