[katelin]

Hi gang!

My husband and I have travel dates to Poland to finalize our adoption of a brother and sister, 8 and 7. We are very excited and grateful that our long journey finally has an end in sight and we can begin planning. Our first court date is Sept. 4th, and final hearing is Sept. 25th. My question... how long does it take for immigration papers to be completed? We are hoping to stay in Poland until the kids are ready to come home with us.

Thanks!

[mama08]

Congrats on your court dates!! Our appeal period was over Feb. 1st, and we had all of the necessary documents the afternoon of the 11th. I think sometimes the length of time can vary depending on what day of the week you apply for their Polish passports, and other documents.
Good luck!!
Kelly

[momraine]

I think ours took almost two weeks after the two week appeal was over (some people have a longer appeal time to wait) After the appeal was done our facilitator had to drive to the town we had court in and get the court paperwork and then she had to drive to the town he was born in and then to the town he was registered in. I think it's probably unusual for these to be three different cities, but my son had recently been moved to a place on the opposite side of the country. Then it took time to get the new pesal number (like a social security number, you need it to get a passport) Then we had to get the passport. The embassy stuff once you have everything else done and translated is supposed to take one day, but a computer glitch caused it to take two days for us.

[katelin]

Gosh, I thought I knew the process, but not sure what the appeal is...can you explain? Thanks!

[momraine]

I had just written you a long response when my computer locked up!
Anyway, here is the basic idea.
The process actually involves two court hearings. The first one gives you permission to visit the child and maybe temporary custody for the bonding time. The bonding time is anywhere from 1-6 weeks, it seems to average 2-3. Mine was three weeks. Now during this bonding time you will visit the child, or take the child to stay with you at a hotel or apartment or some combination of them. Some families have gotten to go to resort type areas of Poland. You do not get to choose. We had coustody of our son for the entire three weeks. During that time you are observed.
Then after that is the second hearing. During this one the people who observed you will testify and you will be questioned. At the end of this the judge will approve or deny the adoption request. Then there is a mandatory three week waiting period. The judges do have the power to reduce it to two weeks. This is so that if say a relative decided they did not want the child adopted, they have the time to oppose the adoption. This rarely happens. Our judge did reduce it to two weeks. In Russia the waiting period is ten days and the judges can waive it completely. In Poland it is never waived, just sometimes shortened. Once that 14 or 21 days is over, you can pick up the decree, then you can get the new birth certificate and adoption certificate, then the pesal number and then the passport and then the visa. Your facilitator will know all of this and should be able to help you. Please ask if you have any more questions.

[CherieW]

Congrats on getting the dates for court! There is actually a light at the end of the tunnel. Our son's papers were done within 2.5 weeks. Probably would have been sooner but we were there during the summer and, well, folks in Poland like to vacation also. Enjoy the time - it's moments that are making up your family story. Happy day! Cherie

[katelin]

Hi,
Thanks everyone, this has been really helpful! I might return with another question or two as time gets closer for our travel. All the best!

[mschaefer]

Our lawyer was able to obtain all the paperwork the day after the appeal time period ended, we submitted that afternoon for PESEL numbers and simultaneously had the medical visits will waiting for the PESEL numbers and passports. The US Embassy allowed us to process the initial paperwork on the day before we expected the passports and we returned the next day with the Polish passports and had the Visas that afternoon. It took 1 week, but we made it with literally only 1 minute to spare before the US Embassy closed for the weekend or we would have had to wait until the follow week.

It also depends on the day of the week and time of the day each necessary document is obtained as some offices only process paperwork on certain days and of course each office has its own hours etc.

A general estimate is probably 1 week best case and up to 2 weeks (I'd say worse case, but I'm sure there have been crazier cases).

Congratulations on your court dates -- I can't wait to hear about your journey!