Step By Step- Adoption Process-Jonas

I thought I would do an update on the adoption process. Many of you ask questions pertaining to this. I know these steps like the back of my hand. I wait for the phone to ring to tell me the next step is completed. But, my friends and family aren't as familiar. So here is your Adoption 101 class.

I will put this post in my sidebar so you can access it anytime to see what steps we have completed.NOTE: this is pertaining to Jonas' process. Ellies hasn't started yet.

ADOPTION PROCESS AMERICAN SIDE:

1. Pick a child (or God picks them for you) God did this one! April 2006

2. Pay a donation/deposit to place child on hold. (God provided this) May 2006

3. Homestudy- usually only a one month process, but Todd had to have a job first to show more income. Completed 8/30/06!!!!!!!

4. Apply of I600a- (application to adopt a child from a foreign country) Mailed 8/30/06 waiting for approval.

5. Receive approval for I600a- and get fingerprinted. Fingerprinted 10/10; approval 10/23

6. Gather paperwork for dossier-(the packet of info you send to Haiti) ALL collected and ready to go!

7. Send 4 major documents to the Secretary of State of Indiana- to have paperwork apostle's(sp?)-which means he puts a seal on them to verify the notaries are legal and binding in our state.Sent 8/30/06 awaiting their return. Received today 9/11/06.

8. Get paperwork translated into French- Completed 10/7

9. Mail same 4 documents to the Haitian consulate- in Chicago to have a seal put on them to make them legal and binding in Haiti. Mailed 10/7; received back 10/11.

10. Mail paperwork to Haiti- Fed Ex to Gretchen 10/11. She hand delivered on 10/15 on her trip to Haiti!

ADOPTION STEPS ONCE DOSSIER ARRIVES IN HAITI

Minister of Foreign Affairs(1st legal)- Documents notarized and authenticated are now legalized. April 11th

DHS-Submit Orphan First Petition and birth parents interview happens, DNA testing is done if requested by DHS officer. April 20th

Justice of the Peace- Judge issues a formal request for IBESR to exam potential adoptive family as permanent family for child. May 3rd

IBESR· Family and child’s dossier are examined. 4 signatures required to exit.Entered May 23rd- Exited September 11th. #15,115

Civil Judge- Issues official adoption decree. (In Haiti we are his legal parents.)

Parquet- Social Representative (similar to a prosecutor in a US court), insures that the above departments have done everything legally. Out June 6th 2008

Civil State Officer- New birth certificate is issued.(with our last name)Done. Don't know when.

Archive- Verifies all signature’s, certificate is issued. (Similar to being notarized)Done. Don't know when.

Minister of Justice- Above verifications are now legalized (similar to notary being authenticated).Enter June 9th 2008

Passport- Minister of Interior Insures all of the above documents have not been falsified.(MOI) Entered 10-30-08 File #5073; EXITED 11-21-08!!!!!!!

·Political Affairs Gives final authorization to issue the passport.

· Passport is issued Picked up 12-12-08

DHS- Take adoption decree to finalize orphan first petition. Taken 12-15-08

Picked up 12-30-08

Embassy- Visa is issued.Because Todd and I have both seen him in person so he will be issued a visa that will make him a US citizen the moment his feet hit American soil.

Visa appointment 1-12-09

Visa picked up 1-13-09

***Then we get the call to come get our children and bring them HOME!!!****

CAME HOME 1-17-09!!!!!

Hugs, Kristina