Today I found out there was a miscommunication, and our paperwork is not actually in India. Our i-800a approval just means that we are approved to adopt Internationally. Now we have to wait on our i-800 approval, which approves us to adopt Ramya specifically. This takes about 1 to 1 1/2 months, before it gets approved. I'm so bummed!! Here's the timeline we are looking at...
1. USCIS issues I-800 provisional approval (you’ll get notice in the mail and possibly by email): takes about 1 ½ months
2. USCIS will send your file to the US embassy in Delhi: takes about 2 weeks
3. The embassy will send you an email asking for your DS230. When you receive this, forward it to me and I will reply to them for you: takes about a week to get the email and I can reply the same day
4. The embassy will issue your Article 5 as their approval for you to move forward: takes about 2 weeks after I reply to the email
5. We notify Vathsalya that you received your Article 5 so they can move your dossier through the local authorities to review and send to CARA. At the same time the embassy will forward your Article 5 to CARA. When CARA has both, they will issue your NOC (no objection certificate): takes about one month
6. The court process can begin; Vathsalya and their lawyers handle it from here. Typically there are three court proceedings which occur over a span of about 3-6 months. At the end you’ll get your guardianship court order.
7. Then the orphanage will obtain a passport application appointment and apply for Ramya’s passport: about a month
8. We wait for the passport: about two months
9. Once the passport is received, you can move forward with travel plans to pick her up!
So if anyone has any connections at the USCIS (United States Citizen Immigration Services) and can get that paperwork through faster, I will love you FOREVER!!
My wife and I are adopting from India. We have been waiting on the NOC for six months at this time. I hope yours is issued sooner.
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