Post-Adoption Procedures in Charleston, SC

Retrieval Of Original Paperwork

Originally, airport immigration needed original documents such as photographs, church certificates, and the like. These can be reclaimed by filing a notarized USCIS Form G-884 with two forms of ID. No filing fee is charged. These are sent to the USCIS office that processed the child's immigration if your child entered the U.S. on an IR-4 visa. Otherwise, if your child entered on an IR-3 visa, contact the Buffalo, NY, USCIS office at 716-843-7903. For retrieval of original birth certificates, use Form G-639.

Health Checkups

Per the Centers for Disease Control, giardiasis is a waterborne protozoan parasite and common cause of intestinal disease in all parts of the world. The highest risk is seen in the youngest children. All newly arriving immigrant children from highly endemic countries should be health checked, including microscopy on fecal specimens, regardless of whether they have gastrointestinal complaints, if they were not so checked first overseas.

Re-Adoption

This is a stateside legal proceeding to document your parent-child relationship. If your child entered the U.S. on an IR-4 visa, then this procedure is mandatory to complete the adoption process. The visa entry designation will be stamped on the child's passport. Some state courts require post-placement visits or the updating of some documents. Other states appoint notaries to issue certificates of foreign birth. This process enables the child to obtain a state birth certificate, receive inheritance rights, and make a legal name change, and it acts as a bar to state court challenges to the child's legal status. We recommend this should be done with all foreign child adoptions.

Birth Certificates

A state birth certificate is far easier and cheaper to replace than that of a foreign country. Certified copies are often needed for school enrollment, sports participation, to verify correct name spelling, the identity of the parents, and the like. Complete the re-adoption process before procuring the new birth certificate and make it part of the same process. If you don't re-adopt, then apply with the original adoption papers through the requisite state office.

Certificate of Citizenship

This document is often required to apply for college or private high school scholarships, overseas work, work in government, or obtain a U.S. passport. This can be obtained through USCIS with the requisite fee, photographs, and other required documentation.

Health Insurance

Adoptive children can be placed on parental health insurance policies even if the court procedures are not finalized. It is premature to determine what changes or requirements will be implemented under the new national healthcare law commonly known as "Obamacare."

Adopted Child Name Change

If the adoption process stopped short of changing your child's name or there is a misspelling, you need to file in state court for this correction. It is faster and cheaper than trying to again deal with the foreign country's courts and adoption agencies.

Passport

Obtain a U.S. passport for your child so each time you travel outside our country, you won't have to explain why he or she has a different country's passport or take the original adoption papers with you.