Sarah, adopted in Peru, 1989-1990
My oldest daughter got married a couple of weeks ago. She’s now in the process of changing her name by having all of the important documents in her life updated.
Since Sarah was born in Peru and adopted by US citizens, these changes could be a bit more tricky.
The Social Security Administration asked if she were a US citizen. I was so glad that I persevered through all of the paperwork way back when so that all of her documents are in order now.
Had we not taken care of her paperwork earlier, it would have become more difficult for her after age 18, when immigration rules change.
After wrestling with adoption agencies, perhaps traveling to another country, dealing with an international adoption and immigration, it can be very tempting to put off domesticating your child’s adoption. It can also be tempting to skip dealing with Citizenship and Immigration Services any further.
Resist the urge to take a break until it is all done. You will be so glad later that you did. It is even more important for those who have found errors or need changes from the original paperwork: name, birthday, etc. A friend’s son almost ended up with an official birthday that differed from when he was actually born, even though the date was known.
You can read about ways that children adopted by US citizens can automatically become citizens. It’s fantastic that citizenship is automatic for so many children adopted in other countries. But don’t skip getting the certificate!
We also domesticated our daughter’s adoption. That means that, for the rest of her life, she can get legal copies of her birth certificate in English for a nominal fee. Before her domestication, we were required to provide certified translations with her original birth certificate.
For more info: If you are interested in international adoption, you can find agencies that specialize in international by searching the Internet. In Roanoke, visit ABC Adoption Services, Inc. or Commonwealth Catholic Charities.
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