CA and FLIGHTS!! and Chief's Results

So this morning the I got a text message from my friend Melissa asking "Did you make it?"   I didn't even need to ask... this meant the FY-13 Chief's results were in.    I checked... I had a Big Ole NON-SELECT.   Well, things happen for a reason.    A couple of hours later, I was checking my email AND....

MY CONSULATE APPOINTMENT IS SET FOR

9/6/2012!!!

I am flying to Beijing on 8/22... and will have B'Elanna in my ARMS ON 8/27!!!

To:  Carmel Finch

Group: 1896

CCAI TRAVEL UPDATE 7/31/2012

Great news!  We received Consulate appointment confirmations for Group 1896!  Your group’s Consulate appointment is confirmed for 9/6/2012.

Based on this Consulate appointment date and the adoption schedule in the local province, CCAI asks that you arrive in Beijing on, or before, 8/23/2012. CCAI will provide an airport pick-up for anyone arriving on 8/23, your group’s arrival date.  *If you would like to opt out of the Beijing tours, please arrive in Beijing no later August 25, 2012. You will fly to Zhengzhou on Sunday, August 26th and receive your child on Monday, August 27th.  CCAI will arrange the group’s in-China flights and hotels - details will follow in your Final Travel Packet.

Your group will take the oath on the afternoon of 9/6/2012.

Your group will receive your child’s visa on the afternoon of 9/7/2012.

You can depart Hong Kong after 1:00pm* on 9/8/2012 OR

You can depart Guangzhou anytime on 9/8/2012.

CCAI will book your flight from Guangzhou to Hong Kong, Beijing or Shanghai for your family if needed.

*You can transfer (flight, van or train) from Guangzhou to Hong Kong in the late evening on 9/7/2012 in order to take an earlier in the day flight on 9/8/2012 from Hong Kong.  In this case you would need to make your own arrangements in Hong Kong for the night of 9/7/2012.  Please contact the Travel Department with any questions. 

So with this information in hand... I called my Mom and CHEERED!!!  Then I started emailing two travel agents.  I finally settled on the quote from Todd G. I also decided that Mom and I will leave Guangzhou on Friday 9/7/2012 and spend an extra day in Hong Kong.  I want to go see (and I want my Mom to see) the Giant Sitting Buddha.

This is the AWESOME PRICE and Itinerary Todd got for us!!!!

E-mail Comments
$999.00 adults x2
$780.00 child x1
=======================================================================

Flight  - Delta Air Lines (DL) - 129    Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Depart: 8:25 PM Wednesday, August 22, 2012      Seattle Tacoma Intl Arpt (SEA)

Arrive: 11:20 PM Thursday, August 23, 2012      Beijing Capital Arpt (PEK),
Equipment:      Boeing 767      Flying Time:    11:55
Meal Service:   Dinner
==============================
=========================================

Flight  - Delta Air Lines (DL) - 156    Sunday, September 09, 2012

Depart: 8:20 AM Hong Kong Intl (HKG) .... PLANE CHANGE AT NARITA, TOKYO

Arrive: 9:15 AM Seattle Tacoma Intl Arpt (SEA)

Depart: Hong Kong Intl (HKG)
Arrive: Narita (NRT) 
Equipment:      BOEING777-200LR Flying Time:    4:35
Meal Service:   Breakfast
------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Depart: Narita (NRT)  
Arrive: Seattle Tacoma Intl Arpt (SEA) 
Equipment:      Airbus A330-300 Flying Time:    9:05
Meal Service:   Dinner

TA!!!

I got an email this afternoon from CCAI.... TA is received!!!   

I received an email last Friday from them, letting me know they were expecting it very soon and gave me 2 options for Travel Dates.    I chose August 22nd, so now they will try to get me a Consulate Appointment based on that travel day.  This week is going to be NERVE WRACKING waiting to hear which appointment I get and then buying plane tickets!!

