Our state representative's office called today. They procured the last two pieces of paperwork that we needed, and they were finally done right. It's a great way to start off the Feast of the Nativity (aka Christmas). Now we're set for court, except for the apostilling which will have to wait until after New Year's.
Thanks to the staff at Representative Sabatini's office, and to everyone for their prayers.
Now, we're waiting on Kazakhstan, but having everything done that we could do is a great relief. We have to buy gifts for the in country staff, and still haven't figured out what to get.
Friday, December 22, 2006
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
The Process
We were at our Inquirer's Class at church last night, and the subject of our adoption came up. I realized that a lot of people we know aren't acquainted with the adoption process in general, never mind the specifics of the many different countries from which Americans adopt. So here's a rundown of the process for Kazakhstan, which I used to believe was one of the more difficult countries from which to adopt in terms of regulations and expectations. However, after completing a dossier for Guatemala, seriously considering and researching India, and taking into considerations the recent change in regulations for China adoptions, I've come to the conclusion that Kazakhstan isn't more difficult, just different.
Some of the requirements for a Kazakhstan adoption seemed particularly onerous to me as an American, but when I took into account the differences in politics and cultures of government bureaucracies between the US and former Soviet/non Western/developing countries, it all made sense. The paperwork load for Kazakhstan is noticeably heavier than it is for China, and slightly heavier than Guatemala. In addition to an income statement, homestudy, medical reports, employment letters (all required by China and Guatemala) there's also FBI fingerprint clearance, a notarized statement agreeing to register the child with the embassy in your home country, a notarized statement agreeing to do post placement reports until the child is eighteen, a notarized letter from any and all banking institutions certifying you hold the accounts you claim, notarized copy of your physician's licence, and a notarized letter from your mortgage company assuring that you own your home. The paperwork has to be done in a specific way. The dates on every letter and form much match the notary seal. This can be a huge problem in dealing with state agencies, as can be seen in an earlier post. When everything is done, and done right (and our coordinator is a stickler for detail, something we appreciate), and the US CIS (formerly INS or immigration) approves you to adopt internationally, then this phase-- referred to in China adopt circles as the paper chase is finished, for now.
Now, your huge stack of papers, all properly notarized, goes off to the state capitol, to be apostilled, and then copied twice before they can be sent to Kazakhstan for translation. After translation, they come back here, go to the Kazakh consulate or embassy, get certified, then go off to "the Ministries" in Kazakhstan-- Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Education. The rule goes more or less: if you make it through the consulate/embassy you'll make it through the ministries. But still, the dossier is checked over in Astana, then gets sent to the region from which you'll be adopting. There's it's reviewed again, and you're invited by the regional officials, your invitiation is approved in Astana, and you're ready to go.
Of course, once your paperwork goes to the region, you have another whole set of documents to get together for court. These include: new FBI fingerprints and clearance, new medical reports, AIDs test, another copy of your physician's licence (and your doctor must be an MD, a DO doesn't cut it over there), a psychological evaluation, the evaluator's license/degree, and the dreaded state police criminal clearance. All must be properly notarized and apostilled. In addition, you need spousal power of attorneys in case something happens to your spouse. All of these things must be less than six months old when the judge gets them.
So that's where we are. We're waiting on our Letter of Invitation, and on our state representative's office to get things cleared up with the state police. Once the LOI comes, we apply for visas, make flight arrangements, and go to Kazakhstan.
The stay in Kazakhstan is at least three weeks, closer to four for the first trip. Two weeks of the time is spent visiting the orphanage daily, at least two hours a day, but it can be as much as four. After the visitation, you then go to court, usually within ten days. Of course nothing is certain until the judge grants the adoption petition, which is what the hearing is about. After the hearing, there's a fifteen day waiting period before you can take custody of the child. Some people go home at this point, and return after the fifteen days. We're undecided on what we'll do at this time. After the fifteen days, you sign your child out of the orphanage and travel to Almaty for a medical exam (including HIV test for the child), and to fill out the immigration paperwork for the soon-to-be new American citizen. After about a week, you're free to go home, and citizenship is granted as soon as you take your child through immigration.
So that's the process in a nutshell. It sounds so much easier than it it. We haven't run into many problems, outside of the thing with the state police. In fact, in the space of two months, we were able to gather up all the necessary documents for a dossier for Kazakhstan and Guatemala because the second set of paper work and the stay in country both for length of time and cost, seemed overwhelmed. But after a lot of prayer we decided that Kazakhstan was where we were meant to go.
