You'd think that after 11 months of paperwork, that once the boys finally arrived home, it would be done. Sadly, this isn't true. There is still paperwork to be done after the boys come home. First, I had to send our agency photos of the boys within the first week of getting home, then I applied for their Michigan birth certificates, which came in the mail a couple of weeks ago. Once I had the birth certificate, I was able to apply for their social security numbers that came in the mail this past Friday. Today, Eric mailed their applications for a Certificate of Citizenship. I don't know how long it will take to get these. Hopefully not terribly long.
As soon as we get their Citizenship Certificate, then I can go back to the Social Security office to change their status from legal aliens to actual citizens. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is when paperwork officially ends. But we still have to send our agency photos every 3 months for the first year, and we will be getting post placement reports done 6 and 12 months after the boys came home. Post placement reports are when your social worker comes over and observes the kids to see if they are adjusting to their new home and attaching to you as parents. I am not worried about these, it's just another thing to remember to do.
So truthfully, paperwork and to dos don't actually end until one year after the child comes home. Well, that's how it goes for the Congo. It could be shorter or longer, depending on the country the child was adopted from.
But we're making progress. I'm just glad we got their SS numbers so we can claim them on our taxes! Woot for new and big deductions :)
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