Clear As Mud?

Cutting through the confusion and red-tape is something that we are trying to do in order to explain to family, friends and those that are following along our process what is exactly going on. With so many variables in play, it is confusing enough for us, and we can only imagine the same holds true for everyone else. So, to help the masses better grasp at the situation, I will do my best to sum things up.

WHAT IS THE CURRENT STATE OF NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN VIET NAM AND THE US?
Negotiations are on-going and have been since early Fall 2007. With less than three months before the expiration of the current Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), it is unlikely that a newly ratified document will be in place by September 1. The hope is now, that there will be a temporary framework built around the Hague Treaty which Viet Nam has expressed willingness to incorporate and sign on to. Given the report released on April 25, 2008 by the US Embassy in Hanoi alleging cases of adoption fraud in Viet Nam (Holt is no way involved in any of these). Since that report was released talks slowed around the new MOU.

As it stands today, we need to be matched with a child prior to September 1, 2008 in order to be able to complete our adoption. Earlier, before the embassy report was released, those prospective adoptive parents (PAPs) who had their dossiers logged in or “grandfathered” with the Ministry of Justice in Hanoi (MOJ) would be allowed to complete their adoptions even if they had NOT received a referral of a child by September 1, 2008. A few weeks ago, campaigns started to urge Congress to support ethical Viet Nam adoptions by signing their letters to Condolezza Rice in support of the recommendations found in the Joint Council’s: A Child’s Right Campaign for Viet Nam. New campaigns from families in progress began yesterday with direct letters and faxes to the offices of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption (CCA) Co-Chairs: Senator Mary Landrieu; Senator Norm Coleman; Congressman James Oberstar and Congresswoman Ginny Brown-Waite, urging them to work with the Vietnamese Department of International Adoptions (DIA) and the US State Department to support the dossier “grandfathering” process and back A Child’s Right Campaign for Viet Nam. We pray that this will happen! 3,000 families in progress of adopting from Viet Nam are at risk, and these elected officials who work for us, the citizens of this nation, hold our future and the future of millions of Vietnamese Children in the palm of their hands.


WHERE DO WE STAND IN OUR ADOPTION PROCESS?
Currently we are around number 12 “in line” to be matched with a child. Holt will touch base with us every 3 weeks with updates. The dossier, which is our 72 page formal application to the government of Viet Nam, is currently with the MOJ in Hanoi. It has been there since early April. Once we are matched with a child, the dossier will be joined with our child’s dossier and approved. It will then be submitted to the Department of Justice for authentication and approval. Once we receive MOJ approval we begin the tail end of the I-600 immigration paperwork. We filed and received approval for the advanced I-600A in January 2008. These documents are the initial step to naturalization and citizenship for BabyBelz.

I hope this has at least shed some light on what is happening and the details surrounding our adoption. Obviously, this is a test of faith for the two of us. We appreciate all of the support, thoughts and prayers of everyone.

~Hank