We are starting a letter campaign to BCIS, the US Embassy and DOS in hopes of clarifying the adoption process for us. We need to get our letters to these officials NOW!!!
Here are the sample letters provided by Maura Meade-Callahan (thanks to her, Hannah and several others who spent a lot of time perfecting these letters):
The DOS letters need to be modified, I will post a link shortly to those (as well as the address to Joe Cuddihy).
BCIS Sample Letter (MS Word document)
Sample Letter to Congressmen (MS Word document)
Position Statement (MS Word document)
BCIS Sample Letter (HTML)
Sample Letter to Congressmen (HTML)
Position Statement (HTML)
There is a letter addressed to Michelle Bernier-Toth at the DOS with a cc to Seve Vann. These should be sent out without additional coverletters, but with a copy of the position statement.
A copy of the position statement with title at the top and reference to the web site at the bottom - this should be sent with all correspondence.
A copy of a letter to Joe Cuddihy at the BCIS. Hannah put this one together specifically to request that the BCIS start processing DNA authorizations for pre-July 1 cases again. This should be sent with copies of the DOS letter and position statement.
A copy of a letter to congressional representatives to let them know what they can do to help us out. This should be sent with copies of the DOS letter and position statement.
FAXING & MAILING: Since security may slow down receipt of letters, please also consider faxing your letters! Faxing, followed up with a phone call, is a good way to make sure the message is received. Members also have "local" offices in their home states/districts, where mail MIGHT get through a little quicker. That's also where "constituent service" staffers are often located. Unfortunately, we don't have a list of those office addresses.
Here are the phone numbers and faxes of our congressmen and congresswomen:
House & Senate Spreadsheet (HTML) (notice the HOUSE and SENATE tabs at the bottom)
**NOTE: I may be adding additional information as needed, so please check back with us!
THANK YOU KELLY MINE ARE DONW
Posted by: RALPH at July 7, 2003 02:36 PMDid I miss an address to forward to Joe Cuddihy @ BCIS??? If so, can you post!
Posted by: Beryl at July 7, 2003 04:26 PMThanks for doing this! Is the DOS letter almost ready?
Thanks
Posted by: Denise Dienna at July 8, 2003 07:49 AMKelly,
We need the address for the BCIS letter.
Comment re: BCIS sample letter
Perhaps the letter's effectiveness can be increased by focusing on the issue over which BCIS has jurisdiction: DNA authorization.
Posted by: Tongue Boy at July 8, 2003 08:49 AMRe: Sample Letter to Congressman
The letter contains this sentence:
"These guidelines were announced on July 1, 2003, but many questions about the new requirements and their application remain (see attached list)."
To which list does the letter refer?
(That is my post above as well. Sorry, but I posted my "fun" pseudonym rather than my name.)
Posted by: Robbin Smith at July 8, 2003 08:52 AMGood catch, Robbin, on the cover letter to Congress. A corrected letter will be posted today, along with the revised letter for the Dept of State and the address for the BCIS letter.
Thanks to all of you for your patience as these letters are finalized.
Posted by: Theresa at July 8, 2003 10:48 AMFor anyone in Connecticut Senator Lieberman's fax number is 860-549-8478 his adoption person is Laura her number is 860-549-8469 The dos has a guatemala person names Ms Doherty she can be reached at 202-312-9689. I will do anything i can do to help I can be reached at rvitale@dfd-cpa.com Thank you Kelly
Posted by: RALPH at July 8, 2003 11:13 AMMy husband and I have not yet begun the adoption process but are ready to start. What sort of letter would we need to write?? Some of the things in the sample letters don't yet apply to us and I don't even understand some of it. Thanks for any input :-) Rose
Posted by: Rose at July 8, 2003 12:19 PMpgn number that actually works 011-502-331-1005 or 1006 ext 326 there is also a direct line 011-502-361-4905 but it has been busy if you are in connecticut congresswomen Delauro fax line is 203-772-2260
thanks
ralph
Posted by: ralph vitale at July 8, 2003 12:59 PMI have made contact with Senator Craig's office, Senator Burn's office, Congressman Rehberg and Congressman Moran. Will continue to contact people.
Posted by: Carri at July 8, 2003 03:39 PMI just read Hannah's message on the list and am now confused. Are we to send the PGN Questions to DOS and our Congressional contacts or hold off including them?
The letters look great! Thanks for all the hard work!
Posted by: Alicia Lewis at July 8, 2003 06:58 PMIn the letter to BCIS there seems to be a typo. The sentance in question is in the third paragraph and is the fourth sentance. On my version it reads, "This, in spite the requirement of authorized DNA testing for an immigrant visa to be granted to adopted Guatemalan children. " What should it say? Prehaps, "This is in spite of the requirement of ...?"
Posted by: Alicia Lewis at July 8, 2003 07:03 PMA clarification of a couple of things Alicia brought up. First, thanks for catching the typo - I'll try to change it, but I just promised Kelly that I sent her the last version - oh well. As for the PGN questions, a consensus has finally been reached (thankfully) that they should not be included with the DOS letter as they are implying that the CA has authority to have made them and to answer them. This is not the case if the US asserts third party status. I sent Kelly new versions of the documents containing reference to the question list (so that no longer appears), but you can just remove the relevant lines from your version and don't send the questions along.
Sorry for the confusion, Maura
Posted by: Maura at July 8, 2003 09:45 PM