Adoption

16/07/2010 in Adoption, British High Commission, India- adoption, Inter-country adoption, Type of document | 1 comment

The MyNotary Network is in the process of preparing an information leaflet – please register your interest by email to admin@mynotary.co.uk  and we will send the leaflet to you as soon as it is ready.

General rules and regulations for Adoption in the United Kingdom.
You must have reached the age of 21 to begin the adoption process. To adopt from a Convention country, (see below) you must have been habitually resident in the UK for at least one year. For other circumstances please request our explanatory leaflet or contact us.

Inter country adoption.
On June 1st 2003 the UK implemented the Hague Convention on protection of children and co-operation in respect of inter-country adoption. This means that there are now three types of adoptions from overseas. They are:-

1. Convention country adoptions,

2. Designated country adoptions

3. Non Convention and Non Designated country adoptions

1. Conventional Adoptions are made between those countries that have contracted into the Hague Convention. Adoption made in a Hague Convention country would be recognised in the UK. British Citizenship is also granted to the child at the time the order is made provided that one of the applicants is a British Citizen and both are habitually resident in the UK

2. Designated. Designated countries are those whose adoption orders are recognised in UK law under the Adoption (Designation of Overseas Adoptions) Order 1973. This recognition does not extend to granting UK citizenship, or to dealing with matters of inheritance, and UK applicants will have to apply for UK nationality on the child’s behalf once they return to the UK.

3. Non Convention and Non Designated. Adoption made in Non Convention and Non Designated countries are not recognised under UK law, and children adopted in these countries have to be adopted again, through a UK Court, once they have lived in the UK for 6 months.

Adoption from India.
On a general note India will only consider your application if:
• The age difference between the adoptive parents and the child is not more than 45 years. This provision may be relaxed in exceptional cases such as older children and children with special needs.
• Single persons up to the age of 45 years can adopt
• The couple should have been married for at least five years to attest for the stability of the relationship except in the adoption of special cases.
• The couple should have a regular source of income, to ensure the future financial stability of the child.

Key Issues with adoption in India.
In the UK, there is a distinct lack of information and support for adoption from India.
Your first challenge is to contact your local authority in which you are resident and engage in producing a “Home Study Report”. The MyNotary leaflet will provide details of the paperwork that needs to accompany your Home Study Report for India. You will need to check with your chosen Indian Placement Agency (RIPA) whether they require any additional information.

Your local authority and the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) are there to help you produce the Home Study Report however; there is minimal knowledge and information with regards to Indian adoption.

Information in India itself around international adoption processes are also scarce, with only limited help available from the Recognised Indian Placement Agency (RIPA) and the Central Adoption Resources Agency (CARA).

Prospective adopters will therefore need to be prepared to undertake much of the work themselves. Furthermore, costs involved in inter-country adoption are very high and include:
• Home Study Report assessment
• Legal fees
• Translation fees
• Agency fees in the country of choice, which can include medical reports, visa and
   passport fees for the child
• Travelling and or accommodation costs abroad

Once in India you have various stages to go through before you can bring your child home. These include:
• Obtaining a court order
• An adoption deed
• Dealing and liaising with the British High Commission
• Exit clearance etc

For more information admin@mynotary.co.uk  we can arrange for you to talk to a specialist – fees apply.

Nurse working in Australia?

16/07/2010 in Australia, Nurse | No comments

Here‘s some helpful information provided by a notarial client who wanted to ‘go freelance’ and work for an agency.  She has gone through the whole process herself just recently.

As of the 1st July 2010 you no longer register with the different states, you now register with The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au

Here are some of the steps to registering with the nursing board out in Australia.

  1. But before you can successfully apply, you need to have passed a three-hour IELTS academic English examination. The exam includes reading, writing, listening and speaking. You need to score 7 or more in each section to pass. You have to have the results of this before you apply to the board. The exam takes 3 hours and will cost you £110.

You will need to plan in advance as it can take a while to book-in for the exam.  And it takes 14 days to get your results – these are supplied directly to you.

2.         Fill in online application form.

3.         You need to get transcripts of your grades, course content and hours sent directly from your education institutes to the board.

4.         You need to get your ID certified and secondary education certificates notarised

5.         You need a full work history from the last 5 years. Stating full/part time hours role, organisation and start/ end dates. All must be on headed paper.

6.         You will need a CV that is up to date and in the format set out on the website.

7.         You must have verification of your registration sent from the NMC (Nursing and Midwifery Council) directly to the board (cost £34) and they must have received your application form before the NMC will send out your details.

Going to work in the UAE or Gulf region?

16/07/2010 in Gulf, Type of document, UAE, birth certificate | No comments

A big attraction of going to work in the Gulf is that there is no income tax and, until 2009, it was seen as an exciting and invigorating place for upwardly-mobile Brits with professional skills. When you are offered a