Where We Are in the Process

This is where we are in the adoption process and where we still have to go:

• Kazakhstan Consulate, NY- Right now our dossier is at the Kazakhstan Consulate in NY where it has been in review for just about a month.
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA)- When released from the NY consulate our dossier will travel to Kazakhstan to the MFA where it will spend a minimum of 30 days.
• Ministry of Education (MOE)- once passing the requirements of the MFA, the dossier is sent to the MOE for a 2-4 week visit. This is where it is assigned to a particular region. In our case it will be either Kostanai or Astana.
• The Department of Education- The DOE in the region to which we are assigned will be is responsible for sending us a Letter of Invitation (LOI). The length of time before receiving our LOI could be a couple weeks or longer, depending on the availability of a child.

So, what is the estimated time line? Hmmm, let’s see. I’m going to try and figure this out with a conservative time frame…

• November 14th- Our dossier leaves the NY consulate by the beginning of next week, November 14th.
• December 17th- That will put us at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for at least the next month and may leave that connection around December 17th.
• January 21st- From there it will go to the Ministry of Education where it will spend 2-4 weeks putting us at mid-January.
• Mid-February- Next it goes to the Department of Education from where we will receive our Letter of Invitation. Let’s give us a month there, as well, putting us in mid to late February.
• Early March, 2008- My estimated date of travel to Kazakhstan.

Of course, there will be extended times for public holidays such as Independence Day (December 16), Eil al-Adha (Feast of Sacrifice on December 20), New Year (Jan. 1 and 2), and Orthodox Christmas (January 7). Hopefully, these won’t slow the process as well but people do need their vacations.

Certainly, I would like to go as soon as possible as I grow more and more impatient each day. There are some certain benefits to going a little later than we are hoping: a little bit warmer weather as we venture just south of Siberia and a chance to experience Nauryz Meyrami, the traditional spring celebration. We will also have more time to get ready for our little one and learn a lot more Russian than we know right now.

But, the longer it takes for this to happen the harder it is. Right now I’m almost feeling like it is never going to happen. We’re never going to have a baby in our home.

Think about it: if we don’t travel until March it will be at least two months before we are able to take our baby home,  and that’s only if everything goes well. I hear rumors of this country’s process beginning to slow, the court system starting to change, and a growing reluctance of Kazaks letting their children go. I know, don’t listen to rumors, but it is hard to keep a positive outlook at times. The month of May seems a long way off right now!

So….let’s all keep our fingers crossed that things move at the faster pace rather than the slower one and please send all the positive karma you’ve got!