Timeline to Zone

• February 2011 -- Make decision to adopt; Meet with local social worker
• March 2011 -- Accepted to Holt International's Ethiopia Program
• April & May 2011 -- Paper Chase (aka Home Study completion)
• June 2011 -- Home Study completed
• July 2011 -- Home Study approved by Holt
• August 2011 -- Applied to USCIS for I-600a
• September 2011 -- Fingerprinting USCIS
• September 2011 -- Fed Ex'd Completed Dossier to Holt
• October 2011 -- OFFICIALLY waiting for a referral
• June 2012 -- Update Home Study (it's been a year already)
• August 2012 -- Holt Ethiopia Program Update includes a description of a boy that sparks our interest
• August 2012 -- Inquire about 4 year old boy; Receive referral materials!
• August 15, 2012 -- Officially selected for referral of 4 year old boy!
• August 28, 2012 -- Receive Assignment Packet for Z
• September 25, 2012 -- Submitted to Ethiopian courts for adoption of Z
• October 2012 -- Submit request for changes to I-600a (older child) & re-fingerprinting
• October 30, 2012 -- Re-fingerprinting for USCIS 
• November 8, 2012 -- Receive court date of November 26th -- WE ARE TRAVELING
• November 22, 2012 -- Depart for Ethiopia
• November 24, 2012 -- Meet our son for the first time!
• November 26, 2012 -- Appear in High Court of Ethiopia -- all paperwork complete -- we are
• approved as adoptive parents for Z.
• November 28, 2012 -- Return home; Wait for US Embassy appt ... (necessary to bring our son home)
• January 2013 -- hit a few road bumps that result in the building of some of the most amazing friendships
• February 25, 2013 -- OUR CASE HAS CLEARED! The US Embassy in Addis Ababa is ready to schedule our Visa Interview 
• ** One day later, confirm US Embassy appointment for March 7, 2013 **
• March 5, 2013 -- Arrive in Ethiopia (later than scheduled) 
• **TAKE CUSTODY OF ZONE ... FOREVER **
• March 7, 2013 -- Embassy Interview (Uneventful really)
• March 13, 2013 -- ARRIVE HOME ... ZONE is a US Citizen forever