Photos by Sue Flaska
Friday, April 1, 2011
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Friday, March 25, 2011
Timeline for Ian Melkamu's adoption
20 July 2009 Mailed application to homestudy agency, International Adoption Services (IAS)
23 July 2009 Received packet from IAS...now to collect paperwork for awhile...
10 Sept 2009 Homestudy update visit by IAS (We could have done it sooner, but we don't want to actually apply to WACAP until Claire has been home 6 months)
24 Sept 2009 Mailed WACAP application
30 Sept 2009 Received "Welcome back to WACAP" e-mail and notification that the pre-homestudy adoption toolkit is on its way in the mail
28 Oct 2009 Mailed I-600A (Advance Processing of Orphan Petition) application to the Department of Homeland Security U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) (When the USCIS approves and gives us an I-171H we're eligible for a referral of a child)
17 Nov 2009 Received notification that USCIS received our I-600A
18 Nov 2009 Received notification of our biometrics appt, scheduled for Dec 10, 2009
24 Nov 2009 Mailed IAS homestudy paperwork (finally!)
10 Dec 2009 Biometrics (fingerprints) appointment at USCIS St. Paul
11 Dec 2009 Mailed WACAP homestudy paperwork (finally!)
18 Dec 2009 WACAP approved homestudy (the rough draft at least--because of holidays and vacations they are approving it early to get us going, and the final homestudy will be sent from IAS as soon as we pass the Adam Walsch background check), and is passing our info onto WACAP's Ethiopia team.
18 Dec 2009 (found out 21 Dec 2009) Passed Adam Walsch background check (WI, IA, MN--that's why it took so long I bet). Once IAS gets a hard copy, our homestudy will go to USCIS and WACAP.
21 Dec 2009 Received "Welcome (Again) to WACAP's Ethiopian Adoptions" e-mail from Megan and dossier instructions on its way in the mail. Phone conversation with Megan next week!
5 Feb 2010 Received I 171H from the USCIS. We mailed a copy of it with our dossier (minus one reference that needs to be fixed and our payment) to WACAP today. WE'RE ON THE WAITLIST NOW!!!!!
18 Feb 2010 Mailed last reference and payment to WACAP
24 June 2010 WE GOT THE CALL!!!!!!!!!!!!! 15 month old boy. We were e-mailed his picture and all his info today. He's beautiful.
14 July 2010 Received notice of our court date: July 27th!
19 July 2010 Left for Ethiopia
23 July 2010 Met Melkamu for the first time at Ajuuja Home in Awassa, Ethiopia!
27 July 2010 Court date in Addis Ababa, met with Melkamu's birthmother.
29 July 2010 Home from Ethiopia
30 Aug 2010 Leave for Ethiopia (again)
7 Sept 2010 Embassy date in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
9 Sept 2010 Received Melkamu's Ethiopian passport and immigration paperwork
11 Sept 2010 We arrive home to Minnesota with Ian Melkamu!
14 Oct 2010 Mailed adoption finalization paperwork to Ramsey County Courts
26 Oct 2010 Received the Ramsey County adoption decree in the mail! His new name is now legal.
30 Oct 2010 Received his Certificate of Citizenship in the mail, oddly enough processed on the same date as his Ramsey County adoption decree, 22 Oct
1 Nov 2010 Mailed name change paperwork to USCIS for a new CoC
10 Nov 2010 First post-placement visit (report due 7 Dec 2010)
12 Nov 2010 our CoC paperwork was returned to us--we had sent it to Buffalo, NY instead of Lincoln, NE. We sent it back in the mail today to the correct office.
18 Nov 2010 Received notice that our CoC paperwork has been received and is processing
10 Dec 2010 Received his new Certificate of Citizenship in the mail today!
29 Dec 2010 Came home from Christmas break today to find Ian's MN birth certificate came in the mail while we were gone! Woo hoo!
24 Jan 2011 Finally got around to going to the Social Security office to apply for Ian's social security number. The computers were down at the SS office so we'll see how long it takes!
