[Linamom]

Hi All,
I just went to the SS office to file for a number for my daughter and was told I had a copy of the certified copy of the Adoption Deed and they would not accept it.

They said I needed either the certified copy or the original of the Adoption Deed. Does anyone know where or how I would obtain them? Does the G884 do this for me?

I have her COC and her Guat passport.

I am so mad for waiting until now to do this, I brought her home in September -

[DPline]

No one has 'origional' origionals. They are filed in Guatemala.

Does the copy you have have stamps on it, or origional signatures?

[sak9645]

There is no reason for SS to fail to accept the document you have. It is the same document accepted by the U.S. Embassy. Can you get your agency to write a letter to that effect?

Sharon

[DPline]

Originally Posted by sak9645

There is no reason for SS to fail to accept the document you have. It is the same document accepted by the U.S. Embassy.

If they are objecting to it being a copy, that is not necessarily true. What we each get a pick up really depends on the attorney.

On the copies of my kids' documents, the attorney has signed his name across the top and stamped his name below. So while they aren't origionals (no one has origionals) they are signed copies. I have a couple items that have origional stamps on them (the ones that look kind of like postage stamps that show the fee was paid) but not my Protocolo or PGN decrees. And these are the same as what is in my kids packets I got back from the G884.

[cborsa7]

Oh sorry you are going through this, welcome to the SS office nightmare.
Are you an IR-3 visa? Do you have your new state BC? If you have your new state BC and the name matching COC that should be all you need. In Missouri we don't even have those documents you have now because the state holds them. With that said, getting the right person at the SS office is going to be another thing. Once you are at one office and apply they must take the action on your case to complete it. Good Luck, be persistent!

[Waiting4Celeste]

A notary can "certify" a copy of something - they can type a statement saying it "is a true and exact copy". (the notary has a book that shows how to certify a document)
That's what we did - and we DID have an "original" copy of the adoption decree with a raised seal.

I've come to learn that every office is different - so what may work at one office, might not work at another.
I'd suggest going to a different office - if possible. That worked with my husband when we were trying to get Jacob's SS back in 2002. He went to a different office and they didn't even blink and we got it easily.

Good luck. I wish someone could do SOMETHING to streamline the post adoption paperwork process. It's RIDICULOUS!

[DFNY]

I agree with others who have suggested going to a different office, if it's possible for you. We brought our DD home on an IR-3 visa in late Dec and just requested her SS# 3 wks ago. We received it in 2 wks, as promised. When we went to the SS office on Long Island (NY), we took all the documents stated on the SS website but needed only DD's COC and our own US passports (DH's and mine) and DD's Guatemalan passport. I had brought her Guatemalan BC & adoption decree with translations and the clerk did not even request them. We did everything in just under an hour. I wish you the best of luck with this. I hope you can get the SS# in time to file your tax return and, hopefully, make use of the adoption credit.

Damaris