This weekend we had our house tented and moved in with Aunt Tina and Uncle David for the weekend. The cleaning out of the house was quite an ordeal and it took 3 days. We are happy to be moving back into the house tomorrow and looking forward to putting the fumigation behind us.
Supposedly, refferals are due to be mailed this week with receipt this Friday or Monday the 5th. This time it looks like we are at bat and will be getting our referral.
We can not wait to see that little face. China here we come!
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Refferal and Travel time lines from our agency, CCAI
TRAVEL TO CHINA
Travel to China usually occurs 5-8 weeks after you receive your child match. But what goes on during the weeks that pass between receiving your child referral and leaving for China? Plenty! Travel to China has five phases. It is only when the first four phases are complete that CCAI is able to present you with the plans of your trip to China.
Phase One
Phase one is returning your acceptance to CCAI after you receive your child referral. You will receive Travel Packet II within 7-10 days after receiving your child referral. * This packet contains visa applications and the necessary travel paperwork for both parents and travel companions.
Phase Two
Phase two is the CCAA issuance of your Travel Notice. The CCAA, not CCAI, controls this part of the process. Until your Travel Notice arrives at CCAI and we have a confirmed Consulate appointment, the Travel Department is unable to make any plans or speculations about your travel dates. This phase can be anywhere from 2-5 weeks. The CCAA does not inform CCAI when they intend to mail your Travel Notice. The U.S. Consulate will not make an appointment for you until they see a copy of your Travel Notice.
Phase Three
Phase three of travel begins the day we receive your Travel Notice. We copy your notice and confirm the spelling of your name on the Notice. Then we fax a copy of your Travel Notice to the U.S. Consulate in Guangzhou and make a request for the first available appointment date. The Consulate can take up to 6 business days to reply.
Phase Four
Phase four begins after we receive confirmation of your appointment from the Consulate. We send the groups’ travel plan to our Beijing office, local representatives and the Guangzhou office so that all of the appointments and reservations can be made for your group. This includes: coordinating with the orphanage principals for the delivery of your child, adoption appointments for registration, notarization and passport, air and ground transportation and hotel bookings.
When all of the China appointments and reservations have been confirmed, your international itinerary will be arranged with the assistance of our networking travel agency, a travel agency of your choice, or on your own. CCAI will email you regarding the group’s scheduled arrival and departure dates. Per your request, our networking travel agency will make a reservation for your family based on the scheduled arrival and departure dates and send it to you via email. Then, CCAI will call you and your travel group with basic information about the trip.
Most groups are notified 7-14 days prior to departure. Individual itineraries are confirmed during this time. This process of confirming domestic and international flights, booking local government appointments, hotels, and ground transportation will take us about 3-5 business days.
If you are planning to use Frequent Flier mileage for your international travel, you will need to take your "best guess" about departure and return dates and plan on making the necessary date adjustments after we e-mail you and your entire travel group with finalized travel dates.
Phase Five
The final phase of travel, phase five, is the CCAI Final Travel Packet and the group’s travel conference call. The packet and conference call usually take place 7-10 days prior to departure. Families travel to a port city of China (usually Hong Kong) and spend 1-3 nights. Then, your group flies to the capital city of the province where your orphanage is located. The adoption of your child is finalized there. When complete, your group flies to Guangzhou where each family applies for a visa for their adopted child to enter the United States. Finally, it’s time to come home!
Travel to China usually occurs 5-8 weeks after you receive your child match. But what goes on during the weeks that pass between receiving your child referral and leaving for China? Plenty! Travel to China has five phases. It is only when the first four phases are complete that CCAI is able to present you with the plans of your trip to China.
Phase One
Phase one is returning your acceptance to CCAI after you receive your child referral. You will receive Travel Packet II within 7-10 days after receiving your child referral. * This packet contains visa applications and the necessary travel paperwork for both parents and travel companions.
Phase Two
Phase two is the CCAA issuance of your Travel Notice. The CCAA, not CCAI, controls this part of the process. Until your Travel Notice arrives at CCAI and we have a confirmed Consulate appointment, the Travel Department is unable to make any plans or speculations about your travel dates. This phase can be anywhere from 2-5 weeks. The CCAA does not inform CCAI when they intend to mail your Travel Notice. The U.S. Consulate will not make an appointment for you until they see a copy of your Travel Notice.
Phase Three
Phase three of travel begins the day we receive your Travel Notice. We copy your notice and confirm the spelling of your name on the Notice. Then we fax a copy of your Travel Notice to the U.S. Consulate in Guangzhou and make a request for the first available appointment date. The Consulate can take up to 6 business days to reply.
