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I need to send a fax in order to request my daughter's file. I hung up the phone with the person at ICBF before I had a chance to ask, "so how will you respond?" I'm going to have to send the fax thru a place like kinkos. I almost called them back to ask, but i get so nervious speaking spanish on the phone! although I had no problem until the lady on the other end rattled of the fax number. Can anybody verify the fax extention as well? ;) (via private message)
so how will they respond? i'm probably going to have to call back in a few days anyway in order to ask some more questions. My agency said that a lawyer was needed for this, thus we are would have to pay a colombian lawyer. my agency is awesome and is willing to help me. I'm very grateful for thier help, but also wanted to try it on my own at the same time.
I'm just confused on why a lawyer is needed in the first place.
we are planning a trip to Colombia this coming up winter, so i thought about just solicting the file in person. but my agency said that a lawyer was still needed and we wouldn't save any money if we just went and solicted the info.
:rockband:
I just like this smiley!
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I have 2 very important questions: 1- Which regional did you get your child from?2- Which office are you trying to fax? Here is the way we have been getting files that people forgot to ask for while they were in Colombia. First, you do not need to send a fax.Second, you will need to write a letter which is signed by both you and your spouse requesting your child's file. IN the letter you must state the following information: 1. Child's original name2. CHild's new name3. Place and date of child's birth4. Place and date of adoption5. Child's file # with ICBF6. Date child entered ICBF care7. Civil registry # and place where child is registered.8. A legalized photocopy of the Sentencia -_VERY VERY IMPORTANT You must write the letter in Spanish and have it notarized and apostilled. Then, you simply need to give someone power of attorney. YOU DO NOT NEED FOR THIS PERSON TO BE A LAWYER. I know this for a fact as I have gotten someone else's history for them when they gave me a notarized and apostilled power of attorney - and I did it for FREE. These documents need to be taken to the regional office where you picked up your child. You will be required to pay for the photocopies of the file -- and depending on the length -- this could run you $5 -$25 dollars. In my case, I paid for the photocopies and my friend paid me back. I happened to pick up her file while I got my son's file. NO PROBLEMS. I just showed the letter and power of attorney. That was it. No problems. This was at the Bogota regional office. And I know for a fact you don't need a lawyer (NO ONE IN THE COLOMBIAN GROUP HAS NEEDED ONE) if you go there to pick it up yourself. You still need the Letter and the Sentencia though.
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We adopted from Bolivar. I've actually kept in contact with her case worker. So I sent her an email and she told me that the request would have to come for the central office in Bogota which would forward it on to the region. Thus a person from the central (on the phone) told me to fax a request with basically all the above info that you gave me.
So technically, couldn't I get this already, file the request and then pick it up myself while I'm in Colombia?
I absolutely cannot see any reason why not. I even double checked the Lineamiento. No where does it state that this needs to be done by a lawyer. In fact, it states that Adoptive Parents are the ones that must make the request. Also, older cases may be filed already and therefore need for something from National office. But, for people who are planning to go to Colombia shortly, and who are adopting from ICBF, you should plan on returning to the regional office where you picked up your child -- after getting sentencia. Bring the letter I mentioned above (in Spanish), a LEGALIZADO copy of your sentencia, and then request your child's complete file. My son's was 58 pages. It contained a wealth of information on his birthfamily and the cirsumstances that brought him into our family. There is no way I would have missed out on having all of this valuable information.
They changed this after we come home!! (just by a few months)
I was just trying to call the region's main office of ICBF, but they had already closed. (it was just before 5pm)
From what we've been told is that we need to file the request with the office in bogota which will then pass it on to the regional office (not the office that physcially handed us our daughter) and they will photocopy the file.
So technically, I could submit the request 2-3 months in advice (gviven that they told me the entire process would be 1-2 months) and just waltz in and pick it up at the regional office.
this makes the most sense.
I was wondering if maybe there are two different ways to go about this, one from inside and one from outside the country. Because when I called I was asked "from what country?"
So if I said that I was IN colombia, I wonder if would have been different??
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I can see where this may be more complicated. But, it has got to be possible --especially without having to pay a lawyer. I do think it will take a number of follow up calls before you go down there. Files that are over 2 years old ( those having completed their post-placement reports) are put in storage. Where that is -- I have no idea. So, it may take them a while to find it. Hence, the follow-up calls. You may want to look at the Lineamiento and use the words that they use and refer to the document in your letter that requests help from ICBF. PM me with the National ICBF fax # and I will confirm it for you. Also, it would be helpful for you to know who to send the fax to. There are many employees in the office and I sure none of thm are anxious to take on yet another task. So, this too may require follow-up calls. Let me know if I can help.