The Haitian Consulate.....
This was written by Melanie Colson @ mcolson10@comcast.net.
(Thank you Melanie for clarifying the new procedures!)
Haitian Consulate Suggestions:
4 Documents Needed
1. Letter to IBESR ($25)
2. Psych Eval ($25)
3. Home Study ($25)
4. Power of Attorney ($50)
You need to include the translated version of each document, we sent our entire translation (the entire dossier basically) which we attached to the back of our home study.
You may want to separate your translated copies and put the Psych translation with the English version but be sure they are attached or it is considered an additional $25 per document. We chose to just keep ours whole other have separated theirs.
Use the cover letter example (imperative wording is what your orphanage REQUIRES)
(Example of cover letter is below.....)
Be sure you use a bank check, money order or cashiers check.
overnight your package with a return overnight if you are in a hurry or are more than 1 day USPS from Miami, FL
Call the consulate at 305 859-2003 if you have not received your documents back within 5-7 business days (expect the phone to ring over 15 times, and let it ring, call back, etc.)
if after 2 more days (for over night packages) you have not received your package call again
Suggestion: because the documents are difficult to replace we recommend you send them overnight or priority because UPS and Fed/Ex will track your package and if it goes to the wrong place they will most likely find it. USPS cannot do that as well.
Sample of Cover Letter:
DATE
YOUR ADDRESS
To Haitian Consulate:
Our family is in the process of adopting from Haiti. We are submitting the certified documents our orphanage requires to you for legalization. Enclosed in this package you will find:
1.Letter to IBESR
2.Power of Attorney
3.Home Study
4.Psychological Evaluation
5.French Translated Copies of Documents 1-4
6.Bank Check, Money Order or Cashiers Check for $125.00
7.Self-Addressed Return Envelope
Thank you for your kind consideration in this adoption matter. If we can provide any further information, please feel free to contact us at ____________ or ____(email address) . We will look forward to receiving our documents back from you in the enclosed self-addressed envelope.
Sincerely,
All documents with the cover letter should be sent to the appropriate office go to http://www.haiti.org/ to find your state and the appropriate office to send your packet to. We still recommend sending this cover letter with your packet over night.
The following address is for the Miami consulate which as of this date 3/4/2011 services the following states: TX, LA, MS, TN, AL, GA and FL
Haitian Consulate
Adoption Certification Dept.
259 SW 13TH ST
MIAMI FL 331304275
Chicago Adress is....
11 East Adams Street
Chicago, IL 60603
NOW YOU ARE READY TO SEND YOUR DOSSIER TO HAITI......YAY!!!!
Friday, March 4, 2011
Friday, February 25, 2011
Steps for a Complete Haiti Dossier Part 3- Translation
Now that your documents are authenticated it is time to send the entire dossier, with the exception of bank statements, lab results and tax returns, to the translator.
We scanned in all of our documents and emailed them to our translator. He had everything back to us in three days. He overnighted our certification and billed us for $275.
We used franslations@aol.com. He was fast and affordable compared to some others I talked to.
After that is done you are ready for your LAST step before sending it to Haiti!
We scanned in all of our documents and emailed them to our translator. He had everything back to us in three days. He overnighted our certification and billed us for $275.
We used franslations@aol.com. He was fast and affordable compared to some others I talked to.
After that is done you are ready for your LAST step before sending it to Haiti!
Steps for a Complete Haiti Dossier Part 2- SOS
Sending your dossier to Secretary of State......
Our SOS was in Austin, TX which is only a 3.5 hour drive for us so we hand delivered our papers ourselves and we were in and out in 20 minutes!
The ONLY four NOTARIZED documents that need to go to the SOS are:
1-Homestudy
2-Psychological evaluation
3-Letter to the IBESR
4-Power of Attorney
After that is done you are ready for translation!
Our SOS was in Austin, TX which is only a 3.5 hour drive for us so we hand delivered our papers ourselves and we were in and out in 20 minutes!
The ONLY four NOTARIZED documents that need to go to the SOS are:
1-Homestudy
2-Psychological evaluation
3-Letter to the IBESR
4-Power of Attorney
After that is done you are ready for translation!
Steps for a Complete Haiti Dossier Part 1
I am going to start trying to write everything I learned while doing our dossier in hopes that it will help others do theirs faster!
We are with New Life Link so I will be going off of his check list from the website.
1. Find a social worker that can do your home study and that knows what Haiti wants included in the report. We used one from Dallas and I loved her! She was about $800 total including travel fee. We paid for her airline ticket here.
