Still Waiting ....

We received some disappointing news yesterday. The Korean Government has stated they will not accept EP submissions for at least another 2 weeks. The is the crucial step which we have been waiting on to be able to travel to Korea to bring Yu-Na home. We originally thought January, then were told it would be February and now have been told Mid-March.  As I've stated before any movement is better then none as it moves us that much closer to "the top of the list". Very heartbreaking and confusing for sure.

I thought I would explain the process a little bit so it's a little clearer on what exactly we are waiting on. On our end we had everything done and had legally "accepted" Yu-Na last May. The acceptance was received in Korea on May 26th. Typically after the documents are received you are submitted for an EP (Emigration Permit). When the EP is approved, that is basically the Government saying the child is allowed to leave the country and at that time you receive your travel call to come and get the child. In the past, this time frame from acceptance to travel is 4-6 months. One of the reasons we chose Korea was this short wait time.  All of this being the case a pre-determined number of EP's is allowed each year and when they run out, they run out. This number is reset in January of each year. I don't know this #, but have heard that it is somewhere in the neighborhood of 400 children.  We were told last year in July our Agency had learned that the government was nearing their quota and they did not know if we would be submitted in 2011. The last group of children were submitted in October. Families who submitted their acceptance documents in Feb are home with their children. So we know families from March and April are waiting ahead of us.  This is why I say movement of any kind is so crucial.

We received an update today due to the overwhelming question and concern our agency received after the news yesterday.  Basically the agencies that represent families waiting are going to go to the government along with the ministry in Korea collectively to lobby for these babies to come home. 

I will say the line in the email that gives me hope is ... "despite these delays, your child will come home!.