Finally! The Letters of invitation were accepted and are in process. They promised the LOI numbers next Friday. Visa in 2-3 days after that, so looks like we might be off mid-April (in 2 weeks!) Finally!
The papers they wanted finally reached them, from Tanya, our rep/lawyer in Astana and from us here in Canada. Good thing is the weather will be nice. So, went and shopped for some light Tees and blouses to wear with my jeans.
*LOI: Letter of Invitation
**MEA: Ministry of External Affairs
Saturday, 30 March 2013
Monday, 25 March 2013
POA signed by the Consul. Couriered out to Astana with the translations by Deepak.
The consul kept his word! He signed off on our POAs (ours and K&J's) as promised, today!
Deepak picked them up from the embassy as soon as we heard (thank God we live in Ottawa!) and has personally couriered them off to Astana, on behalf of Liana. So POAs and translations of the same for both couples will be in Astana hopefully by Friday.
Other docs needed should be reaching them tomorrow, that Tanya sent by train.
They're trying their best to get the MEA and everyone involved to expedite things because of all the past delays. Let's see if they agree to sign off on the LOI this week, if not next week and then hopefully we get our expedited visas by the end of next week. Hopefully. :)
And the Immigration medical is being done tomorrow (that's what is the plan), with the Doctor having flown in to Aktobe, just for the medical of (K&J's and ours) the boys. Let's hope that goes well.
Deepak picked them up from the embassy as soon as we heard (thank God we live in Ottawa!) and has personally couriered them off to Astana, on behalf of Liana. So POAs and translations of the same for both couples will be in Astana hopefully by Friday.
Other docs needed should be reaching them tomorrow, that Tanya sent by train.
They're trying their best to get the MEA and everyone involved to expedite things because of all the past delays. Let's see if they agree to sign off on the LOI this week, if not next week and then hopefully we get our expedited visas by the end of next week. Hopefully. :)
And the Immigration medical is being done tomorrow (that's what is the plan), with the Doctor having flown in to Aktobe, just for the medical of (K&J's and ours) the boys. Let's hope that goes well.
Pics from the Cana-Kaz Nauryz get-together, in Toronto
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| The beautiful Mommies |
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| Seeing these adorable and gorgeous children that were having a blast with each other was just what we needed to see to deal with the 1000 delays we've been facing. |
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| The Canadian-Kaz Daddies |
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| New Friends. |
Friday, 22 March 2013
Paperwork and Nauryz/Nowroze
So, the week from hell in terms of disappointments continues, with no good news, but some developments. It must be the moon (we both are cancerians), that I feel so down.
Yesterday morning, the POAs arrived from Liana and we rushed to get the money order for the Embassy, from the post office, then rushed to the Embassy of Kaz to hand over the POAs. These now will be legalized by the consul and then we will pick them up and courier them along with the translated notarised versions of the same sent by L already to us on Liana's behalf to the MEA (Ministry of External Affairs*-the ones currently causing the delay) in Astana, Kaz.
Update: Just heard from L at 11am that the POAs have been authenticated by the MEA, Canada and we expect the Consol of Kaz to sign it on Monday so we can courier it to Astana then, directly from here with the notarized translations.
Def helps being in Ottawa, that way we can just take ours and K&J's files together directly to the consulate for things to be done.
Once this is done, hopefully they will accept the other papers that Tanya is also sending them that they asked for, along with these POAs and send the LOI so that we can apply for the expedited visa and be on our way. I know things get delayed in this process, but we were all thinking originally that the baby would have been here by March end, and we are still here.
On the other hand, my lovely teeth have been giving me grief since Monday, and all week I have been in immense pain with my gums in the back. FInally went to the dentist, apparently its trauma added with stress that has caused this thing and will have to just wait till it gets better on its own. Am on Codein now for night time and Advil 400mgs during the day to manage the pain.
