Paperwork Part 2
More paperwork!
*See the disclaimer in Paperwork Part 1
After the home study is completed, we use it to complete our dossier ("doss-e-ay"), which is all of the paperwork that is sent to Bulgaria. The paperwork listed on the previous post is combined with our interviews with the social worker and a home study report is written.
ALL of the following documents must be notarized and be sent to the Secretary of State for apostille. What is that? I don't really know. It's basically a notary of the notary. At the state level (or federal, depending on who signs it), it is ensured that the notary is legit and in good standing. Apostille needs to happen when official documents are sent to another country. At least, that's what I've picked up during this process. I'm not sure...I just know we need to have it done...
The rest of the dossier paperwork is:
~FBI background check: We had to be fingerprinted again, separately from the home study check. This letter has to be sent to federal government for apostille rather than the state government.
~Marriage Certificate
~Home Study Report
~Parental Rights Letter with Child Abuse Clearances: from home study agency; a letter that says we've never lost parental rights
~Medical reports: for just C & me. These can, thankfully, be the same letters from our home study, but we must have them redone before we travel.
~Ministry of Justice (MOJ) Application: This is the government agency in Bulgaria that finalizes adoptions and will, eventually, refer children to us.
~Power of Attorney: For our agency's attorney in Bulgaria to go to court for us.
~Immigration: The National Benefit Center (a division of the US Citizenship & Immigration Services) has to give approval to allow the future children into the country to become citizens. For this we have to send an application, our notarized/apostilled home study, a letter from our agency stating that the home study was approved, marriage certificate, birth certificates for all 4 of us, and we have to be fingerprinted again. A third time. All FBI background checks. No one shares.
These documents are included in the dossier but do not need a notary and apostille:
~Copies of passports
~Photos: 3 pages with 3-4 photos each. 1 page is of the inside of our house, 1 page of the outside, and 1 page of our family.
~Special Needs Checklist: a list of special needs that we will/will not consider
All of this paperwork must be submitted within 6 months of our contract date so we have to make sure we are organized and keeping everything straight since a lot of this depends on other people. We are moving along well right now, but please, please pray for this entire process. We need patience and timing and sometimes I need something to talk about other than this. I appreciate you so much. Thanks for being with us on this ride.
*See the disclaimer in Paperwork Part 1
After the home study is completed, we use it to complete our dossier ("doss-e-ay"), which is all of the paperwork that is sent to Bulgaria. The paperwork listed on the previous post is combined with our interviews with the social worker and a home study report is written.
ALL of the following documents must be notarized and be sent to the Secretary of State for apostille. What is that? I don't really know. It's basically a notary of the notary. At the state level (or federal, depending on who signs it), it is ensured that the notary is legit and in good standing. Apostille needs to happen when official documents are sent to another country. At least, that's what I've picked up during this process. I'm not sure...I just know we need to have it done...
The rest of the dossier paperwork is:
~FBI background check: We had to be fingerprinted again, separately from the home study check. This letter has to be sent to federal government for apostille rather than the state government.
~Marriage Certificate
~Home Study Report
~Parental Rights Letter with Child Abuse Clearances: from home study agency; a letter that says we've never lost parental rights
~Medical reports: for just C & me. These can, thankfully, be the same letters from our home study, but we must have them redone before we travel.
~Ministry of Justice (MOJ) Application: This is the government agency in Bulgaria that finalizes adoptions and will, eventually, refer children to us.
~Power of Attorney: For our agency's attorney in Bulgaria to go to court for us.
~Immigration: The National Benefit Center (a division of the US Citizenship & Immigration Services) has to give approval to allow the future children into the country to become citizens. For this we have to send an application, our notarized/apostilled home study, a letter from our agency stating that the home study was approved, marriage certificate, birth certificates for all 4 of us, and we have to be fingerprinted again. A third time. All FBI background checks. No one shares.
These documents are included in the dossier but do not need a notary and apostille:
~Copies of passports
~Photos: 3 pages with 3-4 photos each. 1 page is of the inside of our house, 1 page of the outside, and 1 page of our family.
~Special Needs Checklist: a list of special needs that we will/will not consider
All of this paperwork must be submitted within 6 months of our contract date so we have to make sure we are organized and keeping everything straight since a lot of this depends on other people. We are moving along well right now, but please, please pray for this entire process. We need patience and timing and sometimes I need something to talk about other than this. I appreciate you so much. Thanks for being with us on this ride.
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