So close!!

So last week I shared that we had finally received Tarah's passport. It was supposed to be a 2 week to 2 month process. Of course it ended up being just over 2 months to get it. We were stuck in passports it seems because there was a bit of a strike among passport agents in Haiti. Alas, it came to an end and we got to see a picture of our girl's sweet mug shot..I mean passport photo. So now the question everyone is asking is what does this mean? When does she come home?

What this means is now that we have the passport USCIS (US immigrations) can approve our petition to adopt whenever they deem our file complete and accurate. We have been told that this part of the process on average is taking about 6 weeks. We were shocked to receive an email from USCIS, just over 2 weeks in, asking for a document. Typically they only reach out once requesting ALL information that is missing or that they have questions on. For them to ask for something just over two weeks in USCIS was really quick. Our orphanage was able to turn the missing documentation in that same day on May 26th. This was fantastic because in theory it meant that they likely had everything they would need to approve us...except the passport. Hence my panic and frustration to be stuck in passports for something we had no control over...again.

This would explain the tears of joy when our passport was finally issued last week. My hope bucket was filled back up thinking that USCIS would now have everything they needed to approve us. I was hopeful that they may approve us last week, but was also trying to stay realistic...we've ridden this crazy rollercoaster of a process long enough to know to keep my hands and feet inside the ride at all times!!

Yesterday I sent an email for a status update and called in the afternoon to see if I could get any information. The automatic email that USCIS kicks back says that they accept calls between 2:30 and 3:30, Monday through Friday. I called at 3:00 and was shocked to get right through. (I've heard others say that they sat on hold for 30 minutes or more in the past when they have called.) When I inquired about our status the woman on the other end informed me that they were finalizing our case and we should get approval tomorrow. Shocked...again...tomorrow? Really? Ok thank you!!! (This is where I started to lift my hands on the rollercoaster in excitement that THIS.IS.HAPPENING!! We should get approval tomorrow!!!!) Well friends...tomorrow has come and gone and no approval email landed in my inbox. Hopefully this was my final reminder to keep my flippin hands INSIDE the ride at ALL times!! 😉

So with my hands securely on the safety bar, we are now hopeful for an approval email on Friday. Why not tomorrow, you ask? Well of course, because there is a Haitian holiday tomorrow. (USCIS is closed on all Haitian and US holidays.) At least tomorrow I won't be obsessed with checking my email all day to make sure I didn't miss it. 😁 Always need to find the upside!

So our prayers are that we would get our approval on Friday MORNING, and that a date for Tarah's visa appointment will follow shortly after. We are praying that the appointment is scheduled for early next week, necessary medical tests are run and processed asap and everything goes through smoothly with the visa printing. As soon as we know her visa is printed we will be able to book our flights and head down for our 6 day pick up trip. Eli should be wrapped up with his finals on Monday, so we are ready to go as soon as that visa is printed!! (Praying for mid to end of next week!!) As always we are so appreciative of your prayers and support!!! We are SO close!!! God willing our girl should be home before the 4th of July!!! 🎉🗽🎆