07 Feb 2011 Social Security card came in the mail! Now we can apply for a passport.
11 Feb 2011 Second post-placement visit (report due 7 March 2011)
25 Feb 2011 Applied for Ian's USA passport
21 March 2011 Passport arrived in the mail
25 March 2011 Paperwork we had sent in for the passport arrives in the mail (MN birth certificate, MN adoption decree, ET passport, certificate of citizenship)
23 July 2009 Received packet from IAS...now to collect paperwork for awhile...
10 Sept 2009 Homestudy update visit by IAS (We could have done it sooner, but we don't want to actually apply to WACAP until Claire has been home 6 months)
24 Sept 2009 Mailed WACAP application
30 Sept 2009 Received "Welcome back to WACAP" e-mail and notification that the pre-homestudy adoption toolkit is on its way in the mail
28 Oct 2009 Mailed I-600A (Advance Processing of Orphan Petition) application to the Department of Homeland Security U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) (When the USCIS approves and gives us an I-171H we're eligible for a referral of a child)
17 Nov 2009 Received notification that USCIS received our I-600A
18 Nov 2009 Received notification of our biometrics appt, scheduled for Dec 10, 2009
24 Nov 2009 Mailed IAS homestudy paperwork (finally!)
10 Dec 2009 Biometrics (fingerprints) appointment at USCIS St. Paul
11 Dec 2009 Mailed WACAP homestudy paperwork (finally!)
18 Dec 2009 WACAP approved homestudy (the rough draft at least--because of holidays and vacations they are approving it early to get us going, and the final homestudy will be sent from IAS as soon as we pass the Adam Walsch background check), and is passing our info onto WACAP's Ethiopia team.
18 Dec 2009 (found out 21 Dec 2009) Passed Adam Walsch background check (WI, IA, MN--that's why it took so long I bet). Once IAS gets a hard copy, our homestudy will go to USCIS and WACAP.
21 Dec 2009 Received "Welcome (Again) to WACAP's Ethiopian Adoptions" e-mail from Megan and dossier instructions on its way in the mail. Phone conversation with Megan next week!
5 Feb 2010 Received I 171H from the USCIS. We mailed a copy of it with our dossier (minus one reference that needs to be fixed and our payment) to WACAP today. WE'RE ON THE WAITLIST NOW!!!!!
18 Feb 2010 Mailed last reference and payment to WACAP
24 June 2010 WE GOT THE CALL!!!!!!!!!!!!! 15 month old boy. We were e-mailed his picture and all his info today. He's beautiful.
14 July 2010 Received notice of our court date: July 27th!
19 July 2010 Left for Ethiopia
23 July 2010 Met Melkamu for the first time at Ajuuja Home in Awassa, Ethiopia!
27 July 2010 Court date in Addis Ababa, met with Melkamu's birthmother.
29 July 2010 Home from Ethiopia
30 Aug 2010 Leave for Ethiopia (again)
7 Sept 2010 Embassy date in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
9 Sept 2010 Received Melkamu's Ethiopian passport and immigration paperwork
11 Sept 2010 We arrive home to Minnesota with Ian Melkamu!
14 Oct 2010 Mailed adoption finalization paperwork to Ramsey County Courts
26 Oct 2010 Received the Ramsey County adoption decree in the mail! His new name is now legal.
30 Oct 2010 Received his Certificate of Citizenship in the mail, oddly enough processed on the same date as his Ramsey County adoption decree, 22 Oct
1 Nov 2010 Mailed name change paperwork to USCIS for a new CoC
10 Nov 2010 First post-placement visit (report due 7 Dec 2010)
12 Nov 2010 our CoC paperwork was returned to us--we had sent it to Buffalo, NY instead of Lincoln, NE. We sent it back in the mail today to the correct office.
18 Nov 2010 Received notice that our CoC paperwork has been received and is processing
10 Dec 2010 Received his new Certificate of Citizenship in the mail today!
29 Dec 2010 Came home from Christmas break today to find Ian's MN birth certificate came in the mail while we were gone! Woo hoo!
24 Jan 2011 Finally got around to going to the Social Security office to apply for Ian's social security number. The computers were down at the SS office so we'll see how long it takes!
07 Feb 2011 Social Security card came in the mail! Now we can apply for a passport.
11 Feb 2011 Second post-placement visit (report due 7 March 2011)
25 Feb 2011 Applied for Ian's USA passport
21 March 2011 Passport arrived in the mail
25 March 2011 Paperwork we had sent in for the passport arrives in the mail (MN birth certificate, MN adoption decree, ET passport, certificate of citizenship)
Monday, March 14, 2011
Friday, February 25, 2011
Ian's second post-placement
We had Ian's second-post placement visit! Here are the photos we chose to send with the report. We're still putting together a photo album and a letter for his birth mother to send. A lot of these pictures will be included in her album.
Monday, January 3, 2011
Why should you get a Certificate of Citzenship for your internationally born (adopted) child?
I've recently had some discussions with other adoptive families about the Certificate of Citizenship. There's been some question whether it is necessary or not, since the CIS doesn't require it and a US passport shows citizenship. I asked our representative at WACAP (our adoption agency) what she thought. Here is her response:
The importance of a Certificate of Citizenship:
Families whose child is issued and IR3 visa (meaning both parents in a married couple or a single mom was there to see the child and participate in the court hearing on the first trip), will be given an automatic Certificate of Citizenship but in cases where only one parent (of a married couple) sees the child prior to a court hearing, your child will be given and IR4 visa and you will must apply for a Certificate of Citizenship later on.
