A Canadian couple has been living apart for several months as they try to clear up an unexpected snag in their adoption of two boys from Ghana. According to a March 9 article by Steve Mertl of the Canadian Press, Andrea Bastin and Michael Segal have been working since August 2009 to unravel what Mertl termed "a bureaucratic nightmare."

Ghana's Social Welfare Department had approved an interim adoption and the couple began the paperwork to bring the children to Canada. The requirement included a copy of the mother's death certificate.

That's where things went wrong.

Bastin said the twins' 24-year-old "senior brother'' went to the family's village to get the document but was told he had to go to Accra. There, he paid an official to get the death certificate, which turned out to be invalid. Bastin and Segal said they later learned the bureaucrat had no authority to issue the document, which should have come from local officials in the first place.

The invalid death certificate raised alarms at Canada's high commission in Ghana, which handles visa and immigration files from a dozen African countries. Ghana is a hub for human trafficking, including children taken out of the country.

The couple said Canadian officials refused to provide documents allowing Bastin to take the twins back to Canada until the 44-year-old mother's death was confirmed.

Both Bastin and the boys' older brother obtained copies of the genuine death certificate from officials of the village, along with hospital records confirming how she died and affidavits from relatives saying she was indeed dead.

The boys' father, who Bastin said is in his 70s, also formally gave up his parental rights.

Labels: international, ghana, Canada, paperwork

Posted By: Aspen/CRC 0 Comments

In the world of adoptions, the dossier is the collection of paperwork that's required by a foreign government in an international adoption. Dossiers typically include medical letters, homestudy paperwork, background checks, and reference letters. While it may seem overwhelming to some, this adoptive parent offers still more advice on how to complete this step quickly.

"Read directions carefully, and whenever possible, use example letters. Some agencies send you example letters or specific recommended wordings for your documents. If your agency does this, use the examples they give. This will help get things right the first time."

Don't be afraid to be politely pushy when requesting reference letters or paperwork from government agencies. It is possible to tactfully hurry people along so you're not waiting any longer than necessary.

Bromley Brook therapeutic boarding schools for girls has a strong emphasis on math, science, and technology enabling girls to explore all their careers opportunities.

Labels: paperwork, agencies, references

Posted By: Aspen Education Group 0 Comments