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!