Fingerprinting is Done

We walked in today to the USCIS office and asked if we could be fingerprinted today. The waiting room was fairly empty. The security office that was processing people as they came in the door said it would not be a problem. The Nashville staff was so nice. It was a welcome experience as we feared the worst with how we would be treated. You are not allowed to bring in a cell phone, camera, food, drink, or anything else. After they checked us to be sure we did not bring in prohibited items they checked our hands to be sure we could be fingerprinted today. The good news was we were fingerprinted and out of there in less than 30 minutes. Since we had time left after fingerprinting, we went to the State offfice to get our documents authenticated. Now we have everything ready to go to the Chinese Embassy to get the final approval. We still have to wait for an official approval letter from immigration to send everything to China. That letter could take a couple of weeks unless the government does shut down because a budget was not passed then who knows when we would get the approval letter. Please pray that the budget is passed and immigration continues to process paperwork. We are so close to having our paperwork in China at which time we will be matched with our son.

Fingerprinting

We finally got a letter telling us when we can go get fingerprinted. The bad news is it is not until April 27. We plan to walk in early and try to get fingerprinted. Several fellow families have said Nashville will allow walk ins and speed the process along. We sure pray that is true. We are ready to get to the end of the immigration process. We are ready to see the face of our sweet boy.

News About China

Today we received an email stating the famous hotel White Swan that specializes in American familes in the process of adoption will be closed for one year. It will be during the time we should be in China. There is a lot of tradition with the hotel including a red couch in the lobby where families have photos taken of their child in traditional Chinese dress. There is also waterfalls and plants to have photos taken. Mattel sponsors a huge playroom in the hotel for the adopted children. Mattel gives the familes at White Swan a special commerative Barbie for "Going Home." The Barbie is exclusive to the White Swan. While we are adopting a boy, it would still be cool to bring a Barbie home to his big sisters. The hotel is old and will be renovated. It will be even nicer for families that plan to travel late 2012 or after. It is just sad for those of us that will be there during the closure. Losing the traditions of the familes that have gone before us. Our agency is already working on plan B for adoptive families. Rumors are the travel agency that works for our agency has bought the famous red couch to preserve that memory. We hope so and hope it will be available at the hotel that will be the temporary White Swan. I was already planning photos on the red couch.