No news yet...

Can you believe it? There is still no news. The bilateral US-VN adoption agreement expired, and the Department of State has issued a memorandum (excerpted below) and full copy at this URL: http://www.travel.state.gov/family/adoption/intercountry/intercountry_4352.html.

The remaining families in the program who have received an "official" referral will be allowed to complete their adoption. Like us, few families know if they are included in that group.

The DoS (Dept of State) says that the US Embassy in Hanoi should have a final list of families approved by the third week in September. My agency says that they will try and have an update to me by this Friday.

Thank you for you prayers and good wishes during this time. I am overwhelmed by the emails of support you have sent. This mama (and mama-to-be) thanks you sincerely...

I just KNOW (I jus' feel it in my bones) that we'll be going to Viet Nam soon!

Ann



U.S. Department of State

Vietnam: Update on September 1, 2008 Deadline

September 5, 2008
"The Vietnamese Department of International Adoptions (DIA) has confirmed that the DIA continued to issue referrals to prospective adoptive parents until September 1, 2008, the date the United States – Vietnam bilateral adoption agreement expired. According to the Vietnamese Ministry of Justice, prospective adoptive parents who received a formal referral by September 1 will be allowed to process their adoption to conclusion. "

"According to the DIA, a referral occurs when DIA sends a letter to prospective adoptive parents informing them that both DIA and provincial authorities have agreed to the match of a specific child. Any case where this letter has been sent to the prospective adoptive parents before September 1 will be considered as having a referral and will be processed to completion.The DIA has informed the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi that they will supply the U.S. Embassy with a list of all cases that have received a referral. The Embassy expects to receive this list during the third week of September. "

"Prospective adoptive parents who have not received a referral letter may wish to verify the status of their case with their adoption service provider.According to an informal poll of adoption service providers taken in mid August, approximately 600-700 prospective adoptive parents still had an application pending with the DIA and had not yet received referrals. The U.S. Embassy in Hanoi, Vietnam, will process to conclusion all adoptions that meet the Government of Vietnam’s criteria and deadlines."