Time Line - A Lot of Unknowns

To give an idea of the time line that we're looking at.

We started our home study on 3/7/11.  A home study consists of 4 visits with a social worker and a million forms, letters and essay questions. There are back ground checks and child abuse checks among many other checks.  Our last meeting with our amazing social worker is on 3/28/11.  She'll need up to two weeks to finish, but we're getting the impression that she'll be done well before that. (Whoot!) 

So, let's assume she sends our home study to our agency on April 4th.  Our agency needs up to a week to check it over and then we're officially on the wait.  Let's assume we'll be on the wait on 4/11/11.

Here is the point where some variances lie. First, it is estimated that currently it will take between 1-8 months to be referred a healthy baby girl.

There are four agencies in South Korea where all of the adoptions go through.  Every agency that works in Korea are assigned one of these agencies to be the agency they work through.  In our agency, 90% of the children come through one (We'll call this agency 'A') and 10% come through another (We'll call this agency 'B').  You can not pick what agency you will work with.

The one that 90% goes through takes quite a bit longer than the one that the 10% goes through.

Example of how it works, at least to my knowledge to date.

Agency A refers on average 3-6 children every 10 days, so about 9-18 a month. (Boys and girls typically 5 months of age.) Once you get a referral and get medical clearance and decide to accept your referral, it still takes approximately 10-11 months to get clearance from Korea to go and get your child home.  Most people meet the criteria to go this route. It's the easier of the two agency to 'fit into' when it comes to their criteria.

Agency B refers 4-5 (approximately) children per month. This agency has very strict guidelines to you must fit into to qualify for an adoption.  Once you get a referral, get medical clearance and accept the referral, you should assume you're going to travel 5 to 10 weeks later.  (1 1/2 to 2 1/2 months!!!!!) 

I'm not 100% yet, but I do believe that we will fit into agency A and B.  We'll find out after our home study is finished.  So you can see the huge variance. 

I talked to a woman at our agency yesterday who told me that there were currently 14 families waiting for a girl.  When I asked how many typically are approved for both agency a and b, she told me only about 30%.  So, let's say for example, by the time we get on the wait (and not taking into account that there are any other families jumping in before us! haha!) there are 10 people in front of us waiting for girls. 

If 4 girls come in from agency B and only 3 people (30%) of those 10 qualify for agency B, whoever in the line below that qualifies will get to move ahead to be matched with that child.

We have to assume that we'll go through agency A because only 1 in 10 do not.  But if we go through agency B, things will move so.much.faster.  Our referrals will come at the same time, but we'll have to sit and wait for an entire year while our little girl is in foster care in S. Korea instead of home with us if she comes through agency A.

If we go through agency A, we've been told we can assume our baby girl will be about 15-18 months when she gets home.  Let's say she's referred to us in 3 months, just a guess.  Add on another 11-12 months and we're looking at her not coming home until late next summer.

If we go through agency B, we're probably looking at at her coming home at 8-9 months old. Again, if she's referred to us in 3 months, add on another 2-3 months to that and we're looking at this fall.

See how it's a big variance? See how we're praying with all of our heart that we can sneak into agency B?  This is one of those times where I have to say, "OK God, I know it's all in your timing and I'm at peace with that."  But it's so hard not to say, "OK God, I know it's all in your timing, so can we please both get on the same page!?"

But the most important fact to take note of, regardless of what agency we are picked to work with is that she very well MAY be born already!