[jamilahlashwe]

We got home on Sunday and I am trying to get organized about all the paperwork we still have to do. When do you file the G-884? The second page wants info on COC etc., so I assume I need to wait until we get it in the mail...

About readoption - Juan came on IR3 visa and I don't know if we have to readopt or not, but since I want him to have a state issued BC I guess we will. I am trying to figure out the best order of things to do: SS#, passport, name change, readoption - what would be the best thing to start with? Thanks for your help.

Jamila

P.S. When I get my act together I will post about our pickup trip and pictures!

[gibbs7263]

I went ahead and got a SSN in DS birth name for tax purposes. In a few days of coming home, we petitioned the court and our court date is 1/17. It took 2 months to get a hearing. Once we get through the court we will get our state BC and then apply for the COC and file for the G884. I am not sure what the earliest you can file for it?

[DPline]

Welcome home!

Yes, you do need to wait until you receive the COC in the mail to file the G884. You will want to send it (the G884) to the Buffalo office that mailed you the COC.

With an IR3 visa you do not need to readopt. Some people do choose to readopt to get a US issued adoption decree. And some states require you to readopt to get a state issued BC. Many states do not require you to readopt to get a state issued BC though, so if you post where you live, maybe someone can give you the details of what is required by your state.

If your adoption was final in 2007, you probably want to get on getting that SS# for tax purposes so you can use the adoption tax credit. You can always go back to SS and the name changed later. You might want to wait until the COC comes though, just so you can show that to them so he is listed as a citizen. (If you find out the name change can be done quickly and easily you might wait on the SS# until after the name change, while keeping in mind that wonderful tax deadline.)

Personally, I would start with the SS#, then go through the process to get the name change and state issued BC (be it readoption or another process) then go back to SS and get the name updated, apply for a new COC with his new name, and finally get a passport if you need it. (Remember that passports for children are only good for 5 years, so if you won't be traveling with him out of the country in that time period, it isn't worth the expense.) And of course you can file the G884 whenever in there after the COC comes.

Good luck!

[jamilahlashwe]

Thanks Debbie and Holly. I went to the SS office today and they said they would need to see the COC. I could probably a tax ID number from IRS for the tax adoption cerdit purpose. I want to get his passport ASAP, because I do plan to travel soon to my family in Europe (Summer, hopefully).

Jamila

P.S. We live in Alaska...

[gibbs7263]

I did not need a COC to prove he is a citizen. Which he came home on an IR4, but they still have to give you a SSN. They will just list him as a permanent resident. At my office they have a list of info which you can use for id. Inside our son's passport, it says i believe I551 which is a temp permanent resident card. Anyone can get a SSN with a permanent resident card.

[DPline]

What Holly said! She is exactly right.

They do not need to see the COC to issue a SS#. They are not allowed to determine citizenship status (meaning they cannot look at the IR3 visa and determine he is a citizen) without the COC, but you can apply for and get a SS# the day the child enters the country if you so choose. I got numbers for both of my kids well before their COC's came. However it is probably easier to wait the couple weeks until the COC comes than argue with them!

Because your child qualifies for a SS#, a tax ID number is not an alternative. And there should be no problem getting a SS# in plenty of time. It should come within a couple weeks at most of application.

Hopefully you can get the name change done quickly so you can get that passport.

edited to add: I just did some looking around and I am not finding anything on legal names changes, state issued BC's, readoption, etc. for Alaska. You might check with your homestudy agency if they are at all helpful, or try calling your local probate or circuit court (it seems to vary who deals with it) and ask about how you go about doing a legal name change and getting a state issued BC, or start another thread that specifically asks for info. about legal name changes and state issued BC's in Alaska.

[gibbs7263]

Debbie, I learned that from you and went to the SS office when you told me that before in an old post. They did ask to see all of the adoption paperwork from Guat. They also need my driver license as well. DS SS card came in about a week.

[RCK816]

Can anyone tell me if it's possible to do a re-adoption without an attorney or agency in CA? I did use my agency for my first DD's readoption, but it was a hefty fee ($1500) and since I can download the necessary court forms online, I wonder if I can do it myself?

I do know that a social worker's report has to be included in the docs, but I don't know if this has to be a post placement report (not due by my agency for 6 months after coming home) OR if I can use the social worker's report that was in the dossier?

TIA!

[DPline]

Originally Posted by gibbs7263

Debbie, I learned that from you and went to the SS office when you told me that before in an old post. They did ask to see all of the adoption paperwork from Guat. They also need my driver license as well. DS SS card came in about a week.

She makes a great point! You do need to take all your Guat paperwork too. Not just the COC. (That may be stateing the obvious, but better that than a second/third trip to the SSA!)

[DPline]

Originally Posted by RCK816

Can anyone tell me if it's possible to do a re-adoption without an attorney or agency in CA? I did use my agency for my first DD's readoption, but it was a hefty fee ($1500) and since I can download the necessary court forms online, I wonder if I can do it myself?

I do know that a social worker's report has to be included in the docs, but I don't know if this has to be a post placement report (not due by my agency for 6 months after coming home) OR if I can use the social worker's report that was in the dossier?

TIA!

MommytoEli is in CA and can probably help you. You might PM her or start another thread specifically asking about CA in case she doesn't see it here.

[BosMom]

My understanding was that there is a number in the adoption paperwork (can't remember the name of the number off hand) that is necessary to apply for the adoption credit, and that the SS# is not necessary. A SS# is not issued only US citizens or permanent residents; having a SS# has nothing to do with citizenship. International students get them all the time to work here in the U.S. If you apply for the SS# in the birthname, you'll have to do a name change later... which didn't sound like a pleasant process.

[DPline]

I agree that having a social security number has nothing to do with citizenship (aside from how the person is coded - citizen or legal resident - in the SSA computers,) but you do need a social security number for tax purposes. There are some certain circumstances in which it is not possible to get a social security number and a tax ID number can be obtained, but those situations are few and far between. I know of one person here whose child's paperwork was lost by USCIS and they are having a hard time getting a number because of that, but our children qualify for a social security number from the day they land in the US and 99 percent of the time there is no reason you can't easily get one.

Doing a name change with Social Security is very simple. You just need to show them any proof of the name change.

[gibbs7263]

I didn't think that doing a name change would be that hard. I am glad that I know now the less busy time at the office so I can go in and out in know time.

Now all we have to do is wait for readoption day and get that name changed.
The lady at the hospital looked at me funny the other day, she asked me his name and I said Zak. When she looked at the name I wrote down, she must of thought I was crazy because it was not ZAK.

[JustBarbara]

The order in which I did it - SS# with his Guat passport name - took the entire package to the SS office and in about 10 days got his SS card. Next readoption in my state - not necessary but I wanted it done because getting a copy of his BC will be so much easier going through my town hall. With that readoption came the name change ... then SS namechange ... then passport - I did expedite the passport in November and it came 10 days after we sent it in! And a great vacation in the UK over the Christmas holidays. Now to apply for the new CoC but that will have to wait until the tax refund arrives.

[kila33]

I just spent 4 hours at the SS office and got turned away. What do I need to bring? Do they have to be originals? I brought in her COC , her passport and a copy of her birth certificate. She said this was not good enough.
Help me please!!!