Today we are fortunate to have a guest post from adoptee, Pavel Kurecka (born Baby Boy Hartman), who describes his experience in obtaining a passport.

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Unintended Negative Consequences of Adoption – The Passport

There are many unintended consequences in the adoption process. Some are because of misguided positive intentions, some are though a lack of understanding of future needs, some are from hubris, and some happen regardless of good intentions and efforts. These are their stories.

“Passport: Who am I? – The Speed bump at age 35”

The time was in the 1990s, before such time when a U.S. citizen needed a passport to go from the U.S. to Canada or México. I had been to Canada and several US states using my amended birth certificate and my driver’s license without challenge. I thought I was good for travel elsewhere and just needed to apply for a US Passport.

Adoptee reality check!

Background note

I was relinquished in infancy. From birth to about 14 days, I do not know, nor can I be told, what happened to me. From that point my adoptive parents were legally my foster parents and I was legally a ward of the local county Family Court until they could satisfy the “proper parent” requirements. They did and about 13 months after I was born, my birth certificate was altered; my original birth certificate is sealed under court order, and I (now at age 56) cannot have legal access to it. The altered birth certificate is the only one I can have.

My Story

I had been writing to my Czech cousin for many years (it required translation dictionaries), but I finally had the finances for a visit. It was 1994 so I did not need a visa for a family visit stay (30 day limit), but I did need a passport.

Appropriate dual photo – done.

Form with travel intentions – done.

Check to local agency for processing – done.

Check for US Dept. of State – done.

All ready to be approved, right?  If I wasn’t an adoptee, yes.  But …

Six weeks later, I received a denial for my passport. It was because my birth certificate was amended more than one year after my birth date (an action beyond my ability to control). With no access to my original birth certificate, I needed to provide a legitimate, legal reason for the change or my passport would be denied.

A Father’s Love

My adoptive Father was in my apartment when I opened the letter from the government.

Serious background note: My adoptive Father was the best Father I could ever know. He set a standard for how to be a Father that I will never reach.

I read the letter. I was denied a passport because the amendment date on the only birth certificate to which I had legal access was amended more than 12 month after original issue.

I passed it to my Father who read it as well, and he heard me comment how the legal system is against those who are adopted. He hugged me. I assured him it was not his fault (but he probably felt that anyway) and together we were determined how to figure it out.

After many phone calls, it was determined that I needed to contact a social worker in the juvenile court who would then find a Juvenile Court Judge who would write an authorized letter to the U.S. Dept. of State.

The Judge wrote it and six weeks after, I received an official U.S. Passport.

How many of those who have not been adopted would have to go through this?

If you’re an adoptee, have you had difficulty obtaining your U.S. passport?

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