***PAP = Prospective Adoptive Parent***
I know a lot of us are in the same boat: we are adopting from China, we are caught in a long long line, {Disney World has nothing on the CCAA}, and we are grandfathered in to the I600A Application for Advance Processing of an Orphan Petition. I believe it was the original intention of the USCIS to extend this free extension to the form with the understanding that it would cover us while we wait for our referrals during increased time frames. As the JCICS, Joint Council on International Children's Services acknowledges it is that understanding that gives us hope that US immigration will honor our I600A forms for the duration of our wait times and neither make us restart our home study nor be forced to obtain new and increased documentation under the I800A forms enacted this year.
The position paper presented by JCICS outlines the issues raised by the collision of I600 and I600A forms, new Hague requirements, I800 and I800A forms with the increasing wait times for referrals from China and Haiti and 10,000 families from the USA waiting for their families to grow through adoption providing in depth details and what I think is a fair proposal of solutions for all parties involved. ( I know it kis a long sentence but I am too tired to fix it, I think you catch my drift. Feel free to comment or cantact me if you have questions)
There are lots of ways to help. There is a petition to sign, Adoption for All: The Fairness for Families Petition. Also, you can write your state senators and local representatives on October 14, 15 and 16 that is Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of this week. It is easy and could really help Adoptive families who have chosen international adoption as the method for growing their families. Copy the text below replacing the red text with your Representative's name and adjusting the "I/we" pronouns accordingly... You don't have to be an adoptive parent to help out.
I/we understand that USCIS is actively engaged in seeking a resolution to the I-600A issue. I/we respectfully ask the Senator/Congressperson to contact USCIS and express their support of efforts to find an immediate resolution to the I-600A Extension issue. Thank you very much for any assistance you can provide for this very important issue.
And... please keep us and families like us in your thoughts. Our very ability to have a child rides on this issue getting resolved. This is our one shot.
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