It's here!!

The coveted I-171H arrived today! This is a very exciting milestone. The headline on the letter says "NOTICE OF FAVORABLE DETERMINATION CONCERNING APPLICATION FOR ADVANCE PROCESSING OF ORPHAN PETITION" (It actually is in all caps on the letter, I'm not just screaming it.) Then it says "It has been determined that you are able to furnish proper care to an oprhan or orphans as defined by section 101bF of the immigration and nationality act." Isn't that sweet? You won't find that sentence on a pregnancy test box!! We now have proof that the US government thinks we can be parents! It does clarify at the bottom that we are approved for ONE ORPHAN (not orphanS). I just think it's so funny how the government writes stuff. I may be joking about it but really it's the best news. We are another step closer to our daughter!
I went and got a photocopy of it notarized this afternoon so now I get to go on Monday to the county clerk and the secretary of state before fedexing it to the Chinese Consulate in NY. If it gets there by 10:30 Tuesday morning our courier should be able to get our documents authenticated before the New York consulate closes for a few days to celebrate the Chinese New Year which, by the way, starts January 29th. I'll keep updating with the steps that come after that.
We're almost done with the paperwork Mei Mei! Hang in there!