Of course, four days in Guatemala in February, in a nice hotel with a pool, sounds a lot easier than three to eight weeks in Kazakhstan when temperatures average -18 C. But if there's an easy road to travel, we certainly won't be on it.
Some of the requirements for a Kazakhstan adoption seemed particularly onerous to me as an American, but when I took into account the differences in politics and cultures of government bureaucracies between the US and former Soviet/non Western/developing countries, it all made sense. The paperwork load for Kazakhstan is noticeably heavier than it is for China, and slightly heavier than Guatemala. In addition to an income statement, homestudy, medical reports, employment letters (all required by China and Guatemala) there's also FBI fingerprint clearance, a notarized statement agreeing to register the child with the embassy in your home country, a notarized statement agreeing to do post placement reports until the child is eighteen, a notarized letter from any and all banking institutions certifying you hold the accounts you claim, notarized copy of your physician's licence, and a notarized letter from your mortgage company assuring that you own your home. The paperwork has to be done in a specific way. The dates on every letter and form much match the notary seal. This can be a huge problem in dealing with state agencies, as can be seen in an earlier post. When everything is done, and done right (and our coordinator is a stickler for detail, something we appreciate), and the US CIS (formerly INS or immigration) approves you to adopt internationally, then this phase-- referred to in China adopt circles as the paper chase is finished, for now.
Now, your huge stack of papers, all properly notarized, goes off to the state capitol, to be apostilled, and then copied twice before they can be sent to Kazakhstan for translation. After translation, they come back here, go to the Kazakh consulate or embassy, get certified, then go off to "the Ministries" in Kazakhstan-- Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Education. The rule goes more or less: if you make it through the consulate/embassy you'll make it through the ministries. But still, the dossier is checked over in Astana, then gets sent to the region from which you'll be adopting. There's it's reviewed again, and you're invited by the regional officials, your invitiation is approved in Astana, and you're ready to go.
Of course, once your paperwork goes to the region, you have another whole set of documents to get together for court. These include: new FBI fingerprints and clearance, new medical reports, AIDs test, another copy of your physician's licence (and your doctor must be an MD, a DO doesn't cut it over there), a psychological evaluation, the evaluator's license/degree, and the dreaded state police criminal clearance. All must be properly notarized and apostilled. In addition, you need spousal power of attorneys in case something happens to your spouse. All of these things must be less than six months old when the judge gets them.
So that's where we are. We're waiting on our Letter of Invitation, and on our state representative's office to get things cleared up with the state police. Once the LOI comes, we apply for visas, make flight arrangements, and go to Kazakhstan.
The stay in Kazakhstan is at least three weeks, closer to four for the first trip. Two weeks of the time is spent visiting the orphanage daily, at least two hours a day, but it can be as much as four. After the visitation, you then go to court, usually within ten days. Of course nothing is certain until the judge grants the adoption petition, which is what the hearing is about. After the hearing, there's a fifteen day waiting period before you can take custody of the child. Some people go home at this point, and return after the fifteen days. We're undecided on what we'll do at this time. After the fifteen days, you sign your child out of the orphanage and travel to Almaty for a medical exam (including HIV test for the child), and to fill out the immigration paperwork for the soon-to-be new American citizen. After about a week, you're free to go home, and citizenship is granted as soon as you take your child through immigration.
So that's the process in a nutshell. It sounds so much easier than it it. We haven't run into many problems, outside of the thing with the state police. In fact, in the space of two months, we were able to gather up all the necessary documents for a dossier for Kazakhstan and Guatemala because the second set of paper work and the stay in country both for length of time and cost, seemed overwhelmed. But after a lot of prayer we decided that Kazakhstan was where we were meant to go.
Of course, four days in Guatemala in February, in a nice hotel with a pool, sounds a lot easier than three to eight weeks in Kazakhstan when temperatures average -18 C. But if there's an easy road to travel, we certainly won't be on it.
Monday, December 11, 2006
Lead Time
Still waiting on part two of the criminal clearance (mine). Hopefully that one will be done correctly.
A little more intimidating, yet encouraging, we found out that the lead time people have been getting to travel is approximately five days for this region. While this will be a problem if things aren't ready when the letter of invitation comes, we can't wait to travel.
So we're trying to pick up our study of Cyrillic letters, and some basic (and I mean basic as in "where is the bathroom", "hello", "please", "thank you", "excuse me") Kazakh and Russian. My latest task is trying to find a clear, easy to understand chart of IPA transcriptions. I need to see exactly how a few of the specific Kazakh letters sound in English- like the g with the little thing under it. And then there's that ng sound.
