An Online Journal of Our Adoption Journey

Chinese Zodiac

Being the son of an astronomer, my faith in astrology is minimal at best.  However, the Chinese Zodiac is based on the year of your birth, cycling through twelve animals and five elements.  I prefer it over the Western version.

I'm listed as a Water Tiger, while Lise is a Wood Dragon.  

Autumn will be either a Metal Snake or a Water Horse, depending upon whether she's born before or after the Chinese New Year, February 11th, 2002.   So she could be intense, passionate, wise, charming, and romantic, or... graceful, strong, caring, patient, and stable, if you subscribe to this philosophy.  Either way, I'm sure she'll be wonderful.

I've downloaded and printed the INS Form I-600A, Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition, from the INS website.  This is the form that must be filled out and approved before the trip to China.  It lets the US government know that you are adopting a foreign orphan.  That way, you'll be let back into the country with the child. Form I-600, Petition To Classify Orphan As an Immediate Relative, gets signed in China.

The application fee is currently $405.  Plus fingerprints are required of both parents -- at $25 each. 

Reading over the instructions, it looks like it requires the Home Study to be completed by the time the application is sent in.  However, it also says that the application can be sent in before the Home Study is complete, and it will await the information to be sent by the social worker.  I going to speak with our adoption agency representative about which we should do.