Copies of Ethiopian Birth Certificates

If I am interpreting the information that I found on the Travel.State.Gov website, it is possible to get additional copies of the Ethiopian birth certificate while in the country.

• Issuance of birth certificate $2 or $7 for same day service.
  
• Birth certificates can be authenticated in Ethiopia for an additional $35
  

Certificate of Citizenship A Name Game

How do you prove that the children born in Ethiopia are now US citizens? For those of us born here we are often asked to produce our social security cards, state ID cards, drivers license, and birth certificate.

With an IR-3 visa my children will receive a Certificate of Citizenship automatically. Will that be enough? I was just reading that one of the big problems is that the COC that is automatically sent to the parents come with the name as stated on the Ethiopian birth certificate.

You can change the name on the COC -- for a small fee of course. To make a change to the COC, I will need to file form N-565 and pay $380 per child or $760 US dollars!

Now, how do you change the name and how much does that cost before you can request that the name be changed on the COC? More questions, more paperwork, more money.

Questions About Ethiopian Documents

After writing the post about re-adoption, I found this information about Illinois Senate Bill 180.

Senate Bill 180 simplifies obtaining a Record of Foreign Birth for a person born and adopted in a foreign country by allowing the adoptive parents to submit five items to the State Registrar of Vital Records:

1. evidence of the child's birth date and place, provided by the birth certificate (original or certified copy)
2. certified copy of the foreign adoption decree
3. copy of the IR-3 visa (immigrant visa issued by the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service for a child adopted abroad)
4. name and address of the adoption agency that handled the adoption
5. $5 application fee

Information above is from the Gitlin & Kaper Law Firm.

So here are the new questions that it brings to mind.

1. What is the process for getting a certified copy of an Ethiopian birth certificate? Is is possible while in Ethiopia to get a second copy of the children's birth certificate?
   
2. Do we only receive one copy of the foreign adoption decree?
3. What is the process for a name change?
   

Re-Adoption in Illinois

If it's not bad enough that the children once adopted in Ethiopia, travel to a new country, move into a new home with new parents, some states require re-adoption. Illinois is one of those states.

Re-adoption requirements are based on the type of visa the children received in Ethiopia. An IR-4 visa means that the children enter the country without permanent citizenship and receive a green card upon entry. In this case, citizenship is not automatic and re-adoption is required by law. Most Ethiopian children enter the country on IR-4 visas. A child will receive an IR-4 unless BOTH parents saw the child before the adoption was finalized in Ethiopia.

Early in the process I decided to get an IR-3 visa. I made that decision for two reasons. Primarily because Illinois has an additional requirement that an adoptive parent become a licensed foster parent and then readopt. To get an IR-3 visa means that I have to travel to Ethiopia twice. My father and I will go right after learning of the referral to meet the kids and do a little sight seeing. I will return to Ethiopia and bring them home after the adoption has been finalized. With an IR-3 visa the children are granted automatic citizenship and receive a Certificate of Citizenship.

Nothing in international adoption is ever as straight forward at it first seems. Here is the rub. With an IR-3 visa Illinois re-adoption is recommended:

• To get a US Birth Certificate. However, with an IR-3 visa you can get a US birth certificate through the Illinois Department of Public Health without re-adoption. IDPH requires surrendering the Ethiopian birth certificate in exchange.
  
• To legally change the child's name. If the new birth certificate is given by IDPH it will have the name as it is on the Ethiopian birth certificate. A name change would have to be completed in a separate proceeding.
• Jurisdiction. Some parents are concerned that without re-adopting the adoption may not be valid in other states (if they move). Though all states do not recognize foreign adoption, they do have to recognize an Illinois adoption.
  

Today the way that I feel, I would rather do a name change and get the birth certificate through IDPH. Tomorrow of course all of that could change.

Music to Soothe the Soul and Help the Wait

Okay I said that one of my top ten things is music. Right now the CD in my car that's getting heavy rotation is Marvin Sapp's newest album Thirsty. My favorites on the CD are Magnify Him, Praise Him in Advance, and Never Could Have Made It. I found the CD at the start of the adoption process and it has really kept me going.

It is when I listen to the song, Go Find Your Place of Worship, that I think of my children and all the other children and families in Ethiopia. The song says, "Find your place of worship. Look into your pain and find your praise. Every low place in your life prepared you for your high place. Every tear you cried is water for the garden of your victory. Even though you're in the valley, victory comes through your adversity. Go and find your place of worship"

But, my YouTube favorite (not on the album) is Marvin Sapp's version of You Are God Alone. I love YouTube! I will have to add YouTube to the top ten list. This is the song that helps me deal with the frustrations, setbacks, and wait of the adoption process. When I listen to the words they help me focus more on the children's circumstances than my selfish wants or demands. I listen to this song and no that no matter whats happening, I know that everything that happens in my adoption process is all God's will, preordained and will happen in His time.



