I got this happy news from an agency in Korea. The EPs got approved just a few hours ago in Korea (as of current time of posting this Mon, 3/26/12 7AM). I know some of the EPs got approved earlier for other agencies. Here is the content of the mail:
"Happy News to share with you and all the too much anxious families!
Finally, the long-awaited EPs have been issued as of late afternoon today. ..."
Wonderful News, thanks for sharing, Steve!! So happy that more EPs have been completed! Have you heard anything concrete on when they may accept the second batch?
ReplyDeleteI believe the next batches should be submitted in early April.
DeleteSteve,
DeleteDo you think this will actually happen? I'm worried about getting my hopes up. Some agencies are saying that they won't get to submit many this next batch, but I'd like to think that they will actually allow a double batch. Thanks so much...your information is INVALUABLE to us waiting families.
How many agencies are there in Korea? I think 4 or 5?
ReplyDelete3 that do international adoptions
DeleteThere are three: Holt, Eastern (ESWS), and SWS that have been approved by the Korean government to provide intercountry adoption services. These agencies also provide domestic adoption services as well along with 23 domestic adoption agencies within Korea.
DeleteHow long will it take to start seeing travel calls being issued?
DeleteYes! Since there was talk of "Expediting" I am really wondering if they meant to expedite the process post EP approval too. Have you heard anything about that Steve? Thanks so much for sharing with us!
Delete-Mindy V.
Just to be clear, does this mean that all the current EP applications have been approved? Or is there still one agency remaining? Regardless, this is wonderful news!
ReplyDeleteI'm curious about this too as we are with SWS and I haven't heard of any US agencies with SWS reporting EPs were approved yet.
DeleteYes, would love to know if you heard anything about SWS?
DeleteI think SWS doesn't tell their families. That is my understanding.
DeleteThat's my understanding about SWS too. I think we just have to assume that the good news from the other agencies means that it is probable that SWS EPs were also approved.
DeleteI heard today that one family with SWS got their Travel Call already (early due to extenuating circumstances; they don't have visa yet), but that must mean EPs are approved for SWS too!
DeleteThanks for keeping us all informed. We really appreciate it!!
ReplyDeleteyahoo!! This is great news for us in the first batch and for those who wait to be submitted. Hope the ministry allows all these families to be connected without pause from here on out!
ReplyDeleteI have been searching all over for news of SWS EP's -- good to know that there are others out there ... I have been doing so well with being patient and just hit the wall yesterday to think that maybe ours wasn't submitted after all ...
ReplyDeleteWhen did your referral acceptance go to Korea with SWS? Curious .... I have seen that with one particular agency, eps went through mid November 2011...
DeleteThe next batch of EPs have been submitted!!
ReplyDeleteReally, great news, what agency ?
DeleteESWS families were notified today!
DeleteHave the families been contacted already?
ReplyDeleteTravel calls for the first batch are also going out!
ReplyDeleteDo you for what agency the travel calls are for?
DeleteESWS for certain. Unsure about SWS or Holt.
DeleteSws as well
ReplyDeleteBusy day in Korea!!! Travel calls and batch #2 submitted.
ReplyDeleteESWS
Can anyone confirm that the second batch of EPs have been submitted for SWS? I'm so happy that EPs are starting to flow in Korea!
ReplyDeleteYes I'd love to know that too!.... And what months the referrals accepted for those SWS families....?
DeleteThrough 11/15/11... I think.:)
DeleteI expect to hear something in the next week from our agency. Our referral was last Dec.
DeleteI think we know each other.;) I am sure you are in the next batch!:):)
DeleteGot a call today from our agency that ESWS has submitted our daughter's EP, with expected travel in 4-6 weeks (no guarantees). We're a February 2011 referral family.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know who to call to find out when my son's visa interview is scheduled? I was thinking USCIS might know.
ReplyDeleteCall the DC Visa Center. 202-663-1225
DeleteChoose option 1 then option 0 then hold for operator. Tell the operator you are looking to see if your child's visa interview has been scheduled. Provide them with SEO case number found in your USCIS paperwork.
You probably won't be able to talk to anyone until Monday now.
Does anyone know what ATK date that Eastern got to in the 2nd batch of EP's?
ReplyDeleteThe very beginning of Feb. Then a few WC with later dates.
DeleteWe are with Eastern and only one family was submitted and it was a January family. I heard that Eastern plans on getting through November 2011 families this year. Has anyone else heard this and how are they going to get through that many families?
DeleteI am with Eastern and we were told they were doing EPs through November '11. I think the 2nd batch submitted for Eastern was end of January/early February.
DeleteAny info out there yet on SWS EP submissions in this recent batch??
ReplyDeleteI haven't heard anything yet. Still waiting to hear/see anything for myself.
DeleteSteve,
ReplyDeleteI'm concerned that it seems Eastern/SWS submitted batch 2 last week and Holt has yet to follow suit. Do you have any idea what is going on? I think all the Holt families are on edge wondering if something is wrong.
Just hang in there. Holt would never miss the opportunity to submit a batch. If it wasn't last week it would certainly be this week. If I know more I will let you all know.
DeleteSeveral people have reported that Holt said it would be 1-2 weeks until their part of batch 2 submission. If Holt is expecting that, then I'm sure nothing is wrong. Eastern's wait times have been so much longer than the other 2 for so long, maybe they are just trying to get their numbers cleared out a bit so that everyone is on a level playing field for the rest of the year. Just a guess, of course.
DeleteMy concern is not that the Ministry is staggering submissions/approvals or the new four-week minimum approval time, it is that Holt has NO confirmed date when they might be allowed to submit. To me, that speaks of a longer wait toward the next EP submissions. I am eternally confused by the daily changes in this process. Hoping the Ministry can provide the agencies with some consistency soon so they may best serve the children in their care.
Delete