I just got off a conference call with USCIS and the US Embassy in Kinshasa. They didn't really have any new information to share and it is not helpful when their favorite phrases are "in theory" and "we cannot comment on that" and "we cannot speculate". Basically they just said that DGM (the agency in Congo responsible for immigration) is still suspending exit permits (which are required to bring all adopted children home). Nobody knows how long this suspension will last- it could be one more month, a year, or even longer. They say the purpose of this suspension is to revamp the adoption process and attempt to reduce fraud. USCIS and the Embassy can not predict if the exit permit suspension is a step toward a complete shutdown of adoptions or just a hiccup along the way. They also did not provide any course of action for adoptive parents, besides to wait indefinitely on the whims of DGM.
According to Congo, we are Roland's legal parents. We are completely financially supporting him- childcare, food, doctors visits, a safe place to live (for $600 a month). Next week Roland has his visa appointment, which will allow him to immigrate to the United States. However, one government agency (DGM) in Congo is holding almost all adopted children hostage until an undetermined point in time. If we were wealthier, we could go visit him as often as we wanted or we could even move to Congo to care for him full- time. However, that is not an option for us (with his on- going monthly childcare fees, we don't have enough money for the final trip to bring him home). It is a very confusing spot to be in as parents. We are responsible for him, yet we are not allowed to bring him home. How do we keep living in a state of being ready for our child while also being mentally and emotionally prepared for a long wait? How do we make life decisions when opportunities present themselves? How long can we put our lives on hold for?
We chose the Congo program 1.5 years ago because it was moving quickly. In the current situation, we would seriously consider switching programs if we had not already passed the court process and the embassy investigation and spent $30,000. We are financially, "legally", morally and emotionally committed to Roland wherever the tides might take us.
Heartbreaking for all families as we wait. Praying that the suspension is lifted soon. Blessings ....
ReplyDeleteHello. My name is Ginny and my husband and I are also adopting from the Congo. We are in the position as you, Cassandra. I know that there's one woman who is just staying over in the Congo with her child until she gets the exit visa. I'm not able to do that because of finances. I'd love to stay in touch with each other, either over this blog or by e-mail. ginnyr39@yahoo.com
Delete$600/month is an outrageous amount to be paying to support lil Roland. You're not paying for his care... you're supporting an industry that profits from trafficking kids who (mostly) aren't actually orphans:
ReplyDelete"Second, we need to think critically about finances. Let's say there are 400 adoptions processing in DRC right now -- this is probably a low estimate given how fast the program has grown in the past three years. If you are a family with one of the more popular agencies (perhaps one that processes the bulk of the adoptions in DRC), your agency may have 200 families (or children) in process right now, AND may still be accepting new families and giving referrals. It is likely that your child will be put in foster care, which is billed at a cost of around $600/month PER child. If you do the math, you may realize that your agency would be billing $1,440,000 in foster care fees over the 12 month DGM suspension!! Over one million dollars in foster care fees alone! "
http://kitumaini.blogspot.com/2013/12/suggestions-regarding-adoption-in-drc.html
$600 a month does sound like a lot, but things are expensive in Congo and it covers everything: a clean, safe place to live, food, 24 hour/ day child care, and medical care. Nobody is making a profit from it. The money does not go to the government- it goes straight to our agency who runs the transition house. Our agency does not want our children stuck in Congo either. They are doing everything they can to bring them home. But, while they are there, they need to be cared for. And the care they get at our agency- run transition house is immensely better than a traditional orphanage in Congo, where children routinely die from malnutrition and disease.
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