There's no question of your greatness nor searching of your power. Or the wonder of your glory, to you forty years is but one hour. Your knowledge is all encompassing. To your wisdom there is no end. For you alone are God. You are God alone. Your mercy is everlasting. Your truth is here always. You are he, who was and is and is to come. Who is He that can number your days. You flung the sun to burning space and the nights moon powers light from day to day. You alone are God. You alone are God.

Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible. The only wise God. The only wise God. To thee all glory, and honor, dominion, and power, forever, and ever AMEN. You alone are God. You are God alone.

Just one more YouTube favorite is For Every Mountain.



I have got so much to thank God for. So many wonderful blessings and so many open doors. A brand new mercy. Along with each new day. That's why I praise you and for this I give you praise. For waking me up this morning. For starting me on my way. For letting me see the sunshine of a new day. You've been my provider. So many times you've met my needs. So many times you've rescued me. So many blessing you give to me each day. That's why I praise you. For every mountain you brought me over. For every trial you've seen me through. For every blessing hallelujah. For this I give you praise.

I have to add this one too. It's Dewayne Woods singing Let Go.



I couldn't seem to fall asleep. There was so much on my mind. Searching for that peace but the peace I could not to find. So then I keeled down to pray. I was praying help me please. Then he said you don't have to cry 'cause I'll supply all your needs. As soon as I stopped worrying. Worrying how the story ends. When I can let go and I let God. Let him have his way. That's when things start happening, when I stopped looking at back then. When I let go and let God have his way.

There's so much going on. Sometimes I can't find my way. And often times I struggle, I struggle from day to day. But, I had to realize that it's not my battle it's not my battle to fight. I had to know that if I put it in His hands everything would be alright. As soon as I stopped worrying. Worrying how the story ends. When I let go and let God. Let him have his way. That's when things started happening, when I stopped looking at back.

Let go and let God. Let go and let God. Let go and let God. He is the only one with the answers. With tears in your eyes let God. Let God. He feels your pain and he knows your heart. He knows your issues, and He knows your struggle. So, let go and let God. As soon as I stopped worrying. Worrying how the story ends. When I let go and let go. Let him have his way. That's when things started happening, when I stopped looking at back. I can let go and let God.

I almost forgot to add this one. I love this song by Donnie McClurkin called, Great Is Your Mercy.



Great is your mercy towards me. Your loving kindness towards me. Your tender mercies I see day after day. Forever faithful towards me. You're always providing for me. Great is your mercy towards me. Great is your grace.

10 Things that I Love

I love a lot of things but these are the ten I can think of right now.

1. Music - any music with good lyrics and a message but Gospel music is probably my favorite.
   
2. Research - strange but true people call me the knowledge broker because I like finding out all types of facts. I feel like the internet was created just for me.
   
3. Cooking - I even know how to make homemade syrup.
   
4. Diet Coke - I'm trying to get over it.
   
5. Peanut M & Ms - 700 calories a pack not so good.
   
6. Apples - granny smith, apple pie, apple tart, applesauce, quartered, halved, stewed, or fried.
7. Writing - it is relaxing -- usually.
8. Soft Sheets - have to have them.
9. Old Black & White Movies - Gary Grant, Ray Milan, Deborah Carr, whoever
10. Children - they are honest, and open and life affirming.
    

How Many Posts Does It Take To Kill An Idea?

Groups. Groups. Groups. You have to love them. A couple of thousand faceless strangers wanting to share their experiences, hopes, and dreams of adoption gather keystroke, by keystroke looking for answers, connections, support, and information.

I have been on either end of a more than a couple of misunderstandings and it never feels good. What feels worse is when your heart is in the right place and by simply having an opinion it creates more confusion than clarity. You want to scream over and over, "that's not what I meant at all!" But, it doesn't matter discussions take a life of their own, others chime in and by the time you reply it now looks like you are replying to something else. Here is my new disclaimer.

DISCLAIMER: This are the thoughts of one woman. They are not written in direct response to any one person or statement but are written with gentle reflection and meant to share a positive perspective. They are in no way meant to harm, instigate, or inflame. If for any reason that the statements fall short of those intentions it may simply be that the internet does not adequately transmit feeling and emotions. Smile before you begin and exhale at the end.

Even he disclaimer was written in fun and with humor received a negative response.