9 months..

Still optimistic every.day that my phone will vibrate with an 817 area code until 2.59PST. Then its on to the next day....

Ring. Phone. Ring.

8 months 2 weeks 5 days...

Just came across a note of what my predictions were when we got on the wait list

Referral- Oct 31,2010
Court date- Jan 15, 2011
Travel- Jan 31, 2011 (this was even before the two travel dates)

What do they say...? We make plans and God Laughs...

Sigh.

Henna & Biometrics Don't Mix..

So, today we had our fingerprint appointment to "renew" our prints which are due to expire next month. No Biggie.
Yesterday evening while gathering our appointment letters to get ready for today, it hit me. One look at my hands, more so, my fingers and I totally freaked out!!!!!
You see, this past weekend, while in an Indian store, this henna-loving me, picked up some mehndi to apply, and surely I did apply.
I start thinking, If my prints can't be read because of the henna, they'll ask me to come back once the henna is gone, but this could take anywhere from 6-8 months....Panic sets in fast!!!
On the drive this morning, my hubby tries to reassure me it will be alright, but I cant help wonder how far back this will set us.
Fast forward to filling out the form once you walk in & the receptionist asking the standard question "you don't have any cuts or bruises on your fingers"?
ME: No, but what about this (showing her my hands)
HER: (Gasp). Henna? Oh no!!
ME: (Silent and stunned at her reaction)
HER: Follow me

While following her, she explains that the old machine's couldn't read one's prints with henna but they had installed newer equipment and no one had shown up with henna since, so she was going to try and see if my prints were readable (or whatever is it they do) . I do what's required and my prints appear on the screen and we both sigh with relief. Crisis averted.

Cutting For Stone

A must read!!All 667 pages of it. If you are interested/fascinated with Ethiopian history during their revolution and the world of medicine, family, relationships and Ethiopian culture, this is the to-go-to book. I have been reading it non-stop and can't keep it down. It also helps its a national bestseller. Simply.superb!!

Lucky Seven

Could this be the lucky month we get the call?

Getting closer...

Six months now on the wait list & a little over a year since we started this journey. We are getting closer to the call....

Unofficial stats:
# 9 overall
#4 Age/Gender Specific

Five

On to month numero cinco. The past month went by pretty fast & didn't mind the wait as much as the previous month. It probably has to do with being extra busy @ work but still watching the FBI list like a hawk. Learning so much from other blogs about what to expect/not expect in this process and glad that this families share their stories.

Until next month...

Aratt

Four months waiting and boy! it hasn't been easy!! Is there a Hague training class of how to cope with the wait??? Almost half way through the wait, and I know it will only get tougher.(sigh)

The "unofficial" stats:
#18- Overall
#8- Gender/Age specific

Sost (Three in Amharic)

Three months waiting and patiently counting down......

Waitlisted!!!

Waitlisted as of 03/18/10. Woot! Woot!

This marks the end of the paperchase phase and the start of the FBI waitlist stalking. Even though we are over 9 months away from getting a referral, I've already started looking at the list almost daily :-).

In other news, with the new policy change that requires two visits to Ethiopian we'll get to meet our daughter sooner and also she'll be able to get an IR3 visa which recognizes her as a citizen as soon as she gets here. That will reduce the paperwork needed after her coming home.

Homestudy Fiasco

Its been three & a half months of frustrations waiting for our home study to be completed(not through Gladney). We went through over 10 (yes!) edits and finally, after inquiring about the hold-up from the director of the agency this week, She personally took over the report from our social worker & within 48 hours, the finalized report arrived at our doorstep today and a copy to USCIS :-)
USCIS called us today to inform us that they received the home study copy today but can't locate my hubby's prints but after talking to hubby, they are able to locate them via his SSN. Good news is that, they approved it and we should be getting the I171H in the mail next week. Praise God!!
This definitely calls for some celebration tonight!!!Yay!!