California is a beautiful state! I have many great memories from the state. I lived there for 16 years. It was the state where I met my husband. It was the state where I went to college. It was the state where my first 3 children were born. It was the state where I got married. And this is where things get sticky.
All started well when we began the paperwork process again. Mind you, I have put together 2 dossiers in the last 21 months. Therefore, this time around, it should be a piece of cake. I estimated that it would take me about 30 to turn this new dossier out. Of course, nothing can be used from the last dossier since Russia doesn't want documents submitted that are more than 3 months old. Also, a notary's commission can not expire for at least 12 months at the time they sign your documents. I have this down...
I planned well. To date, I have completed 81 of the necessary 84 documents. They are original documents or copies w/ affidavits, they are certified or notarized & finally they are apostilled from the state where the document originated from. This is where California tests my patience.
I needed 3 certified copies of our marriage certificate & then needed an apostille for each from the Secretary of State. Easy enough, right? I knew this would be the item that would take the longest time. I sent for the certified copies on June 27th... Waited. ..Waited. ..Called on July 9th. Documents received, but not processed.. Waited. Waited. They finally arrive back to me on July 16th. We FedEx them the same day to the Secretary of State. Their website says that apostilles usually take 3-5 business days to process. We waited. Waited. Prayed. Waited & prayed. Called on July 23rd. Do they know its the fifth business day? I'm certain they do, I'm just double checking :) What? You have got to be kidding me!! I am told that today, July 23 rd, they are processing mail from July 9th. Tomorrow they may still be processing July 9th's mail. Do I want to talk to a supervisor? Oh yeah! The supervisor says that they can not go pick through July 17th's mail to find my FedExed item & process it. :( But, if I come in person, they will process it while I wait. Really. She estimates that in 5 to 10 business days they will be processing the mail that contains my documents.
So, here I sit, at the Denver airport. A glass of wine & a hummus plate while I wait to board my plane to Cali. I will go, in person, to get new certified copies of our marriage certificate. Then, I will go, in person, to get each an apostille. There are many conclusions I can come to w/ the events of the day. Apparently, they miss my smiling face SO much that they want me to come & redo the paperwork in person...that's what I'm going with! I have a choice w/ every event that occurs in my life. How will I react?
What it comes down to in the end is that there are 2 little children, waiting in an orphanage in Russia. They are waiting for paperwork to be processed. I said I could have this paperwork turned around in 30 days...Today is day 30. Tomorrow this last piece will be sent. So I guess that makes it 31...oh well :) California, here I come! Documents 82, 83& 84 will be done!