Good thing is Im really looking fwd to driving down to Toronto tonight with Deepak! Just what we need. Encouragement and support by meeting fellow Canadian families for Nauryz, who have gone through all of this and have been home for years now, happily raising their beautiful children from Kaz. Im going to go make the Plov now. In India we make the same thing, its called Pulav. :)
Yesterday morning, the POAs arrived from Liana and we rushed to get the money order for the Embassy, from the post office, then rushed to the Embassy of Kaz to hand over the POAs. These now will be legalized by the consul and then we will pick them up and courier them along with the translated notarised versions of the same sent by L already to us on Liana's behalf to the MEA (Ministry of External Affairs*-the ones currently causing the delay) in Astana, Kaz.
Update: Just heard from L at 11am that the POAs have been authenticated by the MEA, Canada and we expect the Consol of Kaz to sign it on Monday so we can courier it to Astana then, directly from here with the notarized translations.
Def helps being in Ottawa, that way we can just take ours and K&J's files together directly to the consulate for things to be done.
Once this is done, hopefully they will accept the other papers that Tanya is also sending them that they asked for, along with these POAs and send the LOI so that we can apply for the expedited visa and be on our way. I know things get delayed in this process, but we were all thinking originally that the baby would have been here by March end, and we are still here.
On the other hand, my lovely teeth have been giving me grief since Monday, and all week I have been in immense pain with my gums in the back. FInally went to the dentist, apparently its trauma added with stress that has caused this thing and will have to just wait till it gets better on its own. Am on Codein now for night time and Advil 400mgs during the day to manage the pain.
Good thing is Im really looking fwd to driving down to Toronto tonight with Deepak! Just what we need. Encouragement and support by meeting fellow Canadian families for Nauryz, who have gone through all of this and have been home for years now, happily raising their beautiful children from Kaz. Im going to go make the Plov now. In India we make the same thing, its called Pulav. :)
Wednesday, 20 March 2013
A Beautiful Video of a Family's adoption of a baby boy appx the same age that our little one is.
Warning: Keep a tissue box handy.
Such a beautiful video recording their journey to their son. And he's about the same age as our little baby boy is. Im still in tears. Makes you realize how everything we're going through is going to be SO worth it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBYUGpNH-rc
Such a beautiful video recording their journey to their son. And he's about the same age as our little baby boy is. Im still in tears. Makes you realize how everything we're going through is going to be SO worth it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBYUGpNH-rc
Monday, 18 March 2013
So frustrated and exhausted. MEA creates hurdles
Im so upset its not even funny. :(
Today was the day (after delays) that we should have had an idea about when the MEA is signing the letter in Astana, the LOI, so that we could take it to the consulate here for our visa. But they continue to create problems, ask for more papers, and cause delays on top of delays.
Apparently they have asked Tanya's rep who took the ltr there, to get more documents, even though the new guidelines dont specify the need for the same. Now if they need those documents from us, it means more delays since we will have to courier them to Liana and then she will courier it to Kaz. WHich will take another 1 to 2 weeks to get there and then they will come up with something else.
We expected to be there anytime after mid December, Jan came and went, Feb came and went and now it seems like March will also go by and they are still not signing off on things as per the timelines. Something tells me, they didn't want to give it before they went on holidays so this is a way to bide time and postpone things, so they can enjoy their holiday week. I am just so tired, mentally exhausted from all this. For once it would be good to have things done as per timelines.
L asked for the updated Interpol and Medicals to start having them notarized, translated etc and all I could say was, what's the rush and what's the point.
Sick of these Bureaucratic delays. Im from India so used to them, but even Im getting tired now.
19th March: So, apparently, no one at the ministry is saying the same thing. One person says they need something, the other thinks not.Tanya is trying to send them whatever they have asked for. The thing is the Ministry of Education is the one who gets the dossier including all the documents listed. The Ministry of External Affairs has none of that-they just get the approval ltr, I believe, which they need to confirm and sign off on. But, now they are saying, they too want some of the documents, etc.
We had sent all the POAs needed for them to represent us etc but those documents are with the Ministry of Education and the MEA now thinks they need them too. So, we wait till maybe tomorrow to see what they really need and what to do next. In the meantime, Liana is doing all she can, talking to whomever she can.
