To start off on a high: MB's trip to the UK turned out brilliantly. Accepted to 3 Conservatoire, he's settled on the Royal College of Music in London! We move there in September, just in time for his course to start on September 12 and just in time to miss MB's brother becoming a dad as bub is due September 13! Come on TB! This from the man who is always on time, and often early? Could you perhaps consider an early induction so we can see our new nephew/niece and not miss the flight?
But this 2 year (and probably longer) jaunt to the UK mean all family-making activities are on hold for at least 2 years and probably much longer. I'm desperately researching foreign nationals adopting in the UK to find out all I can, and dis-hearteningly it seems that we'll have to wait up to 10 years before we could have a child in the UK through adoption...
From one government website - "To be able to adopt a child in the UK courts, at least one of the prospective adopters (or the prospective adopter in the case of a single person) must be domiciled in the UK or both of the prospective adopters adopting (or the prospective adopter in the case of a single person) must have been habitually resident in the UK for not less than one year ending with the date of their application."
'Domiciled' and 'habitually resident' are both code for 'IRL' (indefinitely leave to remain) or 'permanant residency'. To get IRL or PR you need to have been in the UK for 5 years on a working visa. So our 2 years on a student visa won't count. So 2 +5 = 7. What about the other 3 years, you ask? That's how long the adoption process takes. So we'll be 35 by the time we can apply to adopt and probably 38 by the time we are placed with a child.
So, I think we need to talk to DOCS here about applying to do an International Adoption through them, whilst living abroad. At least that way we don't have to wait 5 years before applying! Although the process may take just as long. This is so difficult and disheartening. We really wanted to be young parents; able to cope more easily with littlies running us off our feet... not being in wheelchairs or using walkers at their 21st birthday parties... being alive to meet our grandchildren... all this seems to be slipping through our fingers.
I know our move will bring exciting new opportunities career-wise, new travel adventures and new friends but at the moment all I want to do is stay here in Australia.
