AUGUST 13, 2003 » Photos: Final Day in China » Wrapping Up the Trip, Going Home AUGUST 12, 2003 » Photos: U.S. Consulate » Finishing U.S. Papers AUGUST 11, 2003 » Photos: GuangZhou » Medical Exam AUGUST 8, 2003 » Photos: Passport » Finalizing Paperwork AUGUST 7, 2003 » Photos: Trip Through Hunan AUGUST 6, 2003 » In the Orphanage » Photos: Orphanage - Cameras Not Allowed AUGUST 4, 2003 » Changsha, China » Photos: First Day as a Family AUGUST 3, 2003 » Paperwork and Waiting » Photos - Come Together Intro » Adopting a Child from China

Finalizing Papers

The children's Chinese passports arrived this morning, as scheduled. This document is important because without it, the infants cannot travel outside of Hunan province.

Aside from the passports, three equally important papers were delivered today:

1. the Birth Certificate
2. the Certificate of Abandonment - describes where, when and how the baby was found by orphanage employees.
3. the Certificate of Adoption - final proof of the Hahns' adoption of Allie.

These three documents are required by the U.S. Consulate General in Guangzhou, which issues the immigrant visa for the child. Only with a valid visa can the child then be brought to the United States by her adoptive parents.

With the Chinese side of the paperwork all complete now, the Hahn's-- together with the other families--- will leave Changsha for Guangzhou on Sunday to apply for their child's visa to the United States. For little Allie, this is the first step out of China, and into her new home.

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"The American government is not making it easy for couples to adopt internationally."

Elizabeth tells me that, between the two countries, China seems to be making headway in processing adoptions more efficiently. It is the bureaucracy on the part of the United States, she says, which serves as an obstacle in going through the adoption smoothly.

More specifically, she cites that changes in policy by the BCIS (Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services) do not coincide with the adoption policies of many states, making it necessary for most parents to repeat a part, if not all, of the adoption paperwork in the U.S.

"Never mind the inconvenience, but a lot of the families have been redoing their paperwork at enormous expense. And yes, this is still happening today."

-Aurora Santiago