[robandjulie]

We took both kids to the PO to do passport applications on 5/20. The postal worker told us if we didn't pay express we might not get them for 4-6 weeks and our trip was 3 weeks away so we paid express. They came today (9 days later).

For those applying and wondering about documentation, we gave them:

1. Jorge's original COC
2. Jorge's state-sealed adoption decree
3. Jorge's state-stamped (not sealed) name change order
4. they made a photo copy of his Guatemalan passport just in case it was useful.
5. they made copies of my & DH's passports

At the time we didn't have his Certificate of Birth Data; that came in the mail in the last week.

I'm so excited. All we have left to do is update the COC and his SSN card with his new middle name and I want to file the 884 for the packet from USCIS and we are DONE DONE DONE with adoption related paperwork.

[melissa41]

Glad you got it in time for your trip! Doesn't it feel great to check off getting all that paperwork done?

[karen nickols]

I am glad that went so well for you. We were at the county clerks office four (yup 4) times. Each time they went back they wanted different and more docs. I finally said for petes sake they HAVE TONS of info on this child aready, send it in! She replied that when it left their office it was "out of their hands" (Yippee!! ) It took the full 6 weeks and then had her middle name misplelled. So new pics and a new doc and 4 weeks later it was finally right. Now, where to go??

[Quesita]

Congratulations!!!!!!

Liana got her passport this week too, and I got my renewal!!!!

Still haven't gotten the NYS Recognition of Foriegn Birth, but I've got the name change done for SS already.

Is an updated COC really necessary with a passport and the NYC Birth Certificate thingy?

[DPline]

You don't have to get a new COC, but personally I feel that it is important.

I feel that especially in this post-9/11 society and continuously increasing US security measures, I want my children's full and correct legal names on file with USCIS as citizens and want that correct certificate to prove it without a shadow of a doubt.

They may never need it (though it is my understanding that for things like joining the military, government jobs that require security clearance, some college scholarships, things like that, it may be necessary and if they want to adopt internationally one day, they will need it to prove their citizenship) I want it 'just in case.' A passport can show citizenship, but it expires and is issued by the State Department, not USCIS/Homeland Security. The new birth certificate that is issued by your state will most likely still say the child was born in Guatemala, and does not prove citizenship.

Yes, you could present an adoption decree, readoption papers, court ordered name change papers, whatever. But I am sure we have all experienced at one time or another, someone in a position of authority who would not accept these papers even if they were totally valid. (For example all the problems people have with Social Security offices.) Personally I feel better having the corrected COC even if they are never in a position to need it.

Off my soapbox now!

[cborsa7]

Debbie is right as usual

A good way to look at it, a passport works for some things as a proof to citizenship but it is not the certificate of citizenship and won't work in all cases. It can be quite a problem to wait until you need this document to apply for it, situations change, better safe than sorry.

[maccafan]

Hey, Julie, that's great! Thanks for listing the items you gave for documentation. I've been waiting for Daniel's new U.S. BC w/ his new middle name, but that seems to be taking forever, and now I know I probably don't need it to get his passport. How nice it is to be so close to the end of paperwork!