Timeline so far...

November:
18 th- Ordered Vital records from Illinois and New Jersey on a whim that we may start soon!!!

December:

6 th- Brought application to Harrahs
7 th - APPROVED!!!!
8 th - Picked up first package from Harrahs
Got passport pics done
Bought corn huskers lotion
9 th - Applied for passports
10 th - brought completed papers back to Harrahs
15 th - First call from Social Worker and rec'd HS documents(30 pages) to be completed via email
17 th - Applied for new SS card :( lost mine
21 st - First payment to agency
Spoke to Dossier consultant( and have DAILY ever since!!!)
27 th - Rec'd passports
29 th - Home vist done/paperwork completed, only one visit for our SW :) Waiting for Final draft to be sent
31 st - All docs started to be sent out for authentication and verification

during the month of December, we completed TX and NJ criminal checks, obtained all the kids documents we needed, all of our docs that started arriving, financial statement, doctor appointments which carried over into January, as well as the employment verification, etc etc

January:
3 rd - Illinois doc sent to SOS
5 th - Doc back from Illinois SOS!!!
6 th - Illinois doc sent to Consulate
10 th - Physicals and TB tests completed
Rec'd first draft of the HS
NJ Vitals sent to SOS in Trenton
12 th - NJ vitals back from SOS ( one doc was not authenticated as the registrar was no longer there :( )
13 th - NJ Childabuse clearance done(this was a nightmare!!! )
Have all Vital records now, all documents are in our dossier consultants hands
17 th - Doc back from Illinois consulate
New Marriage license re-sent to Trenton SOS
18 th - Final HS documents mailed to us from SW( 4 notarized copies)
19 th - marriage doc back from NJ SOS
All NJ Docs sent to NY consulate
20 th - All Houston Docs sent to Austin SOS( almost didn't happen, there was a problem with paperwork, Stephanie the superwoman came to the rescue again!)
MAILED COMPLETED I-600A WITH COMPLETED HOMESTUDY TO HOUSTON USCIS SENT CERTIFIED MAIL
22 nd - Houston USCIS HAS our paperwork , rec'd return receipt!!!
COME ON FINGERPRINTING APPOINTMENTS!!!
28 th - Fingerprint appointment notice...we were shocked to say the least that is came so fast!!!! 29 th - Fingerprints done at the Northwest Freeway location in Houston- we were in and out in 20 minutes, on a SATURDAY!!!
COME ON I-171H !!!!!!!!!
31 st - All NY consulate docs are back!!!!
At this time ALL of our authentications and verifications are complete ( except for the I 171 of course)

February
2nd - Completed dossier arrives at Harrahs
3rd - I-171H arrives!!!! WHEEEEEEE!!!! I-171 faxed to Stephanie for authenications and verification
4th - I-171H sent Fedex to Austin SOS
Pictures for dossier are made prettier with background paper and also passport pics delivered to Harrahs
8th - Drove to Austin SOS to PICK UP docs
( have to wait until Monday for Stephanie to bring to Houston Consulate - CNY is this
week) :(
14th - Houston Consulate papers hand delivered and completed!
15th - Completed papers arrive at Harrahs to complete dossier.
18th - DTC - YIPPPPEEEE!!!!! Second Payment to Harrahs
28th - LID ( LOG IN DATE) China now knows who we are !!!
AND THE WAIT BEGINS.... 6 -8 MONTHS AND COUNTING!
So as far as the paperchase goes we began on Dec 7th 2004 with the acceptance of our application to Harrahs, and DTC on February 18th 2005.. LID on Feb 28th, 2005
FAST FORWARD:
October
REFERRALS!!! - October 3rd, call came in at 12:24 pm by Stephanie. Cricket documented the whole conversation and the trip to Harrahs to see our baby. Video will be put together at some point for all to enjoy! Got first glimpse of Sydney Marie Qian Xin Yan from Qianjiang Municipality, Chongqing.

November- Waiting on TA's(Travel Approval) to arrive to request Consulate Appointment and travel schedule....will update as soon as I know!


From Application to DTC ...That is 2 months, 1 week and 4 days...WOW!!! I truly believe God allowed us to go so fast because there is a little girl who really needs us sooner than later! We are extremely fortunate that we have gotten through this stage so fast as I know there are some who do the chase for 5-8 months prior to DTC. Wishing all those folks who are doing the chase that it be speedy and that you don't encounter many bumps in the road!
From LID to Referral - 7 months and 5 days