USCIS run-naround

It’s China Adoption paperwork time again. That’s right. Our USCIS paperwork that we did last year is expiring, or will expire before our adoption is complete meaning that we have to go through the process again and renew our FBI finger print clearance as well as our I-171h (the document that allows us to bring an orphan into the U.S.)

Yesterday we tried, to no avail, to contact the USCIS office here in Accra. I must have called 15 times all three numbers that the embassy gives for this office, no answer. I went personally to the embassy three times but the would not let me see anyone (I have to make an appointment by phone).

I was able to pay for the new I-600A as well as for finger print renewals. But when I made the appointment to do the finger prints he said that he didn’t have the right finger print cards that we needed for the FBI. I would have to get those from the embassy. I went back to the embassy at 2:30pm yesterday and guess what, closed! The American citizen’s portion is only open from 8:30am to 12:00pm! So, this morning I’m going to try again to get the right finger print cards. I wish that the woman had given them to me yesterday when I was there. I’m a little nervous that they won’t have the right cards (or just won’t know that they have them) because there seems to be a lack of “knowledge” as to the rules and procedures for this special paperwork.

To add confusion there is no US officer on station here anymore. Last year we were able to speak to a US officer, but now the US officer rotates between Jo’burg, South Africa and Accra, Ghana (maybe even Kenya, I’m not sure).

Frustrating for sure. But we will try again today. My heart really goes out to the Vaughns who are waiting on their finger print approval. May God move some hearts and heads to get some information flowing so that they can get their approval soon before their date of departure comes.

Let’s continue to pray that the Lord would smooth out the road for our adoption so that we can one day bring our daughter home!