2. Find a notary that is willing to travel with you as everything you send needs to by notarized. It should not be a family member. We were lucky enough to have a friend of a friend do all of our documents and she didn't charge us anything. That saved a lot of time and money! Also, make sure that their stamp does not expire within the next 18 months. That is very important! You can notarize after the fact by adding the following statement.....
This is a true, exact, and complete copy of the original document.
Then sign that statement in front of the notary!
We did not do this but I have read where other people have and it's been fine.
3. Start getting ORIGINAL copies of your birth certificates and your marriage of certificate. Also, if you are divorced you will need a copy of the divorce decree.
4. Letter of Employment- This letter needs to state when you started, your position and your salary. It would be good to include any bonuses you may receive or any raise you may see in the next year. Make sure it is signed by your boss and notarized with that date. It needs to include whether you have medical insurance and whether the child will be covered immediately.
5. Police Clearance- Here is a sample one that I found that some others have used. Our police chief actually wrote his own letter for us. They notarized it there for us so that was easy!
Date
Your last name, first, middle and DL #
Your Current address
To Whom It May Concern:
Please be advised that the above-mentioned individual has no record of ever being arrested, or in any other way handled by this department.
If any additional information is needed, please don't hesitate to call or write.
Thank you,
Signature of Staff Member
Typed name of Staff Member
Department of Staff Member (In our case she wrote Records)
Don't forget to have them notarize it! They should have a notary there on site.
6. Power of Attorney to Dr. Bernard.
We used this one that another adoptive family had used.....here is a copy!
SPECIAL POWER OF ATTORNEY
We, (your names here) do make, constitute and appoint (name your orphanage wants you to give power of attorney to here) our true and lawful Attorney-in-fact with full authority to act and in our behalf as follows:
To obtain all documents, items and things which are necessary and to take any and all action which is required to issue an immigrant visa and adopt orphans according to the laws of Haiti and the United States of America, State of (your state here).
We hereby give and grant unto our Attorney-in-fact full power and authority to do and perform all and every act and things whatsoever required and necessary to be done and accomplish the above stated purposes, as fully we might or could do if we were personally present, and we hereby ratify and confirm all that said Attorney-in-fact shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue of this power.
No third party shall have any duty to inquire into the authority of our Attorney-in-Fact to take any action as set forth herein. We hereby release any and all persons for actions taken in compliance with and in reliance on directions of our Attorney-in-Fact.
It is intended that this special power of attorney shall continue to be effective until such time as care, custody and property of said orphans is transferred from my Attorney-in-Fact to us.
SIGNED___________________________________________________________________________
(If adoptive parents are married both sign on the line above, don't forget to wait to sign until in front of a notary)
7. 8- Passport pictures each. We did ours at Walgreen's in one hour and they were about $65.
8. Last three months of bank statements. These don't have to be notarized!
9. Last three years of tax returns. These don't have to be notarized either!
10. Two letter from personal references. These have to be notarized!
11. A letter of reference from your church. Dr. Bernard doesn't allow you to adopt from him if you aren't a Christian and part of a church. This letter must be notarized.
12. Letter from your bank addressing the standing of your account(s), how long you have had the account(s), and the balance. The bank manager or assistant manager must sign and notarize this letter. This was very difficult for me to get from Bank of America but I had a friend that got the typical form letter and the bank manager signed and notarized it for him. My branch would NOT do that for me so I had to get what was called an apostle letter from them. This was my biggest hurdle and made me wish I was part of a small credit union where it was more personal and friendly! Bank of America was not Adoption friendly at all!!!! (at least my branch wasn't.....)
13. Health certificate and detailed test results for HIV, TB, and Syphilis for each parent. (A one-page letter addressing your health status, lab results, and ability to parent an adopted child; doctor’s signature must be notarized)
Here is a sample of the one we used!
Date
RE: Your name here
DOB: Your date of birth here
To Whom It May Concern,
(Your name here) has been a patient of mine here since __________. She has recently come in for a complete exam. I found no physical abnormalities. She had a negative PPD. She also had a negative HIV screen as well as a negative syphilis blood test. I see no physical or emotional reasons for her not to be an adoptive parent.
Please contact me with any other questions.
Sincerely,
Your DR.'s signature here
Doctors name, MD
Name of Clinic or Hospital
14. Psych Evaluation- We went to a psychologist that my husband had went to when he got on with the PD. We met with him together for about 30 minutes and just talked about adoption. We had just written up a letter that said he believed we were fit to adopt. He signed it and had a notary there to notarize it for us.
I have heard others that have had to take extensive tests. This cost us about $150-200. I have heard others have spend as much as $1000. Just check around until you find one you can afford but that is good!
