With Graham's adoption complete, Billy drove to Frankfort to get Graham's certificate of foreign birth. The following day I went to the Social Security Field Office here in Somerset to apply for his social security number. Long, confusing story short... never mind, there is no short story...I was able to get his number ordered, however, it was going to be in his former name until we could get it changed to his new (current) name. To do this we needed proof of citizenship. Foreign children adopted by American parenst become citizens when the adoption is completed in the US. The SSA would not, however, recognize the adoption judgement as proof of citizenship. I was told I'd have to get his passport and that would serve as proof of citizenship. This could be tricky though because he had different names on his Indian passport, his visa, his certificate of foreign birth and now his social security card. If we were even able to get his passport, it would be in his former name. How could we travel through security and immigration with a child with a different name than us? How complicated that would be!?!?
In addition to all of this, we'd still not received Will's passport. We had received a letter after applying for his that requested additional paperwork that we had not known to send. We had sent what was asked but had still not gotten his passport.
I headed to our congressman's office for guidance and possibly influence but they received conflicting information from every office they spoke with. It now appeared that it could take 5 months to get this certificate of citizenship before even applying for a passport!!!! So much for New Zealand in December!!! We couldn't even get through the immigration process without Graham's passport, not to mention get him out of the country!!! And where was Will's? They'd not gotten info back regarding the status of his either.
Panic set in with a breakdown at the high school where I was tending to soccer business (in my spare time!). Prayers started harder than ever, even from the poor bookkeeper whose office I had lost it in. I shared this disaster with my friend, Patty and she began praying too. Within an hour, I received a call from the precious young lady at the SSA office who informed me that after much research and finagling she was able to change Graham's name with social security. Praise God!!!
This news brought some releif but since we'd yet to receive Will's passport, I wasn't sure if we'd conquered the problem yet. Whatever was holding up Will's could also be a problem with Graham's. The nice young girl at the congressman's office was still seeking info.
I joined two of my bffs for a venting session. Unfortunately, they perceived these problems as signs from God not to go. Two other friends as well as myself perceived them as hurdles Satan was throwing at us to discourage and cause us to disobey.
Next I called our adoption case worker to inquire about the certificates of citizenship and how to go about getting passports. She assured me we had all that we needed and that they, themselves had just gotten passports for their 5 adopted children. SSHHEEEEWWWWW!!! I called the girl at the congressman's office and told her what I'd learned. She (though sounding doubtful) said great and that we could bring the passport application to her office ofter the post office had processed and sealed it in an evelope. She said that the congressman's office would expedite it for us!! Again, PRAISE GOD!!!
This morning, Billy received a response to an email to our immigration case worker granting us permission to send the application packet on to him without the boys' passports. We could forward them to him when they arrived to us.
So this morning, Billy, Graham and I went to our 9:30am appointment at the post office to apply for Graham's passport. From there I went to Congressman Hal Rogers' office where Rebecca sent it on, expedited, to be returned to the congressman's office.
After depositing Graham off at school, I had one last order of business to take care of... I went to the Postal Stop location and Fedexed the 4 lbs application to London in the United Kingdom. It is due to arrive in New Zealand's Immigration Office by noon on Friday. Our deadline? Saturday, September 11.
I exited the building and felt an enormous weight lifted off my shoulders and I cried with relief.
I then treated myself to a facial and a massage.
Now we wait...
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