The Adoption Hokey Pokey

A Song inspired by the ins and outs of the Adoption Journey. Bear with my "creative license" - I used it a lot!

You put your I-600 A in

You get your I-171H out

You accept your referral and

You do a little shout!

You fill out all the forms and

You mail them all around

That's what it's all about!

You put your I-600 in

You get your I-171 out

You learn that you're NVC in

And another little shout!

You fill out more forms and

They get mailed around

That's what it's all about!

After NVC in

You wait for NVC out

Now it's at the Embassy

And one more little shout!

The waiting's never easy,

But things are moving now.

That's what it's all about!

You call the State Department

Almost every single day

You find out you're P3

And TC's not so far away

The waiting's almost over

And the forms are almost done

That's what it's all about!

On the day you get TC

It's time to pack and fly

What a long, long journey

To meet our little guy.

We can't wait to bring him home

And start our family

That's what it's all about!

Some definitions that we just learned:

• NVC in - When your approved US Visa application arrives at the National Visa Center
• NVC out - When your approved US Visa applications is mailed from the National Visa Center to the US Embassy in Seoul
• P3 - The packet of forms sent from the Embassy in Seoul to the adoption agency in Korea (Social Welfare Society, in our case). We think that these forms are to schedule the "visa interview." As far as we understand, the visa interview is when the SWS staff brings all of the appropriate documents to the Embassy to get the final stamp of approval. Then the visa can be issued. We aren't sure how quickly the visa is issued (have heard it can happen on the same day), but once issued SWS picks it up and Nicholas is ready to come home!
• TC - Travel Call...we all know what that means!

So where are we in all this alphabet soup, you ask? Well, let me tell you! We found out that we were NVC out on 1/21/10. Yesterday our agency told us how to track it from here (i.e. gave us the State Department phone number to call). The State Department said the P3 was sent out on 1/26/10. We have been told that SWS is efficient with their paperwork, but I have no reference to how quickly visa interviews can get scheduled with the Embassy. However, we did go out and buy diapers, formula, and some toys for the plane yesterday because we are realizing that this could be imminent! The nursery furniture came in last week and is all set up in his room which is getting painted next Monday. The bedding fabrics have been selected and are getting made today and tomorrow. Also today the quilt tops are being dropped off at the lady's house who has a machine to quilt them. Kevin has started on a project to cover the sliding door rail on the bathtub ledge so that bath times can be more comfortable for everyone. We have a few outfits and have started our supply of pediatric medicines to take along with us. Compare to a week ago, we are MUCH more prepared to bring Nicholas home!

We'll let you know when the visa interview is scheduled!