We are thinking of going for the Nowroz/Nauryz get together organized by the lovely families of the Canakaz group. Its a trip of course, but we will make a weekend trip out of it. It will be nice to get away, and meet all the families who are following our journey, and whose footsteps we are actually following in. The words of encouragement from them on Facebook and on the blog help keep me going too, sometimes, esp when I am on my wits end. So, yes, I think that will be a good trip from Ottawa to Toronto this weekend, while we wait.
Today was the day (after delays) that we should have had an idea about when the MEA is signing the letter in Astana, the LOI, so that we could take it to the consulate here for our visa. But they continue to create problems, ask for more papers, and cause delays on top of delays.
Apparently they have asked Tanya's rep who took the ltr there, to get more documents, even though the new guidelines dont specify the need for the same. Now if they need those documents from us, it means more delays since we will have to courier them to Liana and then she will courier it to Kaz. WHich will take another 1 to 2 weeks to get there and then they will come up with something else.
We expected to be there anytime after mid December, Jan came and went, Feb came and went and now it seems like March will also go by and they are still not signing off on things as per the timelines. Something tells me, they didn't want to give it before they went on holidays so this is a way to bide time and postpone things, so they can enjoy their holiday week. I am just so tired, mentally exhausted from all this. For once it would be good to have things done as per timelines.
L asked for the updated Interpol and Medicals to start having them notarized, translated etc and all I could say was, what's the rush and what's the point.
Sick of these Bureaucratic delays. Im from India so used to them, but even Im getting tired now.
19th March: So, apparently, no one at the ministry is saying the same thing. One person says they need something, the other thinks not.Tanya is trying to send them whatever they have asked for. The thing is the Ministry of Education is the one who gets the dossier including all the documents listed. The Ministry of External Affairs has none of that-they just get the approval ltr, I believe, which they need to confirm and sign off on. But, now they are saying, they too want some of the documents, etc.
We had sent all the POAs needed for them to represent us etc but those documents are with the Ministry of Education and the MEA now thinks they need them too. So, we wait till maybe tomorrow to see what they really need and what to do next. In the meantime, Liana is doing all she can, talking to whomever she can.
We are thinking of going for the Nowroz/Nauryz get together organized by the lovely families of the Canakaz group. Its a trip of course, but we will make a weekend trip out of it. It will be nice to get away, and meet all the families who are following our journey, and whose footsteps we are actually following in. The words of encouragement from them on Facebook and on the blog help keep me going too, sometimes, esp when I am on my wits end. So, yes, I think that will be a good trip from Ottawa to Toronto this weekend, while we wait.
Thursday, 14 March 2013
We have a date! I mean dates :)
Yippee! The Chief at the Ministry of Youth had signed and given the letters to Tanya's rep today. We know the dates on the LOI, now! March 18th to June 18th. Really really hope our baby boy is home by June, before my birthday. Always thought Id be a mom before I hit 35 at the latest. So, really hope he is home before the end date of the LOI.
Now she takes them to the MEA tomorrow, in Astana. And pleads and requests them to issue the LOI urgently so that we can apply for our visa next week, before all the holidays they have. Praying. Again. :) Maybe we will get lucky now and things will move quicker, Mercury retrograde is over on 17th March (things are delayed and fall through during Mercury retrogrades, usually. Susan Miller at the astrology zone-the Astrologer who is bang on about things for us. Perhaps its because we're both Cancerians in the house.) Maybe, we will have the LOI by Monday/Tuesday and the consul will give us a visa by next week itself. Maybe then we can travel the week after. Maybe. Baby.
Now she takes them to the MEA tomorrow, in Astana. And pleads and requests them to issue the LOI urgently so that we can apply for our visa next week, before all the holidays they have. Praying. Again. :) Maybe we will get lucky now and things will move quicker, Mercury retrograde is over on 17th March (things are delayed and fall through during Mercury retrogrades, usually. Susan Miller at the astrology zone-the Astrologer who is bang on about things for us. Perhaps its because we're both Cancerians in the house.) Maybe, we will have the LOI by Monday/Tuesday and the consul will give us a visa by next week itself. Maybe then we can travel the week after. Maybe. Baby.
