Phone Call to the USCIS Office

Thank you Karen, a fellow adoptive parent who is also awaiting a receipt of confirmation &fingerprinting appointment.  Her family's I800A was received 2 days before ours at the USCIS office.  She kindly provided me the correct phone number to call!!  The China adoption community is made up of helpful and kind families!

This afternoon I phoned the USCIS office for a status of our I800A form.  I've heard of families going to be fingerprinted before their appointed time and wanted to question this as well as inquire if we have been placed in the system. 

Well, when calling the 1-800 number, the nicest man on the other end was most helpful!  While our most recent I800A had not been placed in the system, he explained the forms first arrive to a lock box.  It is from the lock box that an automatic letter, known as a "Confirmation of Receipt" is sent to the family and a fingerprinting appointment is also generated prior to our form being logged in, or placed in the system.

He said it takes exactly 2 weeks from the day the I800A was received, until it is logged into the system.  By the time it's logged in, we should have received our fingerprinting appointment.  I hope he's right!!!

When questioning the possibility of walking in for our fingerprints, prior to the appt. he said, "I can't make that suggestion but if you decide to do this, please do the following: bring your fingerprinting appointment letter with us AND tell them we are a Hague Family.  He said when they know we are a Hague Family, they most often will allow early fingerprinting.  (Maybe because it's adoption related as oppose to Green Card or Permanent Residency...I don't know, only guessing)  The only downer is that I've heard Houston is one city that will NOT allow early fingerprinting.  We shall see!!!  Oh yea, he also suggested we arrive very early to better our chances.  What a great USCIS representative!! :-) 

Well....I'll keep you all posted on the USCIS process.

For those not familiar, the I800A is a form required with international adoption.  It's requesting permission from the US government to adopt and return home with our daughter.