[paramom]

I recently went for a visit to see our babies, because our adoption agency mistakenly told us that one parent was all that had to go to bring our babies home on an IR-3 visa. Then when I get back we find out that is not correct. We are trying to figure out a way to go back just so we can bring the babies home on the IR-3 for the simple fact that we had to take out a $15,000 loan for the first half of the adoption fees for both babies. If we do not have things done so that we can get the tax credit for next year, I don't even want to think about having to pay on that loan all of next year. Our agency is downplaying coming home on an IR3 and is saying that readoption is no big deal .The only people that we have talked to in NC have come home on an IR3 and not an IR4. Have any of you gone through the process of readopting on the IR4 and how long did the process take? We are only three weeks into PGN process so we could be there for awhile.

[paramom]

Bumping up to see if anyone can give information.

[jcarter31]

My son came home on a IR-4 visa instead of an IR-3. That was 2 years ago and we still have not done the readoption paperwork. It's not too complicated but we just have not done it. Last week though we took our son to St. Maartin for vacation and we used his Guat. paasport. It's a pain! He had to be totally checked out from his pacifier to his stuffed elephant to make sure he was not a terrorist. So even at three years old they take his citizenship pretty seriously. I have since pulled out all the paperwork and will get it done and sent off next week.

Good Luck!
Jennifer
Caitlyn (bio-9)
Cole (Guat.-3)

[paramom]

Jennifer, were you able to apply or qualify for the tax credit even though you had not done the readoption? That is the big thing for us.

[dspakowsky]

Re-adoption is not required in NC with an IR-3. With our daughter coming home on an IR-3, we did the name change, got her new BC from NC, etc. I will say it was somewhat complicated to get the new BC, and I had to have a copy (photo-copy) of the very original birth certificate (with the birth mother named as mom) along with all my other original, translated documents. But, it only cost $50 for the name change at the county level, then $45 for the new BC. We may never re-adopt.

With an IR-4, you must complete 2 follow-up home studies 6 months apart. Including mileage, that will cost around $1,100 ($800 for the reports). The court costs are very minimal and the home study agency shoud be able to help you file the documents.

If you come home with an IR-4, the adoption is not technically complete. Therefore, you can't use the Federal Adoption Tax Credit until the adoption was complete. Since you're in PGN, and it's 6 months til year end already, if your child come's home on an IR-4, it would be impossibe for you to claim the Tax Credit this year (since it takes at least 6 months).

I'm sorry your agency gave you the wrong information!!!

[dlhall]

My daughter came home on a IR-3 and we did readopt in NC. It wasn't hard, but it took almost a year for the paperwork to be processed. One lesson I learned is that the instructions state to send all ORIGINAL documents, which I did, but I could have given them copies of birth certificate & adoption certificate etc. I was told I could have brought the documents to the clerk of court, have them check that the copies were the same as the originals and taken the originals home with me.

Liz

[paramom]

We live in a smaller county in NC and I am worried that they will not know what to do so far as the birth certificate paperwork. When I went in to get our local background checks done, the lady said that she had never heard of doing a background check for an adoption. Oh boy! So do we have to go through the County that we live in or can we go to another County that is close by that has a bigger office? The one thing that I am worried about is that we have two dates that we can travel. July 7-11 or July 24-27. I want out of PGN desperately but we also want to bring the babies back on an IR-3. Since we have only been in PGN for three weeks with no word, would you go for the earlier trip or do you think we could wait until the later trip?

[ncmom24]

I live in Chatham Co. NC and our son came home on an I-4 visa last Sept. The following are my understandings of the rules but may or may not be correct. It is my understanding that you must wait 6 months after receiving the child to begin readoption in NC. You have to have two post placement visits but ours were not 6 months apart as someone mentioned earlier but in fact a month apart.

It is also my understanding that we can not collect the tax credit until his readoption is complete which hopefully occurred last week.

I found working with a relatively small county beneficial and our county has been wonderful to work with. It was far easier than I would have thought.

It is also my understanding that the tax laws changed last year and to claim the child as a dependent the child has to have been with you over six months.

I found the paperwork required in NC to be very simple to complete and we needed the post placements for our agency anyway.

Once I know this is done it will on to the passport and SS# and CofC. It seems that the paperwork will never end.

Hope that helps.

Tiersa

[~amy~]

Originally Posted by paramom

The one thing that I am worried about is that we have two dates that we can travel. July 7-11 or July 24-27. I want out of PGN desperately but we also want to bring the babies back on an IR-3. Since we have only been in PGN for three weeks with no word, would you go for the earlier trip or do you think we could wait until the later trip?

Before you plan your trip, find out if your attorney has already received the first line PGN approval and also has had a final decree signed. We thought we were coming home on an IR3 because we visited before our PGN approval. However, the date listed on PGN approval is the first reviewer's approval date, which was 6 weeks before we were told we were out. Therefore, our visit was 4 days AFTER our final decree was signed and dated.

[KathyNC]

The relative ease of the re-adoption process seems to vary by county in NC. I'm in Forsyth and it went relatively smoothly. I got the required forms from the Clerk of Courts office and the woman there helped me with a few questions that I had trouble with. They contacted my Home Study agency to get notarized copies of the two post placement reports and the HS agency had to submit some type of document as well. They had a bit of trouble reaching the HS agency but once that was straightened out it took about another month. The Clerk of Court's office said they had to wait 30 days after the receipt of the final documents to approve the re adoption. It took about SIX months after that to receive the official letter from the state telling me I could apply for copies of the Certificate of Foreign Births! Why they don't just send one, I don't know! Anyway I ordered several as they have to be shown when registering for school, sports, passport app, etc.

Kathy

[Payne]

My daughter came home on a IR-4 and the readoption process went quickly and smoothly. It does vary from county to county and my local clerk of court's office told me our case was processed faster than usual. It took from August to October to actually get the paperwork back from Raleigh. We live in Cabarrus County.

Payne

[jcarter31]

Sarah,

We were able to get the tax credit even though we had not re-adopted. No questions asked. When tax time came you just have to have your agencies reciept of payment.

Jennifer

[DD Amasa]

It is also my understanding that we can not collect the tax credit until his readoption is complete which hopefully occurred last week.

This was recently discussed in another thread. You can take the tax credit without re-adopting.