[KLS72]

Hi everyone!

We live in MA and were able to finalize Gabe's adoption yesterday (finally! He's been home almost a year) Gabe came home on an IR-4 (we didn't visit before pickup) What's the next step? Do we file for Certificate of Citizenship? What the G884 form I've heard about? We also were able to legally change Gabe's name yesterday. Does this require any extra paperwork?

Thanks in advance for any help you can give me!!

[KKR213]

Keri:

Congrats on Gabe's Finalization!!! John came home on an IR3 so we already had the COC so I think you will need to apply for that first. You will probably need the court documents which came back in a few weeks. After the name change paperwork came back (Form R-891) I went to town hall and requested a Mass Copy of Record of Birth but they do need a COC. If you got a Social Security card, you will need to do a name change there too.

The G884 will send back all the original documents that CIS has for the adoption. I received a second picture of the birthmother and a younger picture of John. I am also guessing that you will need to wait to request this back until after you receive the COC.

And we thought the paperwork ended when the children came home!

Hopefully someone else will have more definitive answers.

Kathy

[DPline]

Did you get a state issued birth certificate as part of the finalization process?

Yes, you need to apply for a COC. Form N600. It is rumored that the fees may go up as soon as June 1st, so I would jump on that today if possible.

After you get that, you need to go into Social Security and get his name and status updated. (I am assuming he already has a SS number. If not, you will need to get one.)

I would hold off on the G884 until you get the COC. They will use that packet for the issuing of the COC. If you request it back before/during requesting the COC, you will have to provide a lot of additional documentation with the COC request.

Good luck!!

[giannismom]

Keri,

My son came home on an IR4 visa also. After I did the readoption (Middlesex County) I got paper work from the Probate court to take to my town hall and have them file it. It took a couple of weeks for the Probate court paper work and then another week or two for the town to do theirs. Then the town hall gave me about 5 copies of his newbirth certificate.

I then filed for the COC at the Boston DHS. It took about 2 weeks before I had to go in and pick up the COC. I now will submit for the original documents and change his social security card with his new fist name.

Lisa