Our adoption journey started in 2020 with a desire to expand our family through adoption. It has been a long, perilous, and emotionally draining road. Our journey started with a desire to adopt from Ukraine and included an initial referral trip to Zaproizhzhia, Mariupol, and Berdyans'k in eastern Ukraine, January 2022. Later in 2022, after it became clear that the war in Ukraine wasn't going to end quickly, we made the difficult decision to pivot away from Ukraine and pursue an adoption from India (thanks Chloe!). We have accepted a referral for a little girl from the southern part of India and are working hard to bring her home as quickly as possible.
As mentioned earlier today, all paperwork has been completed, the necessary documentation for departure is in hand, we are checked into our flights, and have a ride to the airport. We are set to travel home. Please pray for safe and on-time flights (UA83 and UAL3443), a content baby who can sleep, and time to go quickly.
Jim went to the US Embassy and Indian FRRO office to obtain the last two pieces of paperwork needed before flying home. The US Visa was obtained very smoothly and there was a little problem at the FRRO office due to changing processes at the office. He was able to work through them and obtain the exit permit. We are now back at the hotel staring the packing process and arranging for transport from the hotel to the airport for our flight to New Jersey. We are flying out at 11:55p arriving in NJ at 6:20a (plus 10.5 hours). Then from NJ to GR and home!
Thank you all for your continued prayer. We are grateful so many are praying for us and God is moving. We were originally scheduled to fly back 4-Mar but because all the paperwork was looking to be completed early we changed our return flight to 1-Mar. We have great news that we should have the last to pieces required to fly home completed Monday morning, 26-Feb! We changed our flight a second time, this time flying Monday 26-Feb at 1155p local time (130p EST). This puts us into GR at 1030a Tuesday morning EST time. Please pray that the last of the paperwork is truly done tomorrow morning, for on-time and safe flights, and that Alyssia will fly well, and be able to sleep.
We had Alyssia's US Visa appointment this morning at the embassy in Delhi. It went off without a hitch. We had the first adoption appointment of the day and we were done in 30 minutes. Leading up to this we were told to expect it to take 2+ hours. When we got back to the car after the appointment and called our in country coordinator she was silent for a few seconds and then said, "You are done? That never happens, that never happens."
There was a chance her visa would have still been printed today, but we got a call about 4pm local time confirming that the Visa would be ready for pickup Monday morning.
We also heard from our in country coordinator that the FRRO license made it through all steps today. We are just waiting for it to be issued which could happen at any time (they are sent digitally). If we don't get it by Monday, I'll go to the FRRO office by the embassy and inquire in person about the exit license.
We are scheduled to fly out at 11:55p Monday evening. If all goes well we will land back in Grand Rapids at 1030a Tuesday morning!
Alyssia is developing so quickly! Going from two handed walking to one handed and taking tentative steps on her own. She also says, dada quite well now too.
The photo is of the three of us on the way to the US Embassy for her Visa appointment this morning.
All Indian nationals wishing to obtain a US Visa must obtain a medical exam by a doctor the US Immigration recognises. Today we had Alyssia's medical appointment in prep for her Visa appointment tomorrow morning at the US Embassy in New Delhi. Her medical visit was uneventful and as always our in-country coordinator, Anu, was wonderful!
