[vivismom]

I am so frustrated. We started this adoption process in Feb 2005, and we are still looking at about 2 years until referral. Ugh!!! We originally wanted to adopt from Colombia. Our first bump was the "misplacement" of dh's fingerprints at the INS office- they filed them under his green card as if he was the orphan needing a visa (!?). FOr 4 months we waited and waited, and redid them, and finally they realized what happened. We finally got approved by Colombia in Feb 2006, and then a month later found out it wasn't for siblings as we had hoped (because the list for young sibs was too long) and we couldn't specify gender. Sooo we decided to change countries to China. However since we were moving in July, we gathered paperwork slowly from March until July when we found out our new address. In the process we found out that the dates on our paperwork need to be within the last 12 months. So we're trying to get a newer birth certificate for dh from Mexico, and finding you have to go in person, and they don't know what authenticating is. Also, since we lived in London for a couple of years, those police reports (which we are still waiting for and were a HUGE hassle) need to be certified and authenticated in London. The people in London have no idea what I'm talking about, but I guess that doesn't matter because we still don't even have the police reports!

I am so frustrated. The list seems to be getting longer every day. On one hand, I am so happy that so many people are now considering adoption. That is fantastic for all of the children that needs homes, and wonderful that society's attitude towards adoption is becoming more accepting. Also it's great that so many people who are fantastic parents are being able to share their love, and people who chose adoption are able to have kids (especially those who have waited a looooong time!). So I guess I am just selfish and impatient. I need to just enjoy what I have and stop complaining, right? I am healthy and happy and one day my daughter will come home, right?

I'm over my vent now. I just needed to tell someone how frustrated I am. Aah, that feels better.

[Paul&Dee]

Hi Becky,
I'm sorry you had to go through so much
On a good note the paperwork from
Mexico and UK you can get the paperwork put a cover letter on it saying this is a correct original sign it get it noterized and then it will get certified and authenticated your SW can help with the wording of the cover letter

Good Luck
Paul

[Momof2boysinOH]

Becky,

If your dh has a U.S. passport, that's all he needs for the China dossier. My dh was born in Portugal and we didn't want to have to fly there just to get his birth certificate. One of the big reasons we chose China over Colombia (and you know I'm Colombian) is because China is more flexible on the dossier. We just photocopied my dh's passport photo page and had that certified and authenticated here in Ohio. No big deal.

I'm sorry you are going through this. It's a tough road, but so worth it in the end.

[AdoptAmiga]

Becky - things will get better. You just have to believe.

Re: the BC from Mexico - you will probably need to get it authenticated from the China Consulate/Embassy in Mexico. We have a BC and MC from Chile. For our Guatemalan adoptions, that paperwork went through the Guatemalan Consulate/Embassy in Santiago. For the London police reports, you might have to go through the US/Mex/China Consulates in London??? There have been several people from Great Britian on these forums and you can cross post to gather some responses from those in the know. Let us know how things are progressing. Best of luck to you both.