Capturing our Biometrics
In the mail yesterday we had a letter from HOMELAND SECURITY. That could be pretty scary, except we have been expecting it.
Inside was our Appointment Notice for our fingerprinting - Woo-hoo!
"To process your application, the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) must capture your biometrics. " Sounds like something out of *Matrix.*
"Please appear at the below APPLICATION SUPPORT CENTER at the DATE AND TIME SPECIFIED. If you fail to appear as scheduled, your application will be considered ABANDONED." Yikes!
USCIS Alexandria 02/13/2009 1:00 PM
Uh-oh. We fly out of Dulles on THURSDAY and are in Orlando at a church conference until Monday!
After talking with a very nice Homeland Security guy in L.A., we've decided to adjust our plans and head up to Alexandria on Wednesday and appeal to have our fingerprinting done early. So, adjustments have been made in kid coverage, community group leadership, transportation to and from classes, etc. We have amazingly wonderful flexible friends!
I envision that we will be sitting on the floor of a sterile government hallways for hours tomorrow showing pictures of Katya to everyone who walks by, smiling weakly, eating Larabars, and reading the Washington Post. Please pray that someone will have pity and capture our biometrics.
I have emailed, called, and now Bill is hand delivering a letter to our congressman, Tom Perriello, to see if there's something he can do to secure an appointment for us to capture our biometrics. (I like that phrase. It's kind of spooky, spy-like, and vague in a bizarre kind of way.) Bill and I actually worked at Camp Seafarer with his sister, Elizabeth, years ago. But, perhaps even more significantly, Congressman Perriello met Katya this summer when our neighbors, Andy and Julie Rotherham, hosted a BBQ for him during his campaign and I prayed the blessing before we ate. So, pray that Congressman Perriello's office is able to do the unimaginable and speed up the bureaucratice process.
Other adoption news:
Maggie Scobie, of Frontier Horizon, is reviewing our home study that will be sent to Ukraine. Clair Peyton, of Forever Families, had the difficult task of reduing 10 pages to 4!
Marla Ringger of Lifesong for Orphans let us know that they are in the process of reviewing our application for assistance in fundraising for the adoption.
Tamara, Katya's grandmother, has indicated that she will sign the necessary paperwork this week for Katya to be available for adoption.
Dima has approved most of the paperwork for our dossier. We still need a 'Deed Letter,' the shortened version of our home study, and the infamous I171-H.
As far as we know, Katya is still quarantined at a hospital in Odessa. Please be in prayer for her health!
Thanks for following our journey!