Where this is not formally required by WACAP, we cannot stress enough the value of obtaining this sooner than later.
A USCIS-issued Certificate of Citizenship will be one of the most important documents in your child’s life because it provides solid “proof” that your child is a citizen of the United States of America. There are multiple reasons why getting the Certificate of Citizenship is so very important, and we’ll outline it all. The $600 fee for a Certificate of Citizenship is definitely a major expense for most families, but please don’t let the fee stand in the way of providing your child with proof that they are entitled to all the benefits of citizenship.
Some families that have recently finalized their children’s adoption in their local court believe that getting a passport for their child is sufficient, but passports are only “evidence” of citizenship. Passports can also be lost, stolen or they will expire. Renewing the passport of a minor will occur every 5 years until they are 18. If there are ever gaps in the validity of a passport, you could experience delays and headaches when trying to prove your child’s citizenship. For some families with babies and toddlers this could potentially cost upwards of $500 or more (should passport fees remain consistent) in renewals every five years! Additionally, more and more passport offices are not issuing passports for families with only a U.S. decree of adoption; they are requiring you possess a certificate of citizenship first.
The Social Security office is also becoming more strict about issuing permanent Social Security Numbers for internationally adopted children, and often requires seeing the Certificate of Citizenship.
The Certificate of Citizenship is always kept on file with the USCIS and in the event that a child’s Certificate of Citizenship goes missing, you can acquire another copy for a nominal fee. You never have to prove (all over again) that your child is a citizen of the United States. Down the road, older adoptees (as adults) will have an easier time getting a hold of proof should they need to. There will be times in your child’s life that they’ll need to prove citizenship (higher education, military, travel, their own adoptions, obtaining a mortgage, etc) and having a Certificate of Citizenship provides your child a solid future. Without proper proof, children can be deported back to their country of origin. We therefore, take this very, very seriously.
Any questions about this can be directed to Ethiopia Team or to Janet Anderson who supervises Post Placement and Finalization. (janeta@wacap.org)
The importance of a Certificate of Citizenship:
Families whose child is issued and IR3 visa (meaning both parents in a married couple or a single mom was there to see the child and participate in the court hearing on the first trip), will be given an automatic Certificate of Citizenship but in cases where only one parent (of a married couple) sees the child prior to a court hearing, your child will be given and IR4 visa and you will must apply for a Certificate of Citizenship later on.
Where this is not formally required by WACAP, we cannot stress enough the value of obtaining this sooner than later.
A USCIS-issued Certificate of Citizenship will be one of the most important documents in your child’s life because it provides solid “proof” that your child is a citizen of the United States of America. There are multiple reasons why getting the Certificate of Citizenship is so very important, and we’ll outline it all. The $600 fee for a Certificate of Citizenship is definitely a major expense for most families, but please don’t let the fee stand in the way of providing your child with proof that they are entitled to all the benefits of citizenship.
Some families that have recently finalized their children’s adoption in their local court believe that getting a passport for their child is sufficient, but passports are only “evidence” of citizenship. Passports can also be lost, stolen or they will expire. Renewing the passport of a minor will occur every 5 years until they are 18. If there are ever gaps in the validity of a passport, you could experience delays and headaches when trying to prove your child’s citizenship. For some families with babies and toddlers this could potentially cost upwards of $500 or more (should passport fees remain consistent) in renewals every five years! Additionally, more and more passport offices are not issuing passports for families with only a U.S. decree of adoption; they are requiring you possess a certificate of citizenship first.
The Social Security office is also becoming more strict about issuing permanent Social Security Numbers for internationally adopted children, and often requires seeing the Certificate of Citizenship.
The Certificate of Citizenship is always kept on file with the USCIS and in the event that a child’s Certificate of Citizenship goes missing, you can acquire another copy for a nominal fee. You never have to prove (all over again) that your child is a citizen of the United States. Down the road, older adoptees (as adults) will have an easier time getting a hold of proof should they need to. There will be times in your child’s life that they’ll need to prove citizenship (higher education, military, travel, their own adoptions, obtaining a mortgage, etc) and having a Certificate of Citizenship provides your child a solid future. Without proper proof, children can be deported back to their country of origin. We therefore, take this very, very seriously.
Any questions about this can be directed to Ethiopia Team or to Janet Anderson who supervises Post Placement and Finalization. (janeta@wacap.org)
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