When you start looking into international adoption, you will quickly begin to hear the word “dossier” being thrown around quite a bit. It may catch your interest or you may just dismiss it as one more part of this confusing world that is adoption. However, if you are adopting internationally, the dossier is about to become a big part of your life.
Your dossier (pronounced “doss-e-aye”) is the group of documents that you have to put together in order to begin your international adoption process. Depending on the country, the requirements are different, but most dossiers do have some common elements. You will need a home study, original copies of your birth certificates, marriage certificates, divorce certificates, etc. Often you also need letters from your doctors to prove that you are mentally and physically able to parent a child. You may also need police clearance letters or other background checks.
Beginning your dossier can be overwhelming and I won’t lie to you – it is a challenge. There are so many details to observe and so many requirements for each document, that it can seem like an impossible task. However, after having completed ours, there are a few things that I have picked up that will hopefully help you as you compile your dossier.
Stay Organized
The best idea I have heard is to get one of those expandable files and use it strictly for the dossier. You can mark each segment with the title of a document, or you can put them in groups such as “completed documents” and “documents that need to be notarized”. The more you keep things together, the easier it will be as the papers begin to pile up.
Be Through
Pay strict attention to what your agency or facilitator says when it comes to each document. You will probably get a packet of papers with detailed instructions. Be sure that you do exactly what they say. If you don’t understand, then contact your agency to clarify. It is important that your dossier be done correctly in order to avoid delays later on in your adoption process.
Stay Calm
You will probably feel rushed to finish your dossier. We began compiling ours after we got Erick’s referral, so we had the added pressure of knowing that he was growing up in Guatemala and we were missing precious time with him. Even though you may feel in a hurry, make sure that you don’t allow yourself to become frazzled with all of the paperwork. Take time to enjoy your family and the things that you normally do. In time, you really will complete the dossier and be finished with this vital step towards bringing your child home.