First Round of Forms (I-600A)
March 28th we downloaded the Advance Processing of Orphan Petition and filled it out to express mail it to the Embassy in Tokyo. This gets the Department of State ball rolling. Please see my follow up comment for specifics.
UPDATE: I just received word from the Embassy that the finger prints that we had taken on base were on the wrong form (the required form is FD-258 which looks amazingly like the form we used here on base) also, the representative at the embassy informed us that the cashier’s check that we supplied for the fee was not acceptable. He stated that we needed to supply cash or a money order. So, he is sending back the whole package including our check and vital records. He also told us that we actually needed to make this application in person either at the Embassy in Tokyo or at the consulate in Naha (Okinawa).
This is our first hiccup and a chance for some brief reflection. After over 16 years of governmental service and my share of dealing with bureaucracy, I was a bit surprised that my patience was a bit tried by the person I talked to on the phone at the embassy in Tokyo.
I remember Paul’s words in Philippians 4:6, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be known to God.” That direction is further strengthened by the encouragement in Romans 8:31 “If the Lord is for us, who can be against us.” What a great opportunity to continue to put our faith to the test.
- John