Now That You're Home
This page is to inform you of a few details you may need to complete the paperwork for your child, but first, take time to enjoy your child during this transitional period. You must then take steps to complete your child’s state birth certificate and social security application process (and U.S. citizenship if applicable). It is very important to complete these steps within one year of coming home. These steps will provide you the necessary documentation for your child’s future.
First, we need you to immediately send photocopies of the following to Adoption Associates: the Final Adoption Decree (or Final Adoption Deed), the child’s new birth certificate, medical information on the child, the social worker report, and any other documentation pertaining to the child. It is a state licensing requirement that we have this in our files. (If you have questions about what any of these documents are, or what they look like, contact your consultant.)
Second, if you haven’t already, make an appointment for a thorough physical exam for your child with your physician. For all children, regardless of age or country of origin, the following testing is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics:
- Complete history and physical, including developmental examination, and vision and hearing testing
- Complete blood count with erythrocyte indices
- Rapid plasma reagin (RPR) or VDLR for Syphilis
- Hepatitis B profile, including assays for HBsAg, anti-HBc, and anti-HBs
- Hepatitis C antibody
- Ionized calcium level
- Lead levels
- Mantoux (intradermal PPD) test with candida control
- Diphtheria & tetanus antibody testing, if low, or if child received fewer than 3 DPT vaccines, begin complete AAP immunization sequence
- Complete STD screening, if risk factors present
- HIV-1 and HIV-2 by ELIZA and by PCR
- Stool cultures for Salmonella, Shigella, Yersinia & Campylobacter, if symptomatic
- Stool examination for ova & parasites
- Urinalysis
If you and your physician have special concerns or your child has some unusual medical condition you may contact:
Dr. Mary Allen Staat
International Center
Children’s Hospital Medical Center of Cincinnati
3333 Burnet Avenue
Cincinnati, OH 45229-3039
PH: 513-636-2877
Website: www.cincinnatichildrens.org
FOR MICHIGAN FAMILIES:
How to obtain a new birth certificate, social security number and proof of citizenship
Click here to find helpful information from the U.S. Social Security Administration.
IR-3 VISA
If your child arrived home on an IR-3 visa, meaning both parents (or a single parent) visited the child prior to the final adoption deed being signed in Guatemala, the USCIS will mail you a Certificate of Citizenship (proof of child’s U.S. citizenship) within 45 days of your arrival home with your child.
While waiting for the Certificate of Citizenship to come in the mail, contact your local county probate court (circuit court if you reside in Wayne County, Michigan call 313-833-1880) and request two forms to apply for the child’s new state birth certificate and to change the child’s name - the Application to Establish Delayed Registration Of Foreign Birth and the Motion And Order For Delayed Registration Of Foreign Birth. You will then mail the completed forms along with the requested documents back to the court. The court will file your application and forward this on for you to Lansing. Please note that some counties may not allow you to file these forms until the child has maintained residence in the state for at least one year.
It is recommended that you obtain a state birth certificate with the name change and wait until you receive the Certificate of Citizenship before applying for a social security number. To apply for the child’s social security number, you can apply at your local social security office (Michigan residents 1-800-772-1213). You will need his/her new birth certificate, the final adoption deed in English and Spanish, and his/her proof of citizenship (Certificate of Citizenship). If you choose to apply for the child’s social security number before obtaining the new birth certificate or before receiving the Certificate of Citizenship, once you do obtain the new birth certificate or Certificate of Citizenship, you will have to return to the social security office to change the name/age on the social security card or to update the child’s status. If you have changed the child’s name, you will also want to change the child’s name on the Certificate of Citizenship. Follow the instructions sent with the Certificate.
IR-4 VISA
If your child arrived home on an IR-4 visa, meaning neither or only one parent visited the child prior to the final adoption deed being signed in Guatemala, the USCIS will mail you a permanent resident alien card after your child enters the country. You will need to complete an N-600 form from U.S.C.I.S. and mail it along with the fees listed on their web site, www.uscis.gov, in order to obtain the certificate of citizenship.
On the permanent resident alien card is the alien registration number (A#) necessary for the new state birth certificate, social security number and proof of citizenship. The child may not leave the country without this card until he/she receives their proof of citizenship. The card can take eight to twelve weeks or longer to arrive. Note that the A# is also located on the inside flap of the child’s Guatemalan passport. It is recommended that you obtain a state delayed registration of foreign birth before applying for a certificate of citizenship so the American name will be used. You may apply for social security after you receive the permanent resident card or citizenship certificate. If you apply before the citizenship certificate, you will need to inform social security when you receive the citizenship certificate.
It is best to direct all questions to the appropriate above agencies as AAI cannot possibly know all the specific country/state requirements for new birth certificates, social security, or U.S. citizenship.
FOR NON-MI FAMILIES:
Non-Michigan families will need to check with their home study caseworker to determine if re-adoption is required to obtain the child’s state birth certificate and U.S. citizenship.
Other states may require those with IR-4 visas to re-adopt in the state of residence through family court or probate court.
Changing the child’s name or age or obtaining a new state birth certificate may vary in procedure from county to county and state to state. In some states, you may be required to re-adopt; in Michigan, re-adoption is not necessary. Contact your local county probate court for more information if you are not a Michigan resident.
Post placement reports:
Finally, in order to promote good will with the international courts and help children who remain behind, it is vital that you send post-placement reports when notified. You cannot imagine the impact these reports have on inter-country adoption. This is another way you as a family can help more children. Reports and 8 photos are due as follows:
Guatemala: 3 and 12 months after arriving home. These are self reports, but must be typed. We will notify you by sending you a form to fill out for these reports. Please be very detailed in your answers to the questions. Attached is the format for you to use when submitting the photos.
FURTHER HELPS:
Adoptive Parent Magazine:
Adoptive Families of America
333 Hwy. 100 North
Minneapolis, MN 55422
1-800-372-3300
G.I.F.T.S. (Giving International Families Transitional Support)
Lori Troop
ltroop@earthlink.net
616-361-3689
Single Parents:
Lori Streeter
616-281-2925
4201 East Castle Ct., SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49508
Families For International Children
P.O. Box 2053
Grand Rapids, MI 49501
www.fficgr.org
Center for Adoption Medicine:
www.adoptmed.org
