Next Steps

Eli holding our LOA!

Well, We are finally catching our breath (after the paperwork overload this week).  I thought I would try to explain the next steps and what we are waiting for.  Hopefully this will help me understand it too.

1. LOA (Letter of Acceptance) arrives from China!
2. Sign and return to CCAI (our agency) - LOA, I800 paperwork (This seeks approval to adopt a specific child). CCAI will send this to the NBC (National Benefits Center).
3. Fill out DS 230 (Noah's visa application) and send to CCAI.
4. I800 Provisional Approval (Comes from NBC)
5. Once we have this approval CCAI will send our paperwork to the Consulate in Guangzhou.  At the same time the NVC (National Visa Center) will receive our approval from the NBC and wire it to the Consulate.
6. LOA2/Article 5- signed and issued by the Consulate in Guangzhou.   CCAI will make sure this gets to the CCAA (Chinese Center for Adoption Affairs) in Beijing.  Now we will finally be waiting for Travel Approval.
7. TA! (Travel Approval) - Now we can pack and make travel arrangements.

Confusing, Huh?  We will just have to take it one step at a time.  We have already completed step 1 and 2. 

We know that the Lord's timing is perfect, so we will try to be patient.  :)  The timeline is 10-13 weeks, so that puts us at the end of June or beginning of July for travel.