Fingerprinting--done

We had our fingerprinting in Newark today. Everything went well except they assigned my birthday to both me and Dan. What a coincidence, husband and wife born on the same day! It must be fate.

In other news, the US government is doing everything they can to kill relations with Vietnam. One of the sticking points in their relationship is the fact that the US CIS in Vietnam likes to make surprise inspections of the orphanages, demanding to see paperwork that isn't always readily available. They say they're simply taking action to assure all children are there legally (not being trafficked). Vietnam says US CIS are a bunch of harassing bullies. Once talks between the two countries broke down and the agreement to renew the bilateral agreement was not signed, several orphanages refused to allow adoptions with the US to continue (thank God our orphanage did not go this route). Yesterday US CIS demanded when an I-600 is submitted (request for a US citizen to adopt a foreign orphan), DNA testing for every abandoned child is mandatory. Again, they claim this is to prevent child trafficking. This new rule goes into effect immediately. This is another HUGE hassle in a country with limited resources that is trying to complete adoptions in progress before Sept 1. Both the child and birth parent(s) must go to a designated DNA collection center where CIS appointed officials will collect DNA. The tests will take about a month to complete. What if they can't track down the birth parent? What if the birth parent can't get to a DNA testing site? They are checking to see what will happen with Gianna.