To:  Carmel Finch

Wonderful news!  We received Travel Approval(s) for your family and are so excited for you!  With the arrival of Travel Approvals today, we are requesting Consulate appointments for your family to leave based on the dates we have previously corresponded with you about!  Please note that the approximate time to travel will only be confirmed once we receive confirmed Consulate appointments.  We will email your group when the Consulate appointment confirmations arrive.  The Consulate typically takes 1-3 business days to reply but they can take up to 5 business days. 

Please keep in mind that we must have a confirmed Consulate appointment for your group BEFORE we can confirm travel dates, begin planning your travel, finalize arrangements with our China staff, or a travel agency can answer specific questions about your trip.  At this time, it is still not possible to book your international tickets – we will advise you as soon as we have the confirmed dates.

We appreciate your continued patience and understanding as you wait to hear from us however please feel free to contact us if any questions arise!

Sincerely,

CCAI Travel Department
 

Article 5 Pick-up!!!

I woke up this morning to this email!!!

"Dear Carmel Finch,

We just received an update from our Guangzhou staff stating that they have picked up your family’s Article 5(s) (signed 2nd acceptance letter) from the Consulate and now it is off to the CCCWA.  The Article 5 typically takes about 2-3 days to be delivered to the CCCWA. Once the CCCWA receives this document, they will have all that they need to issue your family’s travel approval.  The CCCWA typically takes about 2-4 weeks to issue a travel approval.  Once the travel approval arrives families typically leave for China about 10-21 days later.  We see this update as great news for your family as you are one step closer to getting you to your little one in China! 

***Attention Henan families: The Henan orphanages are in need of summer clothing and toys for children ages 0-24 months old.  Also, we are also in need of bottles for cleft lip and palate kids as well as nursing pillows for the Lily Orphan Care Centers.  If you are able to bring along donations (new items or barely used please!) please contact our Charity Director, Xia, for more details at charity@chinesechildren.org.  We know the babies and orphanage staff will be appreciative! 

Thank you so much. 

Sincerely,
Sheri Kabeya, Betsy Harper, Beth Escobar & Hannah Curry
Travel Department
Chinese Children Adoption International"

Latest addition to B'Elanna's Room

My Mom sewed this BELANNA sign for me for her room.  We found the fabric when she was in Missoula over Memorial Weekend and we wanted them to be simple.   B'Elanna will only be in this room for about 12 months, will never remember it, and if she tears these off the wall, we didn't want them to be very expensive.

PDF!!!

June 26th, 2012

This morning, I woke up with an email from NVC... with my PDF!!!!

 I forwarded the email/attachement to CCAI. They replied back with this email letting me know the timeline for the next step   My Article 5 will be picked up around July 11th!!  Betsy also projected Gotcha Day IF I can fly to China on August 22nd!!

"Carmel,

Thank you for your e-mail and letting me know you received your NVC letter. I will send your NVC letter to our office in Guangzhou where they will deliver your DS-230 paperwork to the US Consulate in Guangzhou. It will take approximately 2 weeks for your Article 5 to be issued. At this time we have everything we need from you. It is too early to know when you will be departing for China. If you did depart on August 22nd your gotcha day would be the 27^th. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Betsy Harper"

Secret Pal Gift

I received this beautiful bathing suit, cover and sandals from my DTC Winter Secret Pal!!  It is beautiful, and the sandals will work as shoes in case the one's I am taking are too small and it takes a couple of days to buy some new ones.  THANK-YOU SECRET PAL!!!!

GUZ Number!!

June 22nd, 2012

I sent an email to the National Visa Center to inquire about the status of my petition.  I got an email back letting me know this... the most important thing is that I now have my GUZ Number!!   For those not in the adoption community, this is IMPORTANT!!  

"Dear Sir/Madam:

Your inquiry has been received at the NVC. The adoption petition you mentioned in your letter has recently been entered (22JUN2012) into our computer system and assigned the case number listed below.

You will be notified once this case is forwarded to the assigned US Embassy/Consulate General.

Once this case has been forwarded to the assigned US Embassy/Consulate General, the NVC will send a copy of the approval letter via email.


