So before this requirement, the process looked something like this.
-referral
- preliminary hearing (families do not travel for this)
-if you pass, a court date is set up three months later and you travel to the country
-once you pass court they are legally yours by Ethiopian law
- US Embassy investigates orphan status and issues visa's and passports
-Return to country 2-3 months later to bring them home.
The total process from referral to home averages 5-6 months.
Now with the PAIR letter, the process will be extended by 2-3 months. This letter must be in place BEFORE the preliminary hearing and is issued by US Immigration and it takes 8-12 weeks to prepare and get in place.
The purpose of this letter is actually really good. Although very rare, there were families who were clearing court but not embassy so their child never got to come home. This letter states that the child meets the requirement of orphan status and should make the embassy process smoother.
I guess I am happy that the process is a little more efficient, I just wish that it didn't mean taking longer to get them home.
Our current number on the wait list is 56!
Prayer Requests:
-Referrals will boom over the next few months
-Peace over our waiting and eager hearts, but not patience ;)
-We are considering the possibility of opening our parameters to siblings but that will require LOTS more savings and fundraising which we can't do without support of family and friends. I'm positive if this is the path we should take it will be made abundantly clear and our needs will be met but, we need you all to cover this in prayer.