Wednesday, 13 March 2013
Letter on Desk and then to MEA (Kaz)
So, its Wednesday finally. Just spoke to Liana (Thank God for her!) and there is some good news in terms of movement. Tanya has been told the letter is on the Chief's desk for pick up. We don't know if its signed or will be signed Thursday morning, but her rep in Astana can pick it up. They do need an original (no online or copies will be accepted as we have discovered in this new process), at the Ministry of External Affairs (*MEA*) for the rep to pick up and hand in the letter so they will have that by Friday when the rep goes in to give them the letter.
Now the problem. The issue is that Nauryz is on 22nd March (Kaz New Year-co-incidentally the Parsi New Year celebrated in India is the same festival-called Navroz. Another eg of how closely intertwined Indian & Kaz histories are over the centuries). We were REALLY hopeful we would get to experience the festivities of this event being in Kaz but alas it was not meant to be this time.
Anyways, the point is that they are going to be closed from the 21st to 25th March for Nauryz. And they are not open to the public on Wednesdays which is the 20th. So, if the rep is not able to convince, request, plead with them to expedite the LOI within 3 days instead of the required 5 day timeline at the MEA, so that we have it by 19th, we will not have it at the earliest on the 26th of March. Then we will have to rush to the consulate here in Ottawa in person to hand in our visa apps for K&J along with our own, so that they can expedite our visas. 1st of April is when the new Adoption Visa rules come into effect, so we need to try and get ours in before that. Though the new rules are to better the process and give a 3 month visa automatically, it may mean they need new and updated letters and docs which we need to avoid having waited for 3 months+ for them to get their papers in order and sign things as needed. They surely have taken their own sweet time doing things thus far.
We will not book our tickets till we know when our visa is coming in. So, now we wait for the next 7 days to see if we get our LOI or if we have to wait till 26th to apply for the visa. The wait continues. The good news is within 2 weeks this part should all be over.
Since Im getting quite a few emails saying people were following the blog and are having trouble doing so now since I made it private, I think I will make it public again, once the visa is in done. That way everyone can follow our journey as we head there and are there with the Little One. Also, a prayer full of good wishes for K&J's son who turned 2 this week, while we all are still trying to get there. I am sure this will be the last one he will spend without his parents till he's a grown man. :) Happy Birthday B!
Now the problem. The issue is that Nauryz is on 22nd March (Kaz New Year-co-incidentally the Parsi New Year celebrated in India is the same festival-called Navroz. Another eg of how closely intertwined Indian & Kaz histories are over the centuries). We were REALLY hopeful we would get to experience the festivities of this event being in Kaz but alas it was not meant to be this time.
Anyways, the point is that they are going to be closed from the 21st to 25th March for Nauryz. And they are not open to the public on Wednesdays which is the 20th. So, if the rep is not able to convince, request, plead with them to expedite the LOI within 3 days instead of the required 5 day timeline at the MEA, so that we have it by 19th, we will not have it at the earliest on the 26th of March. Then we will have to rush to the consulate here in Ottawa in person to hand in our visa apps for K&J along with our own, so that they can expedite our visas. 1st of April is when the new Adoption Visa rules come into effect, so we need to try and get ours in before that. Though the new rules are to better the process and give a 3 month visa automatically, it may mean they need new and updated letters and docs which we need to avoid having waited for 3 months+ for them to get their papers in order and sign things as needed. They surely have taken their own sweet time doing things thus far.
We will not book our tickets till we know when our visa is coming in. So, now we wait for the next 7 days to see if we get our LOI or if we have to wait till 26th to apply for the visa. The wait continues. The good news is within 2 weeks this part should all be over.
Since Im getting quite a few emails saying people were following the blog and are having trouble doing so now since I made it private, I think I will make it public again, once the visa is in done. That way everyone can follow our journey as we head there and are there with the Little One. Also, a prayer full of good wishes for K&J's son who turned 2 this week, while we all are still trying to get there. I am sure this will be the last one he will spend without his parents till he's a grown man. :) Happy Birthday B!