15. Form G-28....all we were able to do is fill out our names and address and sign it. I think Dr. Bernard does the rest. We did have it notarized.
16. Letter to IBESR- This letter just told about us and our family and why we want to adopt from Haiti. We told about Marc's job and mine, which I am a stay at home mom. We told about our church. We also included what we see in Vensly and our other children's future and how we plan to raise them. Whatever you feel like IBESR should know about your family should be included!
17. I-600A approval- YOU DO NOT HAVE TO HAVE THIS APPROVAL BEFORE SENDING YOUR DOSSIER BUT I WOULD GET IT AS SOON AS YOU CAN JUST IN CASE THINGS SPEED UP. YOU WOULDN'T WANT IT HOLDING YOU BACK FROM TAKING YOUR CHILD HOME!
Now your dossier is complete and you are ready to send it to your Secretary of State for authentication!
We are with New Life Link so I will be going off of his check list from the website.
1. Find a social worker that can do your home study and that knows what Haiti wants included in the report. We used one from Dallas and I loved her! She was about $800 total including travel fee. We paid for her airline ticket here.
2. Find a notary that is willing to travel with you as everything you send needs to by notarized. It should not be a family member. We were lucky enough to have a friend of a friend do all of our documents and she didn't charge us anything. That saved a lot of time and money! Also, make sure that their stamp does not expire within the next 18 months. That is very important! You can notarize after the fact by adding the following statement.....
This is a true, exact, and complete copy of the original document.
Then sign that statement in front of the notary!
We did not do this but I have read where other people have and it's been fine.
3. Start getting ORIGINAL copies of your birth certificates and your marriage of certificate. Also, if you are divorced you will need a copy of the divorce decree.
4. Letter of Employment- This letter needs to state when you started, your position and your salary. It would be good to include any bonuses you may receive or any raise you may see in the next year. Make sure it is signed by your boss and notarized with that date. It needs to include whether you have medical insurance and whether the child will be covered immediately.
5. Police Clearance- Here is a sample one that I found that some others have used. Our police chief actually wrote his own letter for us. They notarized it there for us so that was easy!
Date
Your last name, first, middle and DL #
Your Current address
To Whom It May Concern:
Please be advised that the above-mentioned individual has no record of ever being arrested, or in any other way handled by this department.
If any additional information is needed, please don't hesitate to call or write.
Thank you,
Signature of Staff Member
Typed name of Staff Member
Department of Staff Member (In our case she wrote Records)
Don't forget to have them notarize it! They should have a notary there on site.
6. Power of Attorney to Dr. Bernard.
We used this one that another adoptive family had used.....here is a copy!
SPECIAL POWER OF ATTORNEY
We, (your names here) do make, constitute and appoint (name your orphanage wants you to give power of attorney to here) our true and lawful Attorney-in-fact with full authority to act and in our behalf as follows:
To obtain all documents, items and things which are necessary and to take any and all action which is required to issue an immigrant visa and adopt orphans according to the laws of Haiti and the United States of America, State of (your state here).
We hereby give and grant unto our Attorney-in-fact full power and authority to do and perform all and every act and things whatsoever required and necessary to be done and accomplish the above stated purposes, as fully we might or could do if we were personally present, and we hereby ratify and confirm all that said Attorney-in-fact shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue of this power.
No third party shall have any duty to inquire into the authority of our Attorney-in-Fact to take any action as set forth herein. We hereby release any and all persons for actions taken in compliance with and in reliance on directions of our Attorney-in-Fact.
It is intended that this special power of attorney shall continue to be effective until such time as care, custody and property of said orphans is transferred from my Attorney-in-Fact to us.
SIGNED___________________________________________________________________________
(If adoptive parents are married both sign on the line above, don't forget to wait to sign until in front of a notary)
7. 8- Passport pictures each. We did ours at Walgreen's in one hour and they were about $65.
8. Last three months of bank statements. These don't have to be notarized!
9. Last three years of tax returns. These don't have to be notarized either!
10. Two letter from personal references. These have to be notarized!
11. A letter of reference from your church. Dr. Bernard doesn't allow you to adopt from him if you aren't a Christian and part of a church. This letter must be notarized.
12. Letter from your bank addressing the standing of your account(s), how long you have had the account(s), and the balance. The bank manager or assistant manager must sign and notarize this letter. This was very difficult for me to get from Bank of America but I had a friend that got the typical form letter and the bank manager signed and notarized it for him. My branch would NOT do that for me so I had to get what was called an apostle letter from them. This was my biggest hurdle and made me wish I was part of a small credit union where it was more personal and friendly! Bank of America was not Adoption friendly at all!!!! (at least my branch wasn't.....)
