So we have a praise report. When adopting kids within Mexico, there are various hoops you have to jump through. It is not one decree from a judge. We have found that every step is difficult. For example, we went to Ensenada to try to get Gee and Brenda's Mexican passports. They are required to obtain them to initiate any type of visa or citizenship application in the United States. So, when we arrived with all the necessary paperwork, they informed us that because Brenda's birth certificate does not have two last names on it, she cannot get a Mexican passport. In Mexico, you are required to have both your father's and your mother's last names. So Levi, who was born in Guadalajara, is named Levi Andrew Joseph Clark Clark. So what can we do? It was a judge who ordered Brenda to have a new birth certificate done. Do we go back to the original office that issued her birth certificate? The lady suggested we go to Mexicali because it is a different office. The one in Ensenada is only a branch of the one in Tijuana. Tijuana is a huge city, so the office there has a lot of people and longer wait times.
So, we made our way to one of the two offices in Mexicali, a 2-hour drive east of us. We arrived at the office with all the paperwork necessary. We made a payment to the bank for a 6-year passport. The gentleman from the office said we needed to come back tomorrow. We felt good about it. They hadn't said no. The next day, there was no mention of Brenda only having one last name. Only they couldn't proceed because they needed a copy of the adoption decree that was less than 6 months old. The one we had was a little over two years old. So, we headed back home and waited for our lawyer to obtain a current copy of the adoption. So we went back to Mexicali to the main office. Brenda turned in the paperwork. We waited, but again they said we had to come back tomorrow. We aren't holding our breath, but we started making plans for what to do next if they do not give Brenda her passport. We were talking about heading back to Jalisco and trying to accomplish it there. However, that requires a plane trip and other expenses, which would be costly. We decided to jump over that bridge when we get there. So we asked Sam, our nephew, who is dating Brenda, if he would drive her the next day. Sit in the car for 4 hours with your girlfriend, why not? So with eager anticipation, we waited to see if they would issue her the passport. They issued her the passport!!! This means we can begin the process of obtaining a visa or citizenship for her in the US. It is just one step we need to accomplish so our whole family can travel within the US.
Now, if we can complete Erick and Bryan's adoptions, Lord willing, this will happen soon.
So, we made our way to one of the two offices in Mexicali, a 2-hour drive east of us. We arrived at the office with all the paperwork necessary. We made a payment to the bank for a 6-year passport. The gentleman from the office said we needed to come back tomorrow. We felt good about it. They hadn't said no. The next day, there was no mention of Brenda only having one last name. Only they couldn't proceed because they needed a copy of the adoption decree that was less than 6 months old. The one we had was a little over two years old. So, we headed back home and waited for our lawyer to obtain a current copy of the adoption. So we went back to Mexicali to the main office. Brenda turned in the paperwork. We waited, but again they said we had to come back tomorrow. We aren't holding our breath, but we started making plans for what to do next if they do not give Brenda her passport. We were talking about heading back to Jalisco and trying to accomplish it there. However, that requires a plane trip and other expenses, which would be costly. We decided to jump over that bridge when we get there. So we asked Sam, our nephew, who is dating Brenda, if he would drive her the next day. Sit in the car for 4 hours with your girlfriend, why not? So with eager anticipation, we waited to see if they would issue her the passport. They issued her the passport!!! This means we can begin the process of obtaining a visa or citizenship for her in the US. It is just one step we need to accomplish so our whole family can travel within the US.
Now, if we can complete Erick and Bryan's adoptions, Lord willing, this will happen soon.