Case Number:                  GUZ2012674091
Petitioner's Name:            FINCH, CARMEL PAULINE
Principal Applicant's Name:   ZHOU,YIN YUE
Preference Category:          IH3
Your Priority Date:           05Jun2012
Foreign State Chargeability:  CHINA - MAINLAND
                             U.S. CONSULATE GENERAL, VISA SCN.
                             5TH FL. TIAN YU GARDEN (II PHASE)
                             136-142 LIN HE ZONG ROAD
                             TIAN HE DISTRICT, GUANGZHOU, CHINA

Sincerely,
Pnina
National Visa Center"

Now, I need to receive the email with my PDF file authorizing the US Embassy in China to issue my daughter her VISA to enter the USA on her Chinese passport.

I-800!!!

June 21th, 2012

Today, I received the hardcopy of my I-800 (aka I-797, Notice of Action) in the mail with a Provisional Approval of Jun 18th, 2012!!!   I immediately scanned and email it to CCAI. 

They emailed me back this...

"Thank you for your e-mail and sending your I-800 provisional approval. We will mail your DS-230 paperwork to our office in Guangzhou today. The middle of next week you will want to contact the National Visa center. In order to ensure that your immigration paperwork has reached the US Consulate in Guangzhou, please contact the National Visa Center (NVC) via phone (603-334-0700) or email (nvcinquiry@state.gov).  When you contact the NVC, you will need to notify them that you are calling on behalf of a Hague adoption case.  You will give them the petitioner’s (whoever is the first person listed on your I-171H/I-797C) full name and date of birth in order to look up your case and you child's Chinese name and date of birth.  Please ask the NVC when your case was sent to the US Consulate – Guangzhou.  After your case has been sent they will issue a NVC letter that will be very plain looking and will say Bureau of Consulate Affairs on the top. Once you receive this letter from the NVC please forward to us so that your DS-230 paperwork can be taken into the US Consulate Guangzhou for your Article 5 to be issued.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Betsy Harper"

Weekend with my Mom!!

June 16th-17, 2012

On Saturday, my Mom and I got up early and started going through "Stuff"

When she came to Missoula over Memorial Weekend, we found this really cute fabric for my mom to make a BELANNA sign to hang over her bed.

She also showed me the Visors she made for us in China.  She is into "Bling" these days. The pink on is for B'Elanna and the white one's are for my Mom and I.  You can see the fabric she is making into a dress for me to wear in China as the background of the White visor.

For BeLanna

For Mom and I.  Fabric for my dress.

My mom is reading A LOT of Blogs from Adoptive families that have already traveled to China or are in the process of getting ready.   One very common theme for the Girls being adopted in Hair Bows.   Well.... my Mom is VERY Artistic, so I showed her a website that has some basic instructions AND she has been reading books at JoAnn's/Michael's ... now she is making ALL SORTS OF HAIR THINGY'S!!   I didn't get pictures, but I am sure MANY of them will be in pictures in China.

Devin's Retirement!

June 15th, 2012

Today my friend HM1 McConnell retired after 20 years of dedicated service to the US Navy.  He had a nice ceremony and a few nice friends come out and tell stories about (on) him.... gave all of us a good laugh to know more about his WILD days. 

(I hope to get some pictures to add here later)

Devin was very nice and allowed me to invite my Mom to his retirement.  She has never seen a Navy Retirement before and really enjoyed it.   She also got to hold/take care of my bosses (LT Valentin's) little 11-week-old little girl, Emery.   Emery was a happy, smiling little girl until the ceremony started and my mom started holding her... then she started crying!!   (Now my mom knows what to expect in China, hahahahaha!)

After the ceremony, we went out to dinner with Devin, his wife Joan, his 3 kids Madison, Willow and Xander, his brother-in-law, nephew and 2 friends from his earlier days in the Navy.   We had a blast!!

RIP Saffy!!

