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Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Yep, too good to be true.

Well guys, it didn't happen. Brad took a day off of work and we drove down to Atlanta, and still did not get our fingerprints done. We got to the U*SC*IS application office around 11:00 this morning. We were encouraged because the parking lot appeared empty, and we didn't see many people outside. However, once inside my gut feelings were confirmed. We went to the desk and explained our situation and that we had called the 1-800 number ON THE FORM THEY SENT and that we were instructed to come on a Wednesday. This was our reply (and, I'm not joking, pretty much verbatim,) "yeah, they don't give the right information out. Walk-ins can come any day, not just Wednesday; but they can only come at 2:30 (remember it was 11:00) and there is no guarantee you will get in, but if you don't you can reschedule."

So, what choice did we have? We were already there. So, we went to get something to eat and shopped for a while, and then went back to the office in hopes of being seen. We got back at 2:30 and by this time, a line had formed outside. The man we spoke to earlier came out after a while and pretty much told us (and the others) that we would not be seen, so we opted to reschedule. In order to do so, we had to make a copy of the invitation that we had received in the mail and brought with us. Apparently, there are no copiers in the office, so we had to leave and drive down the street to a Publix to make the copies, and then go back to the office.(Am I the only one that thinks that is insane?) I assumed (crazy me) that we would get an actual date and time when we went back, but instead, he just took our forms and said that a new invitation would come in the mail. I (very politely) asked him why, if they know the 800 number gives incorrect information, do they include it; and I went on to explain that we live an hour and a half away. He apologized and said that the 800 number is not for that particular processing office, and they are given generic responses to give out; which may be true for some offices, just not all (NICE). He then goes on to say that if we do not get anything in the mail (I changed our address on the form) within one month to come back, and show them the copy. I said, "So if we don't hear anything and we come back next month, will they do our fingerprints?" Are ya'll ready for this.......His reply (and I quote) "Definitely maybe." Are you kidding me? I laughed at this point, because there was nothing else to do. I mean, is this the best that a g*vernm*ent agency can offer us?....definitely maybe.

So, after all this, we did not get our fingerprints, and we do not have an appointment for them to be done in the future. Not only that, I can't even call or inquire further until it has been a month; and then, even then, it will require another trip to Atlanta with no guarantees. And, I just feel it necessary to say again that we've already been approved and done this whole fingerprinting process once. It still amazes me that our fingerprints "expire". I even took our original approval form with me.....it meant nothing.

Obviously, there is much to pray about. Obviously, my attitude is anything but positive. Obviously, it looks like there is no end in sight, and doubt and fear consume. God, may I ask, "Are you telling us something or is this Satan's handywork or is this just 'part of it'?" Lord, would you instruct us and teach us in the way we should go; will you counsel us and watch over us. (Psalm 32:8)

Monday, May 19, 2008

Unbelievable!!

As you know from previous posts, we have submitted an application for an extension of our Immigration Approval for little Malley. We did this on Monday, April 14th. We were right behind our close friends, the McGhee's, in this process. I had been checking with Angie to see if she had gotten a response. Sure enough, she got her appointment for fingerprints, and they only gave her an 8 day notice. Based on the timing, I knew ours should be just about a week or so behind theirs. This made me panic a bit, since we were about to leave for Disney, and I didn't want to be out of town during our fingerprint appointment time. So, I had our neighbor and friend, Meleia, religiously check our mailbox while we were gone.....but nothing came. Finally, today, we received our forms in the mail. Unfortunately, attached to the original document was an envelope. Apparently, they had sent the original document to our previous address.....even though, if you remember, I had asked in an email if there was anything specific that should be done to reflect our new address. Even though the response was a month late in getting to me, she assured me that nothing else should be done because the address change was reflected in our home study. But, they STILL sent the fingerprint appointment to our old address. UUUGGGHHH! So, guess when our appointment WAS? 5/10/2008 Hello, that was 9 days ago.

I find all of this so unbelievable!! How is it that absolutely every single step of the way is riddled and laced with error and mistake after error and mistake.

I called the immigration office and told them what had happened, and the representative told me that all we had to do was show up at the fingerprint office on a Wednesday and give them the original form and explain the error. That almost sounds too good to be true, and I asked her two different times to be sure of what she is saying. I even went on to say, "so, even though this form says that if we fail to appear as scheduled, our application will be considered abandoned?" She assured me again, that it will be fine. But, I don't know. I'm scared to death, and quite frankly, mad as hell.

So, you guessed it. We'll be making a trip to Atlanta on Wednesday. Please pray that the lady is right, and that they will go ahead and do our fingerprints and honor our request. If you don't mind, I think I'll pray right now.....care to join me?

Father God,

You know my emotions right now. You know how frustrated I am. Thankfully, you know me and you know my feelings. Jesus, would you please show us favor when we go to be fingerprinted on Wednesday. Lord, just as you gave your favor to Joseph, would you grant us your favor with the immigration office. Would you allow the fingerprints to be taken, and the process with our application to proceed. We ask that the road ahead be paved with your grace, and that ultimately, that road would lead to our sweet little girl. God, we are waiting on you and with you; please give us strength. Until the time when she is in our arms, Lord, please comfort her in yours. Give her peace and protection. Jesus, I also ask for the ability to receive our Malley in the soonest possible time. Would you protect her, and the other children from having to wait unnecessarily due to red tape or bureaucracy. God, we acknowledge that your ways are not our ways, and that your timing, although rarely ours, is perfect. Your way is perfect God, and we trust you. Your timing is perfect God, and we hope in you.
-Amen