File Requested!

We are so incredibly thrilled to share that Eastern (the orphanage/agency in Seoul) requested our file this week! What does that mean? I'll explain :)

When we were matched with Lennox, our acceptance papers and some other documents about our family were sent to Eastern, but the majority of our file has remained at our agency here in the US. Well, this week - Tuesday, to be exact - Eastern contacted our agency and requested that our entire file be sent over! They will now translate our file and prepare it to be submitted to the Ministry for Emigration Permission (the permit Lennox will need to be able to leave the country). Our case worker told me yesterday that Eastern is hoping to have our file submitted for EP in 4-6 weeks, but because of a move that the Ministry is making in Nov/Dec, they can't guarantee that. 

And just to be clear, we are still looking another six months or so of waiting before we travel. Here's a guess at a timeline and the steps that remain from here on out - to give you a better idea of what still has to happen:

File Requested ---> October 15

4-6 weeks ---> EP submission 

8-10weeks ---> EP approval

1-2 weeks ---> Court Submission

2-6 weeks ---> Recieve Court Date

3-6 weeks ---> Travel

So, as you can see, there is a huge range in what could happen from here on out. And this is if they do get our file submitted in the 4-6 weeks they are hoping. If not, that would push everything back a couple months.We could possibly be making our first trip as early as late February, but more likely April or May. I foresee that the Ministry move and the holidays will cause some delays in the process. But we are praying that we move through these last steps smoothly and efficiently! And as quickly as possible!

We are just so very thankful that we are finally making some forward progress after sitting idle for such a long time. It's finally beginning to seem real!