Sunday, 10 March 2013
Housewarming Party-while we wait
So while resigning ourselves to continue waiting for the ministries to do what they need to do to invite us, we decided to have a housewarming party and invite a few friends over last night. Its been 3 weeks we've been here now and things are slowly coming together.
Here are a few pics, so we remember all that was going on while we waited for our baby boy to join us.
Wednesday, 6 March 2013
Can't believe it! Still waiting to know the dates and give our Visa Application
So! Here we are. 6th of March, 2 days before Women's day-a big holiday and event in Kaz. And we still haven't been able to give our visa applications since the Ministry of Education has still not signed off on our paperwork for the dates of the invitation. After they do that, this will go to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs-thankfully they have a timeline of 5 business days to complete their part and send the LOI to the consulate. And hopefully the consul in Ottawa will follow through on his promise of expediting our visas. We truly hope he does.
In other news, the immigration medical required to be done in Kaz is going through its own issues. Finally T has managed to convince 1 approved Doc to fly out to Aktobe to do the Medicals for K and our sons. She does need about a 3 week notice though and then the medicals are sent to UK or somewhere else to the Canadian embassy (I think) and they will take I have no clue how long. Till this part is completed-there can be no court date. So, again...up in the air for timelines, with the new process. We'll cross the bridge when we come to it. Liana and Tanya, in the interim, continue to find out all they can, work as hard as they can to make this smooth for us. To be honest our job is just waiting and giving them the docs they need. They're the ones doing the major part of everything.
Really really hope the Director at the ministry signs the paperwork tomorrow so that at least we can write a date and submit our visa applications. K&J have couriered us theirs as well, so we will go hand in all our applications. Hang on lil E & B. We are coming....sooooon...
UPDATE: 8th March '13: It seems that now the ministries want to clarify a few things between each other in Kaz, and we have to continue waiting to hear back about our dates and LOI. The lady who has to sign the papers to fwd them on to the Foreign Affairs Ministry is not in on Monday and Tuesday next week, so my hopes of knowing our dates or any positive developments are not high, for next week either. Definitely not happy about this. Just trying to stay focused on the time when we will meet him, the long 30 day bonding period and the 2 trips after - the time this will all be over and our son will be home. This is exhausting-more than labor may have been? Don't know. But def exhausting.
In other news, the immigration medical required to be done in Kaz is going through its own issues. Finally T has managed to convince 1 approved Doc to fly out to Aktobe to do the Medicals for K and our sons. She does need about a 3 week notice though and then the medicals are sent to UK or somewhere else to the Canadian embassy (I think) and they will take I have no clue how long. Till this part is completed-there can be no court date. So, again...up in the air for timelines, with the new process. We'll cross the bridge when we come to it. Liana and Tanya, in the interim, continue to find out all they can, work as hard as they can to make this smooth for us. To be honest our job is just waiting and giving them the docs they need. They're the ones doing the major part of everything.
Really really hope the Director at the ministry signs the paperwork tomorrow so that at least we can write a date and submit our visa applications. K&J have couriered us theirs as well, so we will go hand in all our applications. Hang on lil E & B. We are coming....sooooon...
UPDATE: 8th March '13: It seems that now the ministries want to clarify a few things between each other in Kaz, and we have to continue waiting to hear back about our dates and LOI. The lady who has to sign the papers to fwd them on to the Foreign Affairs Ministry is not in on Monday and Tuesday next week, so my hopes of knowing our dates or any positive developments are not high, for next week either. Definitely not happy about this. Just trying to stay focused on the time when we will meet him, the long 30 day bonding period and the 2 trips after - the time this will all be over and our son will be home. This is exhausting-more than labor may have been? Don't know. But def exhausting.
Sunday, 3 March 2013
The Nursery is slowly coming along. We're getting ready for you little one!
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| When we realized there was no way it was getting in through those doors. After 5 hrs of assembling. |
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| Re-assembling. This time inside the room. |
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| Who da man!? |
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| Time to dress it up. |
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| Slowly coming along. |
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| Daddy cleans up the long new driveway after another crazy storm |
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| Almost ready for you! Just the wall decor/pic frames left to go now. |
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