13. Health certificate and detailed test results for HIV, TB, and Syphilis for each parent. (A one-page letter addressing your health status, lab results, and ability to parent an adopted child; doctor’s signature must be notarized)
Here is a sample of the one we used!
Date
RE: Your name here
DOB: Your date of birth here
To Whom It May Concern,
(Your name here) has been a patient of mine here since __________. She has recently come in for a complete exam. I found no physical abnormalities. She had a negative PPD. She also had a negative HIV screen as well as a negative syphilis blood test. I see no physical or emotional reasons for her not to be an adoptive parent.
Please contact me with any other questions.
Sincerely,
Your DR.'s signature here
Doctors name, MD
Name of Clinic or Hospital
14. Psych Evaluation- We went to a psychologist that my husband had went to when he got on with the PD. We met with him together for about 30 minutes and just talked about adoption. We had just written up a letter that said he believed we were fit to adopt. He signed it and had a notary there to notarize it for us.
I have heard others that have had to take extensive tests. This cost us about $150-200. I have heard others have spend as much as $1000. Just check around until you find one you can afford but that is good!
15. Form G-28....all we were able to do is fill out our names and address and sign it. I think Dr. Bernard does the rest. We did have it notarized.
16. Letter to IBESR- This letter just told about us and our family and why we want to adopt from Haiti. We told about Marc's job and mine, which I am a stay at home mom. We told about our church. We also included what we see in Vensly and our other children's future and how we plan to raise them. Whatever you feel like IBESR should know about your family should be included!
17. I-600A approval- YOU DO NOT HAVE TO HAVE THIS APPROVAL BEFORE SENDING YOUR DOSSIER BUT I WOULD GET IT AS SOON AS YOU CAN JUST IN CASE THINGS SPEED UP. YOU WOULDN'T WANT IT HOLDING YOU BACK FROM TAKING YOUR CHILD HOME!
Now your dossier is complete and you are ready to send it to your Secretary of State for authentication!
Current Timelines for Families......
Pate and Melissa- 3 children at home and adopting one little boy. Started the process in January 2011.
Jamie and Melanie- 2 children at home and adopting 2 siblings. Dossier to Haiti October 2010- Referral January 2011. Working with Hand in Hand.
Michelle- adopting siblings age 3.5 and 1. Dossier to Haiti October 2010- Referral November 2010- Went into IBESR February 2011. Working with Hand in Hand.
Matt and Martha-5 children at home. Adopting Stephania (4yrs) and Lorvens (2yrs)Baptiste. Started the process October 2010- Dossier to Haiti February 16, 2011- Received referral February 25, 2011- Waiting to enter into IBESR.
Shelly and Jim- 1 child at home and 1 grown son who is married and 2 angels in Heaven. Shelly and Jim have 2 grandchildren. Started process Feb 2010- matched in July- Dossier in IBSER Sept 2010- Received documents and filed I-600 in February.
Chad & Kim- 3 children at home. Chad and Oldest son met Wildens Charles at NLL in Haiti July 2010. Approved to adopt Wildens Charles July 2010 and started process. December I-600a approved (I-171h). February 24 dossier in Haiti- Waiting to go into IBESR but just found out they are out of IBESR....June 7th, 2011.
Chad and Kristen- 2 children at home- Started process in November...waiting for consulate to send Dossier to Haiti.
Tim and Mary- 4 children at home- Just beginning the process!
Shane and Sonja- 4 children at home- Dossier will go to Haiti March 12th.
Joe and Betsy- adopting Ben 6 and Ephtonline 8. Dossier to Haiti soon!
Jake and Kim- 2 children at home- adopting Benji Love-3 and Jean Dearson Tanis-1 Dossier to Haiti in September- Waiting for IBESR to accept it because of age.
Steve and Melanie- 2 children at home- Adopting Junior-9, Monique-11 and Franz-5. Dossier to Haiti in February.....Went into IBESR in March and got out June 7th, 2011!
Joseph and Lacie- 3 children at home- adopting Guerry 1- started process in June and Dossier to Haiti in November- waiting to go into IBESR.
Jackson and Emily- 3 children at home- adopting sisters Jode (4) and Valencia (2 1/2)-Dossier to Haiti in February- waiting for dossier to go into IBESR but just found out they are out....June 7th, 2011.
David and Laurie- 4 children at home- Adopting Ruth-8 Dosier to Haiti in November- Went into IBESR in January and got out May 9th, 2011.
