7-25-07 Got homestudy approval!!!! YEA! (not that I didn't think I'd be approved, still surreal to see it in writing) "Jennifer has met all of the pre-adoptive requirements for the State of New Jersey. At the conclusion of the home study process, Jennifer was approved as a potential adoptive parent. She is very excited about the prospect of having a child, and is ready to proceed with both referral and placement at this time.... I am happy to favorably recommend that Jennifer be approved for adoption through the nation of Kazakhstan." There were a few corrections I needed to address, wrong phone number, etc but I'm told it should be corrected and ready for release by end of July. Apparantly its also forwarded to the social work associates in Kaz for their feedback, but won't know about it for a bit. Kaz also "closes" essentially for the month of Aug for vacation! The whole country.... nice, huh?!? Glad I'm not one of the ones waiting for their approval this month. I also got receipt from Homeland Security today (I feel like Jack Bauer on "24") saying they received my I600A and are awaiting my HS report before sending me info on where to go for, yet, another set of fingerprinting.

7-17-07 Mailed in my I600A form (application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition)to US Citizenship & Immigration Svcs. I was able to send it (so its post marked) and forward my homestudy report along later. They won't process it without receiving it. Called agency wondering where report is...

7-12-07 More "good news" : CIS fee increases to be effective starting 7/30. I found out as long as its postmarked prior to the 30th, the new fee won't be assessed. I went over ALL the dossier forms with Don today for over an hour on the phone (Bless him!!) and feel like I have a better handle on what I need to do. It was all a bit overwhelming to see all this time sensitive stuff and not know what to do, without messing it up!

7-11-07 Lots going on in KAZ! There has been some major changes for the Almaty region. Agency has checked for Karaganda (where I want to go), and we have been told that they DO NOT plan to make any changesto the process.In Almaty, the first trip may be 4-6 weeks, or the families may end upmaking another trip. Also,Karaganda officials are holding families from traveling. This is due to an agency that did notcomply with the post adoption reports. ( sorry but we cannot say who theagency is due to legal issues).Our coordinator just contacted us and said the officials are indicating that they will lift the ban soon. We have been able to get a lot of the reports already.This WILL NOT affect the processing of the dossiers. All dossiers go thru the same process until the family is approved. Then it is approved for the specific area.