Final Update on Typhoon Megi (Typhoon Juan)

According to the Associated Press, the typhoon weakened and was downgraded as it hit the China coast. No deaths have been reported, but there was up to 13 inches of rain dropped on coastal villages, with extensive damage done to fishing boats & shellfish boats. Plus, more heavy rain still on the way. Over 300,000 people were evacuated and as of yesterday, authorities were still decided when it would be safe to allow people to return home.

Per wikipedia, it was the 7th costliest typhoon ever in the Philippines. When it hit the Philippines, it had become a super typhoon, but after just brushing Taiwan, it thankfully downgraded to a "Tropical Storm" by the time it hit the coastline of China.

The good news is that this means the orphanage shouldn't have been affected (at least not in a major way), though they are probably quite soggy. I am quite thankful for that!

I'm also still on a high that we received our I-800 approval on Friday. Again, that is (provisional) permission for us to classify Shaling as an immediate relative (allow her to immigrate). I had at least one question about what steps were left.

Within the next week, we should receive confirmation from the National Visa Center that our case has been cabled to the U.S. Consulate in China. Roughly two weeks after that, an Article 5 should be issued by the U.S. Consulate. An Article 5 Letter states that we are suitable adoptive parents and that our child will be allowed to enter and reside permanently in the United States.

Two or three weeks after that, the Article 5 should be delivered to the CCAA (China Center for Adoption Affairs), who sends out our Travel Approval (TA). Our Consulate Appointment (CA) will be set for about two or three weeks after our TA is issued. We will travel roughly 10 days BEFORE this appointment.