And of course there's the issue of presents. I don't mind buying presents, and I appreciate the fact that Kazakh culture is a gift giving culture. But it's very hard to buy gifts for strangers. Of course everyone has suggestions, but how many day planners, silk scarves, "better" fragrances and make up, "good" pen sets can one person use in a lifetime? And what does "better" mean? Better than L'oreal? Does that mean Lancome? Estee Lauder? And what is a "good" pen set? With limits on what you're supposed to spend (no more than 20 on the more expensive gifts) can you get anything "good" or "better" for that?
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
A little more intimidating, yet encouraging, we found out that the lead time people have been getting to travel is approximately five days for this region. While this will be a problem if things aren't ready when the letter of invitation comes, we can't wait to travel.
So we're trying to pick up our study of Cyrillic letters, and some basic (and I mean basic as in "where is the bathroom", "hello", "please", "thank you", "excuse me") Kazakh and Russian. My latest task is trying to find a clear, easy to understand chart of IPA transcriptions. I need to see exactly how a few of the specific Kazakh letters sound in English- like the g with the little thing under it. And then there's that ng sound.
And of course there's the issue of presents. I don't mind buying presents, and I appreciate the fact that Kazakh culture is a gift giving culture. But it's very hard to buy gifts for strangers. Of course everyone has suggestions, but how many day planners, silk scarves, "better" fragrances and make up, "good" pen sets can one person use in a lifetime? And what does "better" mean? Better than L'oreal? Does that mean Lancome? Estee Lauder? And what is a "good" pen set? With limits on what you're supposed to spend (no more than 20 on the more expensive gifts) can you get anything "good" or "better" for that?
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Friday, December 08, 2006
Bump in the Road
So we hit a bump in the road with the paperwork for court. It seems we live in a state that goes from engaging in illegality to engaging in incompentency. What we needed was relatively simple: a letter on state police letterhead stating this person has no known criminal record. It had to be signed and notarized. Failing this, the form you send in for the criminal check could have been hand signed and notarized instead. Well, this was our third attempt, and again, it was wrong.
The second attempt at this was the one that may well be criminal. The state police official did indeed sign and date the form. Unfortunately, the signature was notarized several days later on my husband's form, and nearly a week later on mine. Problem: the signature is supposed to be notarized as it's done. Bigger problem: there were two obviously different signatures with the same notary seal, meaning one was a forgery. When we called the office back in July (when this originally happened) we were told it was a take it or leave it. This is what they did. We couldn't come out there and get it done while we waited. We couldn't bring our own notary. They couldn't write a letter.
Well, we tried again, using a template of a letter someone had used with success. Husband's came back today. Not only was there no letter (we wrote out a copy of what we needed), but there was no notary, or even no live signature. Just a stamped signature. We even sent a very clear, explicit letter explaining what had to be done. But nothing close to what we requested was performed.
I contacted both our state senator and state representative about this. The senator was emailed back in October. No reply. The representative was emailed shortly after his reelection. No reply.
This has to be completed shortly, because we can't go to court in country without it.
We never expected to have problems on the US side of the paperwork, but then again, we do live in a state where the governor wants to sell our state turnpike to the highest bidder.
The second attempt at this was the one that may well be criminal. The state police official did indeed sign and date the form. Unfortunately, the signature was notarized several days later on my husband's form, and nearly a week later on mine. Problem: the signature is supposed to be notarized as it's done. Bigger problem: there were two obviously different signatures with the same notary seal, meaning one was a forgery. When we called the office back in July (when this originally happened) we were told it was a take it or leave it. This is what they did. We couldn't come out there and get it done while we waited. We couldn't bring our own notary. They couldn't write a letter.
Well, we tried again, using a template of a letter someone had used with success. Husband's came back today. Not only was there no letter (we wrote out a copy of what we needed), but there was no notary, or even no live signature. Just a stamped signature. We even sent a very clear, explicit letter explaining what had to be done. But nothing close to what we requested was performed.
I contacted both our state senator and state representative about this. The senator was emailed back in October. No reply. The representative was emailed shortly after his reelection. No reply.
This has to be completed shortly, because we can't go to court in country without it.
We never expected to have problems on the US side of the paperwork, but then again, we do live in a state where the governor wants to sell our state turnpike to the highest bidder.
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
We Know Where We're Going (we think)
There's some news. We found out our dossier is at some ministry in Astana. Better though, it's been suggested that we go to Aqtobe (or Aktobe) because our agency coordinator believes this is the region that most suits us.
