Next, we went to get our fingerprints taken. This is done by USCIS as part of their approval process. I’m assuming that there’s a background check somewhere tied to this. Otherwise, I just don’t see the point.
We basically took a number and waited with everyone trying to work their way through various immigration paperwork. That means we were there with a good number of Hispanics, a few Asians, and a few blacks (maybe islanders, maybe Africans). Then, there were about four families of Caucasians. Guess what we were all there for? Yep, all of us were adopting from China. One or two of the other families were using our agency, too.
Boy, has fingerprint technology changed since my last fingerprinting! Just kidding: I’ve never been fingerprinted before. Jackie has. There was no ink or messy fingers, though. They rubbed something on your fingers to get the oil off, and they’re very picky that you not have any cuts or other “defects” on the pads of your fingers; otherwise, you have to make another appointment. Then they scan your fingers with some kind of optical scanner. They check the image on the screen to make sure the prints are readable, and you’re done. Very painless.
The fingerprints are good for fifteen months, which is usually sufficient to get you to China and back. Wait times have been increasing dramatically, though, so we’ll probably need to get ours redone. There is a move to get Congress to extend the expiration period for these, however, so we have our fingers crossed. I’ll probably write more about the move to petition Congress later.
Afterward
One of the families we met was the family who later hosted our first waiting families potluck. When I knocked on the door, I was startled to think, “Wait! I know this person.” She was thinking the same thing. It’s a small world.