Steve and Wendy- 6 children at home (2 through domestic adoption)- adopting two boys. Dossier to Haiti in September- Matched in October- Not sure when they entered IBESR but found out they were out by the end of February for first boy and out of IBESR for second baby boy on June 7th, 2011!
Mike and Marilyn- 5 children at home- gathering Dossier and hoping to send it in March or April.
Tymesha- adopted siblings Thurstan Dieurisson, 2, and Tatum Mirlande, 3- started process in August 2005 and homecoming in January 2010!
Marc and Lesley- 4 children at home- Adopting Vensly 22 months- Matched in July but started process in August after official approval. Dossier to Haiti in January- Entered into IBESR on February 17th and got out on May 9th, 2011.
Kazen and Tina- 2 children at home- Started process in January...Dossier to Haiti June 4th!
Hadley and Lindsay- Dossier to Haiti August 2010- 1st referral September 2010- Added another referral December 2010- Waiting for IBESR to accept dossier due to age.
David and Jami- 2 children at home- adopting siblings- started process January 2010- dossier to Haiti April 2010- Hasn't received updates but probably in IBESR.
Jamie and Melanie- 2 children at home and adopting 2 siblings. Dossier to Haiti October 2010- Referral January 2011. Working with Hand in Hand.
Michelle- adopting siblings age 3.5 and 1. Dossier to Haiti October 2010- Referral November 2010- Went into IBESR February 2011. Working with Hand in Hand.
Matt and Martha-5 children at home. Adopting Stephania (4yrs) and Lorvens (2yrs)Baptiste. Started the process October 2010- Dossier to Haiti February 16, 2011- Received referral February 25, 2011- Waiting to enter into IBESR.
Shelly and Jim- 1 child at home and 1 grown son who is married and 2 angels in Heaven. Shelly and Jim have 2 grandchildren. Started process Feb 2010- matched in July- Dossier in IBSER Sept 2010- Received documents and filed I-600 in February.
Chad & Kim- 3 children at home. Chad and Oldest son met Wildens Charles at NLL in Haiti July 2010. Approved to adopt Wildens Charles July 2010 and started process. December I-600a approved (I-171h). February 24 dossier in Haiti- Waiting to go into IBESR but just found out they are out of IBESR....June 7th, 2011.
Chad and Kristen- 2 children at home- Started process in November...waiting for consulate to send Dossier to Haiti.
Tim and Mary- 4 children at home- Just beginning the process!
Shane and Sonja- 4 children at home- Dossier will go to Haiti March 12th.
Joe and Betsy- adopting Ben 6 and Ephtonline 8. Dossier to Haiti soon!
Jake and Kim- 2 children at home- adopting Benji Love-3 and Jean Dearson Tanis-1 Dossier to Haiti in September- Waiting for IBESR to accept it because of age.
Steve and Melanie- 2 children at home- Adopting Junior-9, Monique-11 and Franz-5. Dossier to Haiti in February.....Went into IBESR in March and got out June 7th, 2011!
Joseph and Lacie- 3 children at home- adopting Guerry 1- started process in June and Dossier to Haiti in November- waiting to go into IBESR.
Jackson and Emily- 3 children at home- adopting sisters Jode (4) and Valencia (2 1/2)-Dossier to Haiti in February- waiting for dossier to go into IBESR but just found out they are out....June 7th, 2011.
David and Laurie- 4 children at home- Adopting Ruth-8 Dosier to Haiti in November- Went into IBESR in January and got out May 9th, 2011.
Steve and Wendy- 6 children at home (2 through domestic adoption)- adopting two boys. Dossier to Haiti in September- Matched in October- Not sure when they entered IBESR but found out they were out by the end of February for first boy and out of IBESR for second baby boy on June 7th, 2011!
Mike and Marilyn- 5 children at home- gathering Dossier and hoping to send it in March or April.
Tymesha- adopted siblings Thurstan Dieurisson, 2, and Tatum Mirlande, 3- started process in August 2005 and homecoming in January 2010!
Marc and Lesley- 4 children at home- Adopting Vensly 22 months- Matched in July but started process in August after official approval. Dossier to Haiti in January- Entered into IBESR on February 17th and got out on May 9th, 2011.
Kazen and Tina- 2 children at home- Started process in January...Dossier to Haiti June 4th!
Hadley and Lindsay- Dossier to Haiti August 2010- 1st referral September 2010- Added another referral December 2010- Waiting for IBESR to accept dossier due to age.
David and Jami- 2 children at home- adopting siblings- started process January 2010- dossier to Haiti April 2010- Hasn't received updates but probably in IBESR.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)