South Africa

We've been home for about a week and a half now. As we see our friends and family, everyone obviously wants to know how our time in South Africa was. Let's just say, I wouldn't want to do it again.

Here are a few shots of our time there. Dave will be working on putting together a video.

The day we met Noel. Taking a tour of TLC. 

One of the first days we spent at TLC. Noel wasn't crazy about having his picture taken. 

@ "Fish & Chips". It was grossing me out a little. 

The roof-top of a really cool restaurant near the Jo-burg Zoo.

We've got more, but I need to sort through both mine and Dave's. Stay tuned for a post about how we are doing as a family of three back in the USA. 

Post-Court Paperwork Process

The adoption of Noel was finalized on August 14, but we are still here in Johannesburg, South Africa. Why? Because a few things have to happen before we can take him back to the US. This is the process:

First, wait for a week while court paperwork is sent to the Registrar of Adoptions in Pretoria and then sent back to us.

Stage 1: Go to Home Affairs office to complete and submit four different forms. These forms basically pull his old name out of the South African database and re-enter him with his new name (Noel David Kern). They will assign a new ID number (which is like a SS#). We cannot proceed to Stage 2 without a new ID number.

*We are currently stuck in this stage. It was only supposed to take 7-10 days and it has been two weeks already. Our agency's partner, who is working behind the scenes on our behalf, has apparently made a direct appeal to National Assembly for our case. (And no, I don't know what National Assembly is)

Stage 2: Go back to Home Affairs office to complete more forms. At this point, we will request a new unabridged birth certificate, which is a necessity for Noel's Visa. We will also apply for a temporary and permanent Passport (We cannot apply for a passport without new ID number). The temporary passport should take 3-5 days. We do not know how long the birth certificate will take, but I don't have high hopes for anything speedy.

Stage 3: Receive notice that the birth certificate is ready and schedule appointment at US Consulate. At this time, we will be able to purchase a plane ticket for Noel. (We will most likely have to change the existing flights for me and Dave, because they are for September 10 and I don't see any way we will be able to leave then.)

Stage 4: Visa interview at the US Consulate. I believe they will give us his Visa right away at this appointment and we will be able to come home.

We have no idea how much longer all of this will take. We are so discouraged at this point. We have been here for 5 weeks and the estimated time in country that we were given was 5-6 weeks. We are having some horrible luck and could really use a miracle right now.