How To Apostille CIS Approval

I797 CIS Approval 

Before we take a look at How to apostille your CIS Approval, here is a little reminder as to what this document is.  

The I-797 is the Approval Letter which USCIS will issue upon approving your home study.  It is basically a one page approval letter that says you are approved by the US standards as favorable candidate(s) for international adoption.  In your case, it will approve you for Bulgarian international adoption.  

This is an important document because, per Hague Standards, for the protection of the children, both the US and Bulgarian governments are involved in the process in order to oversee that all rules and regulations and requirements for the protection of the children are being met.  This CIS Approval letter is the US side of your approval.  It is an important part of your dossier, which will go onward to the Bulgarian government’s Central Authority for the next steps of the adoption process.  

If you would like to learn more about the CIS Approval Process, you can read more here.   If you like to read more about the forms, you can click here.

What To Do With the Affidavit and Notary?

Copy and past the affidavit and the notary oath from below on the back of the copies (2) of the CIS approval.  You can describe the document as “USCIS Approval”.  Sign it before a notary.  Notary notarizes your signature.  Twice.  Once for each of the copies you made of the original CIS approval (which has been stored away at a safe place).  

AFFIDAVIT

This is a true, complete and accurate copy of the ____Describe Here: For Example: “USCIS Approval Letter”____

____________________________

Printed Name Here (singed above)

The most often approved oath across state, which is also descriptive enough to be approved follows.  However, before worrying about Bulgaria, we must first meet your state’s requirements.  From the top of my head, I know that CA and FL have different requirements.  Its best to check with you local notary to make sure the following example is good.  If you have any doubts about that, let us know and we’ll work together to get it right.  

State of_________________________

County__________________________

I, ______________________________________________________________________

A Notary Public for said County and State, do hereby certify that

________________________________________________________________________

Personally appeared before me this day and acknowledged the due execution of the foregoing instrument.

Witness my hand and official seal, this  _____day of month__ year_________.

……………………                         __________________________________________

(Official seal)                                  Signature of Notary Public

My Commission Expires: day_______, month_______, year__________.