What can I say about our federal tax dollars at work? Our first application and approval to adopt an orphan, the almighty 171H, took three months but went smoothly. When we changed countries from China to Taiwan, we had to complete an application to change countries. It should have been easy, or so we thought.
We were approved to change countries but never re-issued another 171H stating the correct country. I spent several hours on hold with customer service to rectify this and finally gave up. I emailed the official Reno USCIS adoption address, but there was no response in five weeks.
By this time, Ralph and I had to re-do our fingerprints, which expire at 1 year, never mind that the 171H expires at 18 months. You can't have one without the other; no one can determine the expiration discrepancy. USCIS had sent us a letter asking us to appear on a specific date or "any other Wednesday" to be fingerprinted. Ralph and I booked out the next Wednesday and made the trip to be told they would not do the prints that day. When I asked why, the guard shrugged his shoulders. He told us to return on July 27, which wasn't even a Wednesday when we verified it. We asked to speak with an officer about our 171H, but USCIS changed its rules about walk-ins and never told anyone.
So, I made an online appointment to speak to an officer. The day arrived, and I had Ryan with me for his usual therapy day in Reno. I tried to combine the two since it is a three-hour round trip. Upon arriving and clearing security, which my underwire bra manages to set off, we are told to take a seat. Seating is similar to a wide-body airline—seven seats across with no room between them or the rows. The only empty seat is one in exactly the middle of all the chairs. So I crawl over several people and a suitcase with my purse, Ryan and his brace, and coloring books to keep him occupied. Oh yeah, you can't even bring in food or water.
Not long after sitting down, a woman with a Jamaican accent starts calling what sounds like a Japanese name. After several minutes, I realized she was calling my name. I drag Ryan over the people and the suitcase and take everything to the Plexiglas window. First, she admonished me about not coming quickly. I explained that I couldn't hear in the noise or understand when she called my name. After another glare from her, I explained what I needed and clarified my three questions. I listed them very clearly and even checked them off on my fingers. Another glared and asked, "So, what do you want?" Hmm, by that time, what I really wanted was a drink. So I explained again what I needed, and she told me to go sit and she would ask her supervisor. Back to the middle of the seats over the people and suitcase, just in time to turn around and return to the Plexiglas window. By this time, everyone is glaring at me.
The information officer said, "I think this is right," but didn't look too certain. There is only one person in the entire office who has any idea of international adoption and she is gone that day. She advised me to "come back tomorrow." No problem, three three-hour round trips in less than a week?
I decided to try another plan of attack and mailed a letter stating my questions, including the USCIS forms. Three more weeks and still no response. I forgot to have the girls at the office send the letter certified, which I have found is the only way to make any government agency acknowledge receipt of anything.
Now, almost two months after starting the process for our new fingerprints, we have decided to renew the entire process. Fortunately, USCIS has agreed to waive the initial $670 application once per family. Even if the courts take slightly longer than expected, our 171H and fingerprints should be valid. Cross your fingers for us.
