I am continuing to answer a reader's email questions directly in my blog so I can share with everyone. The other questions that I've answered this week were: Food and Eating in Viet Nam, Wait Times and Expectations, Air Travel and Time in Viet Nam and Our Hotel in Viet Nam. I enjoy hearing from my readers, so if you ever have any questions or comments, please leave a comment below or email me at rebeccah@adoptionblogs.com.

How long was it from the time of referral to travel?

We waited three months and one week after we got Ella’s referral before we left for Viet Nam, and it really is true that this leg of the wait is the hardest. We waited fairly patiently for our referral, but once we saw her face and knew that she actually existed and was waiting for us, most of that patience flew out the window. It was such a surreal time; to know we would be going to adopt our daughter in the next few months, but not knowing exactly when that would be until very close to our actual departure date. We had approximately two weeks notice before we actually left. Luckily, our agency handled all of our travel details and arrangements, so all we had to worry about was packing and getting ourselves to the airport.

Three to four months seems to be the norm when it comes to the wait between referral and travel. During our wait, there was a lot going on in Viet Nam to get Ella’s paperwork through the system. After we submitted our official referral acceptance documents, her file in Viet Nam went to the Department of Justice (DOJ.) Our paperwork was then accepted by the International Adoption Department (IAD,) sent to the DOJ in her province and then sent to her baby center. After the provincial police completed their report, our file was returned to the DOJ and had to be approved at that level. We had travel related paperwork to fill out for our agency along with applying for our Vietnamese visas. Then we were able to board the plane and head to Viet Nam!

We kept as busy as possible while we waited for that travel call. At times it just seemed totally surreal that we would soon have a daughter, and other times were absolutely excruciating and we could not wait to leave. Luckily, we received regular updates and photos of Ella while we waited. We also compiled a list of questions for her caregivers at her baby center and our agency gave us the answers verbatim from her caregivers. This was invaluable to us, helped us learn her schedule and feel like we got to know her a little bit before we ever met.

photo credit

More Reading:
How to Stay Healthy in Viet Nam
How to Get Around in Viet Nam
How to Keep in Touch While in Viet Nam

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