[drmalcolm]

Hi all,
I just wanted to make a suggestion to those of you who know you want to adopt but still are exploring programs, agencies, etc. If you or your spouse were born in a different state, send away NOW for a few copies of your birth certificate.

I suggest this because you will need your birth certificate for several steps in the process. We sent away for my husband's in the beginning of December (it would have gone sooner, but his state requires a notarized application and he was out of town for 2 weeks when we began the process). It's very frustrating now, as we cannot get his passport or file the I-600A until we have a birth certificate. We also need a copy in order for our home-study to be completed.

I happened to send away for the certificate by mail, but I've heard of others who have used VitalCheck (online ordering service) with varying results... sometimes they've received it very quickly, and some have experienced a several month wait!

As for how many, I ordered 3 birth certificates for each of us, but many folks have said they only needed 1 or 2 originals and could use copies for the rest. If you live in your state of birth, you can always go to the Department of Vital Records for more, but if one of you was born out of state... well, let's just say, I didn't want to take any chances. Now I'm glad I didn't, as I certainly would hate to have start this process again for an extra certificate!

Anyway, if anyone else can think of an "if only I knew then what I know now" suggestion for new folks, feel free to post it.

Good luck to all,
Christina

[CoatAnnHat]

Vital check took THREE MONTHS for me to get our documents! I finally called the townships and they sent me the certified copies themselves. The Vital check website said 22 processing days.. turned into THREE MONTHS!!

[Paul&Dee]

When ordering your certificates some states require the long form of the BC and marrage In NJ we had to get the long forms
Just a heads up don't go to the town you were born in go to the state vital statistics dept.
Paul

[Lissa]

Just to support what you said...it took me 2 weeks to get my BC with all the proper notaries and authenitications....It took Russell almost 3 months for Texas.


Another thing. You need a PASSPORT right away. I know someone who had no idea she'd need her passport so soon and it held her up almost 2 months. So do that right away as well.

[prechrswife]

Another thing--Make sure the birth certificates have a pen-in-hand signature. (At least the one for your dossier.)

[CoatAnnHat]

I finally did get them from the township, they were state sealed and nyc authenticated, does that mean they were indeed the correct forms? if i had the wrong ones would they attach the seals or would they be rejected? We will be dtc 1/20 and i dont want to have it rejected!!

[drmalcolm]

Originally Posted by prechrswife

Another thing--Make sure the birth certificates have a pen-in-hand signature. (At least the one for your dossier.)

Thanks so much for this information. I am looking at mine and now am worried I don't have this. Could you please elaborate on what a pen-in-hand signature is?

Thank-you!
Christina

[drmalcolm]

I'm sorry, I am bumping this up. Can anyone answer about the pen-in-hand definition?

Thanks in advance!
Christina

[prechrswife]

Originally Posted by drmalcolm

Thanks so much for this information. I am looking at mine and now am worried I don't have this. Could you please elaborate on what a pen-in-hand signature is?

Thank-you!
Christina

A pen-in-hand signature means they are signed by the person issuing the certificate, as opposed to a stamped on signature. When I got my Louisiana BC's through Vital-Chek, they had stamped on signatures. I had to contact Vital Records and I mailed those in and got them switched for the correct thing at no charge. For Georgia (dh's birth certificate), Pen-in-Hand signature is one of the options listed on Vital Chek.

[journeytograce]

My Georgia BC have the pen in hand, but all the others were from out of state (MI and AL), and did not. I did call the SOS (MI and AL) to describe what I had (that was not pen-in-hand) to verify they would certify it. They said yes, and have had all my documents certified and authenticated w/no probs. Anyone else know if this is an issue? My dossier is at my agency for critical review, and haven't heard anything. Would this hold me up? Is it possible to get authenticated at the consulate if its wrong, only to discover it now?

[prechrswife]

Originally Posted by journeytograce

My Georgia BC have the pen in hand, but all the others were from out of state (MI and AL), and did not. I did call the SOS (MI and AL) to describe what I had (that was not pen-in-hand) to verify they would certify it. They said yes, and have had all my documents certified and authenticated w/no probs. Anyone else know if this is an issue? My dossier is at my agency for critical review, and haven't heard anything. Would this hold me up? Is it possible to get authenticated at the consulate if its wrong, only to discover it now?

Our agency guide stated that the dossier bc's had to have the pen-in-hand signature. That wasn't an SOS requirement. I suppose that could be one of those "agency things." I also know that our agency guide is currently being updated, so that could be something that is out of date. If your agency hasn't said anything, then I would think it is okay.

[drmalcolm]

Thanks, guys. Argh, I think mine is stamped.

Oh my gosh, if I have to get ANOTHER birth certificate for my husband from out of state and wait all this time again, I am going to pull my hair out (I know, I know..."Welcome to the paper chase," you experienced ones are thinking! ).

You know, on the application for both of our certificates, I was asked what the birth certificate was for. When you write "adoption dossier," you would think that they would automatically do what might be expected.

Anyway, thanks again for the heads-up!

Christina

[twoinblue]

We used Vital check for everything and some came back quickly. Hubby's home state took six months to return his BC and that's with us calling every week. When we finally got it, he got about six copies.

Mine took only a couple of months but then I found out that my birth state would not authenticate a county BC so I had to get a state BC.

Those of you wondering about the sudden AAAAAARRRRGGGHHHHHH you heard in the fall of 2004 -- that was me. I'm glad to see that most people's adoption process is going more quickly. I'm hoping that as it becomes more popular in this state the process will get easier as the average family here takes about a year to get DTC.

[richard p.]

Do not forget the marriage certifcates as well! Vital check worked very well for us - however be aware that if you were married in New York City you cannot get your MC through the service.

[Ktates]

Do you guys need recommendations from people to adopt from China? If so I would ask those people way in advance. Many times people need a while to think about what they will write. I have seen many people have their paperwork held up because they are waiting on their last friend's recommendation...