Another roller-coaster ride...
According to FedEx tracking, our package arrived in Kazakhstan two weeks ago. However, despite being signed for (by someone...), it did not make its way immediately into the right hands...
Good news though, it has been found and will be delivered to the Minister of Foreign Affairs (MFA) office tomorrow. Only two more weeks of incurred unexpected delay this time...
At this rate, it looks like we won't receive our invitation until the end of June, so it now looks like mid July will be a more realistic departure. Adding 8 weeks would now make our estimated return mid September. Cathe and I are already talking about contingency plans. She will probably return after the first court hearing and I will either stay or make the second trip along to pick up our precious cargo.
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Friday, May 4, 2007
Package in Kazakhstan!
Our paperwork is finally in Kazakhstan!
Hopefully the Minister of Foreign Affairs office doesn't take too long to work on it.
Friday, April 27, 2007
Progress - One Year into the Process
Checked our FedEx tracking number this evening and discovered that our application has left the Consulate, en-route to Kazakhstan!
Based on estimates from our coordinator, we hope to travel mid-late June. Keep us in your prayers for early travel.
Update: Shortly after posting this, Cathe looked in her planner and noted that one year ago today, April 27, 2006, was our first face-to-face meeting with our Social Worker. Time sure does fly!
Based on estimates from our coordinator, we hope to travel mid-late June. Keep us in your prayers for early travel.
Update: Shortly after posting this, Cathe looked in her planner and noted that one year ago today, April 27, 2006, was our first face-to-face meeting with our Social Worker. Time sure does fly!
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Dossier on its way!
Received word today that our dossier has finally been reviewed, compiled and sent to the Consulate!
If you've seen the Walt Disney World commercial where the little boy says, "I'm too excited to sleep!" then you'll understand how we feel.
We have now been working on this process for a year and are finally getting some forward momentum.
If you've seen the Walt Disney World commercial where the little boy says, "I'm too excited to sleep!" then you'll understand how we feel.
We have now been working on this process for a year and are finally getting some forward momentum.
Saturday, April 7, 2007
444.5 miles and an Education
Friday March 30th was a long one for us. We covered a lot of territory but suceeded in our mission!
Due to our change of agency representation, we needed new agency and cover letters. Unfortunately, most needed to be notarized, authenticated, then apostilled.
Tennessee is a long and narrow state, sort of like Florida, only east-west instead of north-south. Memphis is in the far southwest corner, and Nashville, the capitol, is in the center.
We are amazed at how some things can come together quickly... Monday March 26th we had the info we needed to have the letters re-done. Tuesday we spoke with the agency which completed our Home Study and they agreed to help us. We passed specifics and had notarized copies by Thursday afternoon. Friday morning we headed to the Shelby County Clerk's office to have the notary authenticated, then headed off to the capitol. After making some copies, we sent the original apostilled documents to our coordinator and scans to the translator. This past Monday, April 2nd, we received confirmation that the documents were received and the translations were complete.
Any day now, we will have confirmation that the package has been received by the Kazakh embassy. Keep your fingers crossed that things go quickly for us from this point forward.
Due to our change of agency representation, we needed new agency and cover letters. Unfortunately, most needed to be notarized, authenticated, then apostilled.
Tennessee is a long and narrow state, sort of like Florida, only east-west instead of north-south. Memphis is in the far southwest corner, and Nashville, the capitol, is in the center.
We are amazed at how some things can come together quickly... Monday March 26th we had the info we needed to have the letters re-done. Tuesday we spoke with the agency which completed our Home Study and they agreed to help us. We passed specifics and had notarized copies by Thursday afternoon. Friday morning we headed to the Shelby County Clerk's office to have the notary authenticated, then headed off to the capitol. After making some copies, we sent the original apostilled documents to our coordinator and scans to the translator. This past Monday, April 2nd, we received confirmation that the documents were received and the translations were complete.
Any day now, we will have confirmation that the package has been received by the Kazakh embassy. Keep your fingers crossed that things go quickly for us from this point forward.
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Still Waiting... Some More
We're REALLY frustrated now...
It has been a week and a half since our agent said she would be sending our documents, but we have not received send/receipt confirmation... That means we still don't have any idea about when we will be traveling.
I guess all we can say at the present time is: We'll keep you posted.
UPDATE: We received an e-mail from our Coordinator Friday the 23rd indicating that he has received our paperwork (FINALLY!).
It has been a week and a half since our agent said she would be sending our documents, but we have not received send/receipt confirmation... That means we still don't have any idea about when we will be traveling.
I guess all we can say at the present time is: We'll keep you posted.
UPDATE: We received an e-mail from our Coordinator Friday the 23rd indicating that he has received our paperwork (FINALLY!).
Tuesday, March 6, 2007
Still Waiting....
Well, it's now March 2007 and we've made little headway. Our application STILL has not gone to the consulate.
We ran into another "problem" in February when the translator noticed that the medical form provided by our agency did not contain all of the information required by Kazakhstan. Fortunately, the translator notified us when she did not receive a response from our agency and we actually had resolved the problem by the day we were finally notified by our agency.
At this point, we have withdrawn our appilcation from the agency and are now working with the country coordinator who has picked up the ball. Essentially, we have fired our agency. I won't mention any names here, but recommend you contact us for referral information before using a Memphis agency.
We are very fortunate that our country coordinator has picked up the ball. Otherwise, we would have lost 1-2 months while switching agencies.
Words to the wise:
1) In addition to checking the BBB registry, ensure that your agency is fully staffed and that they keep the published office hours.
2) Whenever possible, use the forms posted on the Kazakh Embassy web site unless otherwise specified.
We ran into another "problem" in February when the translator noticed that the medical form provided by our agency did not contain all of the information required by Kazakhstan. Fortunately, the translator notified us when she did not receive a response from our agency and we actually had resolved the problem by the day we were finally notified by our agency.
At this point, we have withdrawn our appilcation from the agency and are now working with the country coordinator who has picked up the ball. Essentially, we have fired our agency. I won't mention any names here, but recommend you contact us for referral information before using a Memphis agency.
We are very fortunate that our country coordinator has picked up the ball. Otherwise, we would have lost 1-2 months while switching agencies.
Words to the wise:
1) In addition to checking the BBB registry, ensure that your agency is fully staffed and that they keep the published office hours.
2) Whenever possible, use the forms posted on the Kazakh Embassy web site unless otherwise specified.
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