The Paperchase

Here’s a condensed list of all the things to do/documents we're working to gather: (OK - I know this is REALLY LOOOONNNNGGGG, but it really is condensed!)

• Keep a list/receipts for ALL related expenses to document for tax credit
  
• Apply to Facilitator:
  
  
  
  • Fill out application form, including demographic information, why we want to adopt, religious background, health, finances, housing, personal info, child preferences
    
  • Two reference letters
    
  • Recent family picture
    
  • ** Once our application is approved, we will sign an agreement. Then we can choose our children at any time, but must be done before we send our dossier to Haiti.
    
  
  
• Home study (in our case an update, as we had one completed in Jan 2006)
  
  
  
  • Find an agency that will do this for international adoptions, and does not charge an outrageous amount, and can do it within a reasonable amount of time. Have arranged for Pam Kracht from Children and Families of Iowa to do our home study update.
    
  • She will come to our home to meet with us and would like to meet Kaylen as well.
    
  • She will need the following:
    
    
    
    • 6 or more references (no more than three from family) – names, addresses
      
    • Most recent pay stubs for both Jock & Lisa
      
    • Criminal checks – go to DCI @ Wallace Building, one for Jock two for Lisa (current and maiden name)
      
    • Medical letters for both Jock & Lisa (can send them to her if we don’t have them ready when she comes)
      
    • Copy of prior home study
      
    
    
  • Make sure that the home study includes the worker’s license and notarized signature before it gets sent on to USCIS or with the dossier.
    
  
  
• Apply to the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (local office – Federal Building, downtown Des Moines) for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition (form I-600A)
  
  
  
  • Send in with a cover letter:
    
    
    
    • I-600A
      
    • Photocopy of certified birth certificate for both Jock & Lisa
      
    • Photocopy of certified marriage certificate
      
    
    
  • Have home study sent directly there when completed
    
  • They will send back an appointment for fingerprinting, and then when that is completed, they’ll send us our I-171H (I-600A approval) letter and send approval to the US Consulate in Haiti. We were told not to wait for this to send our dossier.
    
  
  
• Dossier:
  
  
  
  • *Letter to director of IBESR (Haitian Social Services) introducing ourselves, why we want to adopt, requesting authorization for adoption.
    
  • *Criminal report letters for both Jock and Lisa from local police station – check on our licenses and showing we have no outstanding complaints/charges against us.
    
  • *Power of attorney letter for the attorney in Haiti
    
  • *Employment letters for both Jock & Lisa – nature of employment and current salary.
    
  • *Bank letter stating we are a customer and our accounts are in good standing.
    
  • *Medical letters for both Jock & Lisa – stable health condition, and test results (not summary) for CBC, HIV, VDRL
    
  • *Psych letter (psychiatrist or licensed psychologist) – good mental health – one interview with us both together all that is needed – no extensive testing needed for Haiti
    
  • *Two reference letters
    
  • *Two G-28 forms (one for Jock and one for Lisa) for EACH child that we are adopting
    
  • *Home Study – 5-6 pages
    
  • 6 passport-style photos each for Jock and Lisa
    
  • One copy (front and back) of three different types of photo IDs for each Jock & Lisa – work IDs, drivers’ licenses, passports
    
  • Certified copy of birth certificate for each Jock & Lisa
    
  • Certified copy of marriage certificate
    
  • Copies of three recent bank statements
    
  • Copies of last three years federal income tax returns (1040s and W-2s)
    
  
  
• Notarizing: All documents with * above need to be notarized – be sure that these include:
  
  
  
  • The notary’s sworn statement - something like: “Subscribed and sworn to me in the state of Iowa, this ___ day of _____, ____. Witness by hand and official seal.”
    
  • The notary’s signature and seal, including the date his/her commission expires.
    
  • The date of the notary should match the date of the letter.
    
  • The notary’s commission should not expire at least until after you get your authentication (see below), or possibly for another12-15 months until your adoption is finalized. (have heard conflicting info here though)
    
  
  
• State Authentication
  
  
  
  • For all documents that were notarized.
    
  • Fill out form showing notary information – they don’t need the actual documents.
    
  • Mail or walk in the documents to the Secretary of State’s office – if walking them in, takes 5-15 minutes, depending on the line and how many notaries we used.
    
  
  
• Translations – everything except tax forms, bank statements, photo IDs, and lab test results need to be translated into French, including every part of the notary and authentication. Have arranged for Deb Blaz to do this – turnaround about a week for the whole dossier, or can send as we get documents – email or mail photocopies to her – charges a flat fee (some charge per page!).
  
• Assemble documents in the following order: original, authentication, translated document, translated authentication. Notes:
  
  
  
  • Try not to change the order that the secretary of state’s office has put the documents into.
    
  • Try not to remove staples that a notary or the secretary of state’s office has put in place.
    
  
  
• Send the dossier to the Haitian Consulate in Chicago for legalization. Include:
  
  
  
  • **Call the office to check fee schedules before sending – it’s per document that they legalize.
    
  • Cover letter:
    
    
    
    • Explaining that we’re adopting from Haiti and would like our dossier documents legalized.
      
    • Include a list of all the documents included.
      
    • Include at least two phone numbers for them to contact if they have questions.
      
    • Request that the power of attorney letter have the Haitian consulate stamp directly on the letter, not on the authentication page – IBESR now requires this.
      
    • Note the amount of the money order, and request that they return the amount that was overpaid.
      
    
    
  • Prepaid air bill for return postage.
    
  • ** Note: you must send your entire dossier (all documents, not just some), even though they will legalize only some of them.
    
  
  
• When everything is back from the Haitian Consulate, review EVERYTHING very carefully:
  
  
  
  • Everything was returned (except for two of of our passport photos that they will keep)
    
  • Everything in same order it was when it was sent
    
  • All stamped documents have signatures they required
    
  
  
• Select the child/children if you haven’t already
  
• Send dossier via FedEx to Haiti (include children’s name(s) on a sticky note)
  
• First payment (cashier’s check) – more payments to follow...
  
• WAIT – 8-15 months after dossier arrives in Haiti until the process is complete and we can bring the children home.
  
• What do we do while we wait?
  
  
  
  • Pray!!! (although this is throughout the entire process)
    
  • Visit children (join planned mission trip with group)
    
  • Learn some Kreyol/Creole words (Haiti’s national languages are French and Kreyol, but the locals mainly speak Kreyol)
    
  • Learn about Haiti’s rich history and cultures
    
  • Fundraising, donation collections for orphanage
    
  • Preparations for when children come home: child care, bedrooms, car seats, clothing, pediatrician