Of course I immediately said, "Yes, sounds great! Aktobe will be so exciting."
Now she was kind of quiet and then said, "Great, we'll get your paperwork out there..." And explained why Aktobe was a good place for us to go. I think, in hindsight, she was a little surprised by how excited I was beyond the fact that I was excited to know where our son is, and that things were really moving now. I think she was wondering-- why is this crazy person so excited about going to Aktobe? She knows I'm a research freak, the type that amasses books, reports, websites, etc about everything, so I'm sure she assumed I knew about all the regions in which the agency worked in Kazakhstan.
I did, or so I thought. I thought Aktobe was Aktau, which is on the Caspian Sea. I have a thing about seeing water. I don't particularly like water sports, or even swimming, but I like to see different bodies of water. So Aktau would be great- right on the Caspian Sea, and when would I get a chance to see that again? Unless we go back with little boy for a visit when he's older and can carry his own luggage.
I immediately started doing research. Aktobe of course, isn't Aktau. They're not even near each other. Aktobe isn't on the Caspian Sea. In fact, the guidebook we have describes it as "a drab industrial town"... Wow, sounds a lot like where we live now, except our town is mostly post-industrial. Then I saw the average winter temperature was -18 C. All right, now that's nothing like home.
After reading all that I came across, I decided Aktobe will be a great place to go, even though it's not on the Caspian Sea, and it's a bit farther than slightly off the Silk Road. There's a museum in the city with an English speaking curator. It's not too far from Russia (not really a plus, but it's something). There's a really good Armenian restuarant, and we've never had Armenian food. It was part of the territory of the warlords of the Little Horde, and was the home to thirty-six "Heroes of the Soviet Union" including a cosmonaut. There are also two Russian Orthodox churches, so Father Victor will be happy to know we won't miss Divine Liturgy while we're away.
Most of all, it's where our son is. That's enough to make it worth the trip.
Of course I immediately said, "Yes, sounds great! Aktobe will be so exciting."
Now she was kind of quiet and then said, "Great, we'll get your paperwork out there..." And explained why Aktobe was a good place for us to go. I think, in hindsight, she was a little surprised by how excited I was beyond the fact that I was excited to know where our son is, and that things were really moving now. I think she was wondering-- why is this crazy person so excited about going to Aktobe? She knows I'm a research freak, the type that amasses books, reports, websites, etc about everything, so I'm sure she assumed I knew about all the regions in which the agency worked in Kazakhstan.
I did, or so I thought. I thought Aktobe was Aktau, which is on the Caspian Sea. I have a thing about seeing water. I don't particularly like water sports, or even swimming, but I like to see different bodies of water. So Aktau would be great- right on the Caspian Sea, and when would I get a chance to see that again? Unless we go back with little boy for a visit when he's older and can carry his own luggage.
I immediately started doing research. Aktobe of course, isn't Aktau. They're not even near each other. Aktobe isn't on the Caspian Sea. In fact, the guidebook we have describes it as "a drab industrial town"... Wow, sounds a lot like where we live now, except our town is mostly post-industrial. Then I saw the average winter temperature was -18 C. All right, now that's nothing like home.
After reading all that I came across, I decided Aktobe will be a great place to go, even though it's not on the Caspian Sea, and it's a bit farther than slightly off the Silk Road. There's a museum in the city with an English speaking curator. It's not too far from Russia (not really a plus, but it's something). There's a really good Armenian restuarant, and we've never had Armenian food. It was part of the territory of the warlords of the Little Horde, and was the home to thirty-six "Heroes of the Soviet Union" including a cosmonaut. There are also two Russian Orthodox churches, so Father Victor will be happy to know we won't miss Divine Liturgy while we're away.
Most of all, it's where our son is. That's enough to make it worth the trip.
Monday, November 20, 2006
Slightly Off the Silk Road
I'm very wordy. I always have been, and my short time in academia didn't help. Despite my verbosity I've never been very clever with my use of words. I could never come up with snappy titles for papers, conferences, or one liners. So trying to decide on a title for a blog was a trial. I saw a few good ones in use by other families, but seeing how they were already taken..Having almost been an historian (a dissertation short of a Ph.D) and currently a homeschooling mother of three, I searched my store of historical knowledge, thinking I could come up with something intellectual, if not particularly witty. Whether I've been successful is another matter.
