The Infamous Dossier
So are you ready for some excitement today? We’ve had many questions about the adoption process, so today, I thought I’d give you a look at the dossier we’re putting together.
But before I explain the process, let me say this: Putting together an adoption dossier is not the insurmountable task that many think it is. Yes, there are a lot of details to attend to. Many forms to complete. Numerous road trips, both literal and virtual, as we gather the necessary paperwork. But it’s all manageable. Really! If you take it one step at a time, it doesn’t feel that overwhelming.
And here’s the thing: When you’re a parent, you’ll do anything for your kids. We don’t have this actual child in our arms yet, but we know all this busy work is what will bring her home. As tedious as the process may be, at this point, it’s the only labor of love we can actually do for our little one!
So what exactly, is a dossier all about? For nearly all international adoptions, parents are required to put together a collection of legal documents–the dossier–for the country where they will adopt. The requirements vary from country to country. But here’s the list we are working on for our Ethiopian dossier:
1. A home study (This report was written by our caseworker after a series of four interviews, including one home visit. As part of our home study process, we also had to write lengthy autobiographies, get background checks, and provide some basic financial and medical records for review.)
2. Certified copies of our birth certificates
3. various Power of Attorney documents - We will sign these documents so that Bethany representatives can handle legal details on our behalf pertaining to the Ethiopia adoption process.
4. Medical Letters - We each need a letter from our doctor stating we are in good health.
5. Police Clearance - One letter from the police department for each of us.
6. Employment Letter - (From Brian’s employer)
7. A Copy of our Most Recent Bank Statement.
8. Attestation and Declaration of Personal Conditions - a brief overview of our financial situation
9. Copy of our most recent Tax Return
10. Passport photo - a copy of the photo page of each of our passports
11. Passport-size photos - two photos for each of us
12. Letter to MOWA (Ministry of Women’s Affairs) in Ethiopia - describing ourselves and our reasons for wanting to adopt from Ethiopia
13. Letter of Obligation Regarding Post-Placement reports - we just need to sign
14. Two Reference Letters
15. 6-10 Photographs of our Family and Home
16. USCIS (US Citizen and Immigration Services) Approval - this is the approval form we will receive upon review of our I-600a Petition for Advance Processing of Orphan
What makes this all a little more interesting is that all of the above documents need to go through a stringent authentication process. It looks like this:
1. Each document needs to be notarized. (Except for the certified birth certificates)
2. Each document then needs to receive the great seal of the state. (This happens at the Secretary of State)
3. Four copies of all documents need to be made for various purposes.
4. All documents get reviewed by Bethany staff.
5. Documents are then sent to the Ethiopian Embassy for authentication
Once that’s all done, we finally get to send the dossier on to Ethiopia! It’s quite the interesting process and right now, we’ve got most of the documents gathered and notarized. We are waiting on our USCIS Approval and as soon as we have that, we can get rolling on the state seal process. So keep praying that all will flow smoothly and that the Immigration Department will approve us lickety-split!