Phase Four
Phase four begins after we receive confirmation of your appointment from the Consulate. We send the groups’ travel plan to our Beijing office, local representatives and the Guangzhou office so that all of the appointments and reservations can be made for your group. This includes: coordinating with the orphanage principals for the delivery of your child, adoption appointments for registration, notarization and passport, air and ground transportation and hotel bookings.
When all of the China appointments and reservations have been confirmed, your international itinerary will be arranged with the assistance of our networking travel agency, a travel agency of your choice, or on your own. CCAI will email you regarding the group’s scheduled arrival and departure dates. Per your request, our networking travel agency will make a reservation for your family based on the scheduled arrival and departure dates and send it to you via email. Then, CCAI will call you and your travel group with basic information about the trip.
Most groups are notified 7-14 days prior to departure. Individual itineraries are confirmed during this time. This process of confirming domestic and international flights, booking local government appointments, hotels, and ground transportation will take us about 3-5 business days.
If you are planning to use Frequent Flier mileage for your international travel, you will need to take your "best guess" about departure and return dates and plan on making the necessary date adjustments after we e-mail you and your entire travel group with finalized travel dates.
Phase Five
The final phase of travel, phase five, is the CCAI Final Travel Packet and the group’s travel conference call. The packet and conference call usually take place 7-10 days prior to departure. Families travel to a port city of China (usually Hong Kong) and spend 1-3 nights. Then, your group flies to the capital city of the province where your orphanage is located. The adoption of your child is finalized there. When complete, your group flies to Guangzhou where each family applies for a visa for their adopted child to enter the United States. Finally, it’s time to come home!
Saturday, October 13, 2007
This was a tough week...but we are next!
This was a tough work week as the "big" deal had a major hiccup when the approval was sent to our Chairman in Taiwan (we all thought that was not a necessity but somehow a major glitch occured) and he had major questions that needed to be answered and at one point I was on my way to Portland....That seems to have been put off for now. I will probably go next week with our Sr. Credit Officer. Everyone one is on board and confidant the chairman will be but, for now that was trying.
In addition to that I had some lingering issues with the office build out that included a subcontractor who couldn't be paid because he refused to complete a w9. He was in my face demanding payment in cash. The President of the Bank heard part of the ranting when he called me on the phone and heard the man screaming in the background.
All this on top of issues at Rosemary Childrens Services, a terrible cold that knocked both John and I down....And the worst of it, TERMITES. Big infestation, 2 types in different areas of the house. We have to tent and treat the soil under the house and we have do it before we leave for China. Big $ to do this work...oh well.
We should be getting our referral in 3 weeks or so (unless the sky falls or something)....Our agency's next LID dates of 12/5 and 12/6 are next and it looks like we will have a good size travel group.
In addition to that I had some lingering issues with the office build out that included a subcontractor who couldn't be paid because he refused to complete a w9. He was in my face demanding payment in cash. The President of the Bank heard part of the ranting when he called me on the phone and heard the man screaming in the background.
All this on top of issues at Rosemary Childrens Services, a terrible cold that knocked both John and I down....And the worst of it, TERMITES. Big infestation, 2 types in different areas of the house. We have to tent and treat the soil under the house and we have do it before we leave for China. Big $ to do this work...oh well.
We should be getting our referral in 3 weeks or so (unless the sky falls or something)....Our agency's next LID dates of 12/5 and 12/6 are next and it looks like we will have a good size travel group.
Saturday, October 6, 2007
November or bust!
Well as most of you have figured we did not get a referral this month. We are on deck for next month and I say it is a 99% probability. We are finishing up last minute tasks. I had my last travel shot this week and John is scheduled for his this week. We have to now start accumulating items for travel which should be in December. It looks like we will be in China for the holidays. That is fine with us...as long as we can complete it by this year we can get our tax deduction and adoption tax credit for 2007 which we need badly.
I joined Porter Valley CC which is close to us. they have great amenities including a full gym, pool and excercise classes. We are looking forward to using the dining room for client meetings and lunches.
This last week was also the grand opening of the my office and it was a nice event, put on by yours truly. I am glad that the office is complete and the party done. Now it is time to put our energies into the adoption... We are looking forward to seeing that beautiful face in China. We should know who he/she is in about 30 days...
I joined Porter Valley CC which is close to us. they have great amenities including a full gym, pool and excercise classes. We are looking forward to using the dining room for client meetings and lunches.
This last week was also the grand opening of the my office and it was a nice event, put on by yours truly. I am glad that the office is complete and the party done. Now it is time to put our energies into the adoption... We are looking forward to seeing that beautiful face in China. We should know who he/she is in about 30 days...
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