Wanted to get a quick update on the blog to celebrate some of the progress we've had the past few months. I forget to post progress here, because, well, for so long there was no progress. :)
There are so many steps and approvals and legalizations and signatures that take place after meeting your child. To keep it simple I will condense them all into 4 major milestones. At the time of this post, I believe we are nearing the end of milestone 2.
1. Exit (IBESR or Haitian social services)
This part is sometimes known as the black hole because it represents the most unpredictable timeline in the process. They are all unpredictable but this one is really unpredictable. Getting IBESR's final approval can take a couple months or a couple years.
When we were in Haiti we sat at a table in the garage turned classroom at the creche with Brother. We were interviewed by two social workers from IBESR. With the help of a translator, we answered questions for over an hour about our motivation for adopting from Haiti and for adopting Brother. I didn't expect to be nervous but I was. Fortunately, Dodd stepped in and handled the interview well.
In early October we learned the social workers finished their report and submitted a recommendation that our family match become permanent. Once that was done, the report was reviewed by several different offices within IBESR and several signatures were required.
We prayed earnestly to exit IBESR before the end of the year and that prayer was answered! I am so happy to say that sometime at the end of November or early December we received an Authorization of Adoption and left IBESR.
This was such a relief. We are sincerely thankful. Receiving this news I gave myself permission to start doing some tangible planning. My whole outlook brightened. I think this is actually going to happen!
2. Adoption Decree (Parquet or Haitian courts)
After IBESR, we entered the Haitian legal system called Parquet. Parquet's primary deliverable is an Adoption Decree which transfers legal custody of Brother to us. Once in Parquet, we learned there was a 30 day waiting period before the process could get underway.
Now we have reason to believe we have an Adoption Decree which means that Brother is now legally a Miller! The decree then goes through a series of legalizations so that is where we are now.
3. Passport (MOI or Haitian Ministry of the Interior)
To come.
4. Visa (USCIS or US Immigration)
To come.
We are cautiously hoping that Brother will be home this summer. It would be so so good to have the summer together to work on being a family and attaching to one another. That would give some time to figure out if it makes sense to enroll him in school in the fall. Keyword
cautious.
Now, because we can't stay away any longer, because we want him to know we come back, because we want our boys to meet, because we want Bear to see where Brother lives, we are planning a visit to Haiti this spring. I am so excited about seeing Bear and Brother together, allowing them finally to begin the process of becoming brothers. It's almost too good to think about. Maybe I will finish writing about the socialization trip while we're there. :)
