Russian Adoption Diary: Dossier sent off

Tuesday, February 07, 2006

Dossier sent off

We have had some progress this week. We went yesterday and had all of our papers notarized at the bank. My husband then went and picked up the Letter of Recommendation from the Home Study Agency and headed off for the Oklahoma Secretary of State. He spent a few hours there getting our papers apostilled. We found out that Oklahoma is one of the priciest states in the country for apostillization. The average runs $2-$5 per document, usually capped off at $100. We were first told it was $25 per document here. Then they said they had a special adoption rate for Russia, $10 per document. I asked her if it was capped off. She said she didn't know what I was talking about. We had 29 papers apostilled, therefore $290. We'll have another set in a month or two. There are so many extra expenses not covered by the adoption agency fees.

Today we mailed our dossier FedEx Overnight to our agency. They suggested we send it right away because they had someone who could carry it in country this weekend. So, by next week our documents will be in Russian hands. Wow!! If plans all go well, we are hoping to hug our boys for the first time two months from today. All of a sudden, things are in a flurry. We are making several grant applications, hoping for some financial help. We realize that we need to have reserved excitement and take one day at a time. When dealing with 2 governments, there's no telling what could happen.=-) However, time is moving on and the process is continuing. We hear our area is going smoothly with adoptions right now. It's all in God's very capable hands.

posted by 6blessings @ 1:36 PM

4 Comments:

At 7:05 PM, A Room to Grow said…

thanks for sharing your story. it's nice to learn from those in the process.
At 2:24 PM, Jennefer said…

It sounds like you are moving along quickly and are on the home stretch. Keep us updated as your adoption story moves along.
At 4:27 AM, Maggie said…

Congratulations on sending your dossier to Russia. That's an accomplishment and it feels so good when it's done.
At 9:53 AM, kate said…

hi, kim, i'm kate. i'm in the prayerful consideration stage of adopting. i always thought by now (i'm 36) i'd be married with a family. so far, God has left me single. but more and more i'm feeling led to adopt.

i live in st. petersburg, russia. if there's anything i can do to make you feel closer to your boys, just ask!