I must be misreading this . . .
Because I am absolutely sure that the preapproval page on the State Department’s (Embassy) website used to have a sentence that read “In the rare event that a case requires more than 60 days to process, petitioners will receive an e-mail apprising them of the outstanding issues in their case.” When exactly did this procedure change? When it became clear that almost everyone would be far over 60 days? By that notice, weren’t we given a right to receive an update if we were one of the unlucky few who found themselves in the “rare” situation of going over 60 days?
ADOPTED CHILDREN IMMIGRANT VISA UNITUS Pre-approval of AdoptionOnce you have accepted you referral, you will need to file an I-600 petition by mail with the USCIS office in Ho Chi Minh City. You will receive a notice of receipt when the USCIS Ho Chi Minh City office receives the Form I-600 and supporting evidence. This office will review the documents in order to determine if the child qualifies as an orphan under US immigration law. In many cases, a field verification will also be conducted to ensure the accuracy of the documents submitted. The US Embassy Hanoi will notify petitioners with a decision on the I-600 in approximately 60 days. Please note that processing time may be siginificantly longer if any issues are encountered in verifying the child’s status as an orphan. If recommended for approval, petitioners may travel to Vietnam to complete the Giving and Receiving Ceremony once they have received an official pre-approval notification from USCIS. The U.S. Embassy strongly discourages prospective adoptive parents from traveling to Vietnam until they have received this pre-approval notice. Once the adoption is complete, an immigrant visa interview may be scheduled with the US Embassy in Hanoi. If not recommended for approval, petitioners will be provided with written instructions on how to proceed. Please note that I-600 cases are processed by USCIS Ho Chi Minh City in the order they are received. However, as each case is unique, the processing time for cases can vary significantly. For security reasons, USCIS is not able to inform petitioners of the status of their case between the time the receipt e-mail is issued and the time that a decision is made on the case. [DELETED TEXT WAS HERE]. USCIS will not expedite the processing of the Form I-600 solely because the petitioner is in Vietnam. If a petitioner chooses to travel to Vietnam to file the Form I-600, the petition and supporting documents will undergo the same processing as those filed and received by mail. The US Embassy strongly advises prospective adoptive parents not to travel to Vietnam until they have received this pre-approval notice. The notice is sent directly from the U.S. Embassy to the petitioning parent via e-mail. Parents should contact the U.S. Embassy immediately if anyone, including their adoption service provider, encourages them to travel to Vietnam prior to receiving the written pre-approval. The U.S. Embassy can work together with adoption service providers, the Department of International Adoptions, and local authorities to resolve issues such as the scheduling of a Giving and Receiving Ceremony. The aim of the I-600 procedure is to protect both prospective adoptive parents and the integrity of international adoptions in Vietnam. Both the Department of State and USCIS in Vietnam have encountered inconsistencies in the documentation and circumstances regarding the relinquishment or abandonment of children for adoption. These irregularities may affect the eligibility of the child for classification as an orphan. They have also resulted in long delays for parents awaiting resolution of these issues while they are in Vietnam. In some cases, these circumstances have proved difficult to address or overcome for all parties involved. |
I guess I shouldn’t expect a message from them regarding the fact that they’ve missed the 60 day mark in my case as well? Is that the case? If so, should they not have to tell me this? I would SO love to have a job where I could change the rules each and every day as it suited my purposes. Yes, client paying many many thousands of dollars for my services, I know I told you I would get that agreement out in five days, and that I would let you know if it looked like I might miss that self-imposed timeframe, but I changed my mind and I’m not going to tell you how long it will take or where I am in the process of putting that document together for you. Priceless. Oh, and how am I so “absolutely sure”? Because after I read that notice, and the 60 days changed to 60 “working days”, I became concerned that my government might try to pull something like this and I archived the old page. How disappointing that my disillusionment about my country’s civil servants was so very well-placed.
10 Comments »
Leave a Reply
-
Etta’s Hats
Where I’ve Been
That sucks. I’m sorry. I know other families have emailed the embassy when it’s gone beyond 60 days – some get a response and some don’t.
Some families in my agency just got approvals and I think most of them were over 60 days.
I hope yours comes soon!
How come this doesn’t surprise me. Today is 106 for us. I may just give up and be meeting you there soon.
Ya know….with the internet and everything, I wonder how much trouble it would be to move to Vietnam for 2 years. I am just starting this process (I600a applied for, agency contact signed), and I am asking my clients if it would really bother them if I am in Hanoi instead of Houston, since we correspond mainly by email anyway.
They did change it – I have a printout of the old one I can fax to you if you want – it’s what I’ve been faxing to my Senators.. good luck..hope I get to meet you…
Laura (day 83)
This has to be so frustrating. I can’t they believe this is happening.
This whole process is frustrating. It is horrible waiting and now to not be promised an update, are you kidding me? I am at a loss of what to do. We are at day 83 of waiting with no information whatsoever! I just want to move to another country.
I’m just sick for you. I keep checking your blog hoping for good news. They really are adding insult to injury by putting PAPs thru this. I have no words to make it better but I wanted you to know that others are out there cheering for you…and loudly cursing the powers that be for not doing their stinking jobs!
Keep pushing, and get more aggressive with your Congress people — I happen to know, for example, that Senator Boxer is very aware of this issue, and has been helpful to her constituents in similar circumstances.
A woman at my agency had a lot of luck by using both her Congressman as well as Senator Kennedy (she is in Vietnam now, picked up her son on Monday!). I suspect that like with everything else, the amount of power your particular Congressman/ Senator has is important.
This is in contradistinction to another woman at my agency who tried to be polite and only contact CIS through e-mails. When she finally called CIS/ the Consulate in Vietnam and told them that the next call on her behalf would be from her senator’s office, they finally told her that the decision to issue a NOID had been made 30 days previously!!
Finally, check out the attached article: http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/185/story/113035.html
you will note the reference to an attorney named Lynda Zengerle — I did a little research and found out that she is at Steptoe in D.C. According to the article, she has had a lot of luck in reversing NOIDs. It might be worth a call and finding out if she can give you any insight.
Good luck. I can only imagine your frustration! Unfortunately, I think that we (as PAPs) are stuck in the middle of a pissing contest between CIS/DoS and Vietnam. Not a comfortable position to be in!!
The REAL insult to injury is our tax dollars paying these idiot’s salaries…..there, I said it- uncaring empowered paper-pushing (although some days they apparently DO NOT push any paper) IDIOTS!! Even though I actually/finally made it home with my daughter it still makes me so ANGRY for all of you who are still waiting to bring your children home!! I really hope and pray you hear something soon…..and will be home w/ Cooper! K
PS- hope “they” are keeping up w/ you blog and read what I just posted……..ha-ha! K