Jun 30, 2008
Paperchasing (1)
After 2 weeks of searching and gathering information, we finally came up a local agency to do our home study. We have to choose another adoption agency as our placement agency because the local one their China's program is pending. We favored one agency locates about 470 miles away from us for their director came from China and is a Christian.
I heard that paper chase for home study and dossier is very stressful. I never know it is more complicated for us because we were born in China.
Home study process becomes more restrict after America joined Hague Adoption Convention in April 2008.
It is totally new to our local adoption agency for a couple born in China to start an international adoption. Our social worker couldn't understand why we don't have a birth certificate. What happened in China after 1949 that each family had a little book which listed who lives at this address and the relationship with the head of the house, gender, political status, position. Any new born was required to be registered into this book which was called "hukouben" or household registration system. No birth certificate was issued to a new born until maybe after 1980.
I heard that paper chase for home study and dossier is very stressful. I never know it is more complicated for us because we were born in China.
Home study process becomes more restrict after America joined Hague Adoption Convention in April 2008.
It is totally new to our local adoption agency for a couple born in China to start an international adoption. Our social worker couldn't understand why we don't have a birth certificate. What happened in China after 1949 that each family had a little book which listed who lives at this address and the relationship with the head of the house, gender, political status, position. Any new born was required to be registered into this book which was called "hukouben" or household registration system. No birth certificate was issued to a new born until maybe after 1980.
Paperchasing (2)
Our social work seems to be convinced eventually when I mentioned that we received our naturalization without birth certificates for the US government understand this history. However, we are told that we must provide her a child abuse clearance letter in order for the director to sign our home study report. Hague rules that anyone who is over 18 years old and lives anywhere over 6 months must submit this clearance letter by local authority.
I immediately contacted Chinese embassies in the US and one officer told me that I need to fly back to China and get it in person. We consider flying to China, but find out airfare is very expensive because of the Olympic Games in August in Beijing. No other suggestions were given by our agency, besides recommend us not to fly to China.
I called Chinese embassy at another location and was told that we can have relatives or friends get it for us.
I made a phone call to a residential office in Shanghai where we used to live before I ask my relative go there. A lady answered my phone showed her interests in the topic and discussed with me whether it should be moral or criminal issue. She thought it is a moral issue, then she won't provide me a child abuse clearance letter. She can issue me a criminal clearance letter. I asked if she would write me a note that indicates they don't have this kind of system. She said, "okay".
What a relief after many phone calls and days of frustration, I am excited. I gave her my address, then I am told we don't belong to her residential district, although my address is only one block away from her district. I have to call another place.
Oh, no. I have to start over again.
I immediately contacted Chinese embassies in the US and one officer told me that I need to fly back to China and get it in person. We consider flying to China, but find out airfare is very expensive because of the Olympic Games in August in Beijing. No other suggestions were given by our agency, besides recommend us not to fly to China.
I called Chinese embassy at another location and was told that we can have relatives or friends get it for us.
I made a phone call to a residential office in Shanghai where we used to live before I ask my relative go there. A lady answered my phone showed her interests in the topic and discussed with me whether it should be moral or criminal issue. She thought it is a moral issue, then she won't provide me a child abuse clearance letter. She can issue me a criminal clearance letter. I asked if she would write me a note that indicates they don't have this kind of system. She said, "okay".
What a relief after many phone calls and days of frustration, I am excited. I gave her my address, then I am told we don't belong to her residential district, although my address is only one block away from her district. I have to call another place.
Oh, no. I have to start over again.
Paperchasing (3)
I called another residential office, where I was told they could issue me a letter states we used to live there ...... ,but that's not what I wanted.
July 4th Holiday is near and our home study almost complete, but we still don't know how to get a child clearance letter. Our agency started to call or left messages and email to the US embassies in China and hope they could provide some help. No answers came from the US embassies neither. I goolged for any organizations which are familiar with Hague adoption's policy and hope we could be waved due to this particular reason that in China they don't have a tracking system for child abuse. One day I found a phone number for a Hague office in DC. I called and explained our situation and asked if someone could help us. The lady who answered my call told me that she will pass my information to her supervisor and I gave her my home phone number.
I noticed there is a message when I got home that day. The message left her name and phone number and asked me call back tomorrow. Both my husband and I replayed the message several times and tried to catch the name, but not sure I got the right one.
We pray every day, but that night we prayed together for a long time. We asked God help us.
Next morning, I couldn't wait until 9 o"clock. I called and asked for this person. I was told they don't have this person by the name I provided and I asked if anyone called me yesterday. "No", I was told. I don't want to hang up the phone, then I was told I may try to call Ms. A. She will be in office around 10 o'clock.
I felt time going so slow after getting new phone number. The office I am calling is USCIS NBC at Missouri. Unfortunately Ms. A hasn't arrive at the office yet, and I left message. I tried again after half hour. Thanks God , she is there.
I thought she might be the person who left a message on my phone, but it turns out not her. I feel so disappointed. But she asks me why I needs to find this person. I repeat my story one more time. I don't know that Ms. A late on plays an angel role in our whole adoption process. It is amazing that God answers our prayer. She listens quietly, then she asks me several questions about how long ago we came to the US, when we became citizen, if we went to China recently. I answered each question carefully. She then says to me, "please write down my full name and phone number, tell your social worker that I will wave this letter for you or your agency can call me if something unclear".
I tried to say thank you, but I suddenly couldn't speak out a word. I heard she continues " I know what you've been through, I want to help you". Thank you, finally I managed to control my emotions and tears. It is July 3rd before the Holiday. Hallelujah 哈利路亚
July 4th Holiday is near and our home study almost complete, but we still don't know how to get a child clearance letter. Our agency started to call or left messages and email to the US embassies in China and hope they could provide some help. No answers came from the US embassies neither. I goolged for any organizations which are familiar with Hague adoption's policy and hope we could be waved due to this particular reason that in China they don't have a tracking system for child abuse. One day I found a phone number for a Hague office in DC. I called and explained our situation and asked if someone could help us. The lady who answered my call told me that she will pass my information to her supervisor and I gave her my home phone number.
I noticed there is a message when I got home that day. The message left her name and phone number and asked me call back tomorrow. Both my husband and I replayed the message several times and tried to catch the name, but not sure I got the right one.
We pray every day, but that night we prayed together for a long time. We asked God help us.
Next morning, I couldn't wait until 9 o"clock. I called and asked for this person. I was told they don't have this person by the name I provided and I asked if anyone called me yesterday. "No", I was told. I don't want to hang up the phone, then I was told I may try to call Ms. A. She will be in office around 10 o'clock.
I felt time going so slow after getting new phone number. The office I am calling is USCIS NBC at Missouri. Unfortunately Ms. A hasn't arrive at the office yet, and I left message. I tried again after half hour. Thanks God , she is there.
I thought she might be the person who left a message on my phone, but it turns out not her. I feel so disappointed. But she asks me why I needs to find this person. I repeat my story one more time. I don't know that Ms. A late on plays an angel role in our whole adoption process. It is amazing that God answers our prayer. She listens quietly, then she asks me several questions about how long ago we came to the US, when we became citizen, if we went to China recently. I answered each question carefully. She then says to me, "please write down my full name and phone number, tell your social worker that I will wave this letter for you or your agency can call me if something unclear".
I tried to say thank you, but I suddenly couldn't speak out a word. I heard she continues " I know what you've been through, I want to help you". Thank you, finally I managed to control my emotions and tears. It is July 3rd before the Holiday. Hallelujah 哈利路亚
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