DEADLINE

It's drawing closer to the September 1 deadline. 10 days and counting before the ceiling possibly falls in. I have signed another petition in hopes that Vietnam will continue/start the negotiations with the US on a new agreement and urging them to keep all currently logged dossiers at the Dept. of International Adoption and not send them back. Believe me, I can understand VN's hesitance in wanting to renegotiate an agreement after the reports the US has published on their adoption system and all the new regulations that the US has imposed ASAP, but I really hope that both governments pull their heads out and stop beating their chests to realize that THIS is not about them, it's about the children that are stuck in an orphanage living life in non optimal conditions. Not that the orphanages are dirty or anything. From what I've seen in pictures and heard from adoptive parents the orphanages are very clean and the children are cared for and loved to the best of the nurses/nannies abilities. It's just not the best place for any child.

There was a meeting in Hanoi on the 14th of August between the USCIS (immigration) and the DOS (State Dept.) to discuss "things" however, from what I can tell (which is based on what was reported to me) everyone keeps talking about the same stuff and nothing gets done or solved. The only real piece of information (what I consider real) is; they restated that older children and special needs children are prioritized in the approval of the I-600. They said they do not have a formal definition of what a special needs child was, but stated that children that had physical issues or diseases and needs that needed to be corrected in the US would qualify. Then there were the excuses as to WHY it's taking so long to process the I-600's and they stated that they were increasing the staff to help process the onslaught they received. I just think it's ridiculous that families wait SO long. There is a family who is adopting two absolutely adorable brothers, 5 & 3, that have been waiting 10 months since their acceptance of the boys to get the I-600 approval. That is beyond ridiculous to me. Now that they finally have the "golden ticket" they have to wait for a G&R (adoption) date. Usually a G&R date comes before the I-600 and keeps getting rescheduled because the I-600 isn't approved. I don't know what the deal is over there. I haven't checked lately and I can't remember if they have received the second "golden ticket" which is the official letter from the DIA stating that the boys are truly able to be adopted. Things change daily, so the letter may have already been sent hence the I-600 approval, but it may still be forthcoming. Either way, I hope that they travel soon because 10 months is WAY TOO long to wait.