The U. S. Consulate

Before Carly can be issued an immigrant visa to be able to enter (and stay!) in the U. S., we have to take an oath at the U. S. Consulate here in Guangzhou. The oath is our statement that we have been honest during the process of completing all adoption paperwork.

This is a milestone. Remember the long wait we had from October to December when we were waiting for “some paperwork” from China? We were waiting for the consulate appointment. This is that last piece of official business that we have to do. Once we take the oath, our babies will be issued a visa within twenty-four hours, and we will be able to board our flights home.

So, at 2:00 today, our group met Jason and Jocelyn in the hotel lobby and boarded a bus that would take us across the city to the U. S. Consulate. Travel time took about 50 minutes. We really weren’t that far away, but Guangzhou traffic was as congested and scary as it normally was, so we were just pleased that we arrived at our destination in one piece.

We went through security and then headed to the waiting room. While going through security, Sandy learned that she shouldn’t have worn a blouse with a sewn-on metal decoration. Although it looks nice, it will make the security guards nervous when it sets off the alarm. They eventually waved her through, which made me happy. I didn’t want to have to apply for an immigrant visa for her, also.

Thirty-two families had consulate appointments. Some of the families were from the same adoption agency we were, but the rest were all different. Family-by-family, we listened for our names, signed some documents, and then waited for the oath.

When they had finished calling all of our names, an American woman entered the room and talked to us about her job, the oath, and congratulated us for finally completing our adoptions. Then, we all raised our right hands as she led us in the oath.

When we finished, we lowered our hands, looked at each other and realized that every family in that room had waited 4 to 5 years for this moment. We had babies in our arms and had finished all the paperwork.

Now, we can breathe easier. We can start packing. We’re done.