Daphna and Grace: Van Berkel Greatest Hits

Our Adoption Process

2/19/08 - We decide to pursue domestic adoption
2/26/08 - Unknown to us, Daphna is brought to HIS Home for Children
4/22/08 - Doors to domestic adoption close
5/12/08 - We begin international adoption process
6/16/08 - Daphna is put "on hold" for us
6/19/08 - Receive first picture of Daphna
7/03/08 - Meet Nungesters, who run HIS Home for Children orphanage, in MI
7/31/08 - We turn in homestudy paperwork
9/02/08 - Homestudy complete
9/04/08 - Daphna officially referred to us
9/03/08 - Immigration paperwork sent out
9/10/08 - Take dossier to Great Seal
9/22-9/25/08 - Visit Haiti. Celebrate Daphna's 1st birthday with her.
9/28/08 - Decide to adopt Grace
9/29/08 - Translation complete, but done in wrong language
9/30/08 - Fingerprinted
10/24/08 - Dossier sent to consulate in Chicago
10/27/08 - Dossier authenticated and on it's way back
10/28/08 - Grace offically referred to us
10/29/08- 11:30 am. Dossier is sent to Haiti. Feels like a huge victory. Thank you Jesus!
10/31/08 - Dossier arrives in Port Au Prince. Approved I-171 form arrives at home
11/20/08 - Amended I-171H form arrives
Ministry of Foreign Affairs approved our paperwork!
1/12/10 - 7.0 Earthquake shakes Haiti damaging the orphanage
1/22/10 - Daphna and Grace are granted humanitarian parole and are issued visas to come to the U.S.
1/25/10 - Daphna and Grace fly to Orlando then Miami
1/26/10 - Gotcha Day!
3/20/2010 - We begin to pursue domestic adoption of Daphna and Grace
10/20/2010 - Complete 6th and final home visit. Thanks Joy!
11/09/10 - Adoption Finalized!!!
11/30/10 - Birth certificates issued
3/07/2011 - File I-485 (green card) with USCIS
4/06/2011 - Biometrics for Daphna & Grace
6/30/11 - Grace granted Permanent Resident status
8/16/11 - Daphna granted Permanent Resident status.