Our family has adopted once already. We brought our youngest daughter home from China this January. However, since the idea of international adoption came into my head, I felt called-- drawn if you prefer a less religion-laden term-- to Kazakhstan. I had a picture of a sweet, dark haired little boy in my head (though we have a bio son who could fit that description). So this time, we're off to Kazakhstan, braving the mountain of complex paperwork, the need for exact and unsmudged notarial seals on everything, and the long stay in country that we were too afraid to take on in the beginning of 2005 when the idea of international adoption was first presented to us by friends with four kids of their own.
So I sat down and thought. And thought. And thought some more. No luck. I thought back to our less-than-stellar China blog (less than stellar because I was too lazy and distracted to keep it up once we got in country). That had a good name. Mad in China- taken from the English name we were planning to stick our daughter with, and the fact that she looked really angry in the referral pictures we got.. Mad in Kazakstan? Nah. That didn't make sense. Borat's Boyz? No, he'd probably sue us, because you know, people who mock others often don't have a sense of humor when it comes to getting teased themselves. Besides, our son might not be too pleased with that when he's older.
Then it hit me this morning. I was looking through a tour book of Central Asia. A few of the other countries-- notably Kyrgyzstan-- had the historical sites with which I was familiar. Then I remembered something a co-worker of my husband, who had toured the 'Stans a few years back as well as traveled extensively in Asia and North Africa had told me when I excitedly announced we were adopting and would be in Kazakhstan for at least a month-- "Kazakhstan is boring."
"But it's on the Silk Road," I objected.
He just looked at me, and shook his head, "Not really."
I was apparently thinking of Kyrgyzstan. Kazakhstan is off the Silk Road, to the north. So I said quite happily to our twelve year old daughter this morning, "I have a name for the blog. Off the Silk Road."
She didn't like it and said, "How about Slightly Off the Silk Road?"
So there it is. As chance would have it, our youngest daughter was born in Yunnan Province, which is slightly off the "Southern Silk Road" that ran from China to India. Not a bad bit of coincidence.
(DISCLAIMER: All historical and geographical facts stated in this post might not be 100% accurate. For example, neither place is really "slightly" off its respective Silk Road. Like the Frank Hopkins story that inspired the movie Hidalgo, a little exagerration is sometimes needed to make a story really good.)
Our family has adopted once already. We brought our youngest daughter home from China this January. However, since the idea of international adoption came into my head, I felt called-- drawn if you prefer a less religion-laden term-- to Kazakhstan. I had a picture of a sweet, dark haired little boy in my head (though we have a bio son who could fit that description). So this time, we're off to Kazakhstan, braving the mountain of complex paperwork, the need for exact and unsmudged notarial seals on everything, and the long stay in country that we were too afraid to take on in the beginning of 2005 when the idea of international adoption was first presented to us by friends with four kids of their own.
So I sat down and thought. And thought. And thought some more. No luck. I thought back to our less-than-stellar China blog (less than stellar because I was too lazy and distracted to keep it up once we got in country). That had a good name. Mad in China- taken from the English name we were planning to stick our daughter with, and the fact that she looked really angry in the referral pictures we got.. Mad in Kazakstan? Nah. That didn't make sense. Borat's Boyz? No, he'd probably sue us, because you know, people who mock others often don't have a sense of humor when it comes to getting teased themselves. Besides, our son might not be too pleased with that when he's older.
Then it hit me this morning. I was looking through a tour book of Central Asia. A few of the other countries-- notably Kyrgyzstan-- had the historical sites with which I was familiar. Then I remembered something a co-worker of my husband, who had toured the 'Stans a few years back as well as traveled extensively in Asia and North Africa had told me when I excitedly announced we were adopting and would be in Kazakhstan for at least a month-- "Kazakhstan is boring."
"But it's on the Silk Road," I objected.
He just looked at me, and shook his head, "Not really."
I was apparently thinking of Kyrgyzstan. Kazakhstan is off the Silk Road, to the north. So I said quite happily to our twelve year old daughter this morning, "I have a name for the blog. Off the Silk Road."
She didn't like it and said, "How about Slightly Off the Silk Road?"
So there it is. As chance would have it, our youngest daughter was born in Yunnan Province, which is slightly off the "Southern Silk Road" that ran from China to India. Not a bad bit of coincidence.
(DISCLAIMER: All historical and geographical facts stated in this post might not be 100% accurate. For example, neither place is really "slightly" off its respective Silk Road. Like the Frank Hopkins story that inspired the movie Hidalgo, a little exagerration is sometimes needed to make a story really good.)
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