 

June 14th, 2012

Today I lost one of my best friends and my baby girl.  I adopted Saffy about a 2 months after I moved to Australia.  She was about 5 years old then, and I was her 4th or 5th owner.  Unfortunately, families would adopt pets in Australia, but then when they would transfer back to the States, they chose NOT to spend the money to bring them to the States.  When I got her, she was very unhappy and untrustworthy... she basically ignored me for about 6 months... except to sit on my chest, VERY close to my face every night.  I kept telling her... she was stuck with me... and she would be going back to the States with me when I transferred.  Then I did the HORRIBLE thing and adopted a little 10-week-old puppy!! 


As you can see... within a few months... they were HORRIBLE ENEMIES!!

  

Saffy... posing!!

Saffy... posing her indifference!!



Saffy chlling on a soft quilt!!

Princess on her tower!!



Getting ready to hunt Gecko's in Australia

Chilling outside house in Australia

Arrival in America... relaxing on pillows

Earlier this week, Saffy stopped pooping and eating.   I thought she was constipated, so I bought her some soft food.   One of her FAVORITE things, and she still wouldn't eat.  She was drinking and peeing A LOT.  She was also drooling A TON.  It was really thick and sticking to her Bib.  By Wednesday, she was lethargic and not wanting me to pick her up AND I noticed that her drool seemed to have a Blood Tinge to it.   I had seen similar symptoms in one of my mom's cats a few years ago... so I thought I knew what it was... Kidney Failure.

 

I was heading out to Tacoma for my friend Devin's retirement on Thursday, so I called my favorite vet IVY at Valley Animal Hospital in Auburn WA.   I have been taking my cats and dogs to her since 1996... and she is the ONLY American Vet Saffy had ever seen.   So we drove from Missoula straight to her office (about 8 hours).   She confirmed that it was Kidney Failure...but she was surprised she has held on as long as she did.   I think she must have know, I didn't want a stranger to put her down... I wanted FAMILY and Ivy is FAMILY!!

 

It was hard... I cried A LOT, before and after she was put down... and I am NOT a crier!!  

 

REST IN PEACE MY BABY GIRL, MY BEST FOUR-LEGGED FRIEND!!  I WILL SEE YOU AGAIN!!

June 11, 2012

I emailed the NBC on Sunday with a very basically email:
Good Morning Sir/Ma'am,

My agency forwarded my I-800  last Monday.   I was wondering if my file has been assigned to an Officer??  Also, can you tell me what my current status is??

This morning I had a very quick email back from them this morning...so basically, I should have an answer by the end of next week!

"Ms. Finch,

Your application was received by the Texas Lockbox on 6/5/12.  It takes approximately 10-14  days for your application to arrive here at the National Benefits Center. 

Thank you,

Mariah Wohlgemuth"

June 6th, 2012

It's all about the paperwork!!!

I sent a bunch of paperwork to CCAI yesterday... I always like to email them so they know to be on the lookout for my package... it case it gets lost and they can let me know.  This time... all the paperwork even needed to go to 3 different people.... so this is what I wrote and sent to them today. 

"I wanted to send an email to let you know I have put documents in the Priority mail to each of you and they should arrive on Friday.   I mailed them in ONE package, sent to Sheri.   She said she would make sure each of receive your specific documents.

Sarah... I sent all the Secondary To Do List documents.

Betsy... I have sent the  DS-230 Part I and II, along with the 2 checks.

Sheri... I have sent all the Travel Packet II documents for myself and my mother.  My mothers forms were scanned and emailed to me, if you need the originals can you let me know and I will pick them up from her next week and email them to you.  Also, I sent you the Orphanage Fee cashiers check."

Now that CCAI has my DS-230... once I get my PDF file from the National Benefits Center (aka Immigration) they will forward everything to the US Embassy in China.  The  PDF from NBC basically let the US Embassy in China know they can issue B'Elanna a VISA for her Chinese Passport!!!

June 5, 2012

My I-800 and LOI paperwork arrived at CCAI on the 4th, they verified everything was PERFECT (which it was!!) and immediately put it on the mail to the USCIS TX Lockbox.   The I-800 paperwork was officially log into the system on June 5th, 2012.