Today's lesson

So I have received word from the agency that we are now aiming for the 24th and Oksana (our Russian coordinator) is flying into Uzbekistan this weekend to get The Letter on Monday. She was proposing we try for court on the 18th, but that would mean flying to Russia this weekend before we have The Letter in hand and both my agency and us said That Ain't Gonna Happen.

So the agency director called today to clarify document status since the Russians are asking for updated copies and my regular dossier consultant is on vacation. I was scanning in the apostilles and updated docs I've obtained this summer and noticed that one of the police clearance forms I drove down to Austin with last week is certified and not apostilled. Three got apostilles...one got certified. The certification looks different and does not say "apostille" on it and that won't fly in Russia. I need certifications for China, and I have both China and Russia on my account with the Secretary of State's office, so I don't know...maybe Ms. Garcia (I know her by name now) hit the wrong option and in any case, that one needs to be redone.

I called and they will make an exception and expedite it for me if I send it in with a cover letter explaining the mistake. HALLELUJAH! All I could think about was another drive to Austin for this one document and folks, that might just put me over the edge.

So in summary, the lesson today for Prospective Adoptive Parents is: double check all of your apostilles. You wouldn't think you'd have to, since they are uber careful with them, but take the paper clip off and check every one of them, every time. This is not a surprise I could have handled from Russia two days before court...