EP Approved & Next Steps

About 4 weeks ago we mentioned that Joshua's EP (Emmigration Permit) was submitted in Korea, the next major step to cross before we are able to bring him home.

Well.....yesterday (Aug. 2) we got an email from our case worker at our adoption agency that read:


"The batch of EP's from 7/4 were approved on 7/31.  We'll let you know when you're free to travel, but we're on the home stretch.  Yeah!!!"

Jill was thinking EP approval had begun to happen a few days earlier, as she had begun to hear unofficial rumors of other families getting word of their EP's via some online groups we are a part of.  But we were just waiting for the "official word" from our adoption agency...which came yesterday.

I (Eric) had the day off and decided to check our home computer's email yesterday morning.  The kids were watching TV, when I told them we got an email about Joshua.  Nathan's first response was, "we get to go pick him up?"  After I told them what it was, they both started getting excited, as they know the time is getting closer to travel!

Nathan ran upstairs to grab my phone so we could call Jill and let her know.  Ah - the kids were excited!  (makes me wonder how excited they will be when we get the news that we can travel?!)

So what's next?

The P3 - The US embassy sends a packet of information to the Korean agency.  This packet is referred to as P3.  It requests information such as our application and legal forms we have previously filled out and sent over (I-600, I-864, etc), our birth/marriage certificates, Joshua's legal documents, his vaccination certificates, etc. The Korean agency then submits the completed packet back to the US embassy for them to review and approve the travel visa.

VI - After our/Joshua's P3 has been sent back to the US embassy, a "Visa Interview" (VI) is scheduled.  Joshua's P3 packet will be reviewed, and assuming no problems are found, will be approved....and his visa issued.

TC - Our travel call!  Typically the TC comes quickly after the visa is approved - 1-2 days after approval is not uncommon.

All in all, this next step of the process can take anywhere from 1-4 weeks, which could put us to travel in the middle-end of August. We're continuing to pray and wait patiently, and looking forward to hearing updates on these areas as we are able to!

Thanks for your continued support, prayer, and encouragement.  If you'd like to learn more about how you can get involved in bringing Joshua home, check out our "Ways To Partner" page at the top of our blog!

Hold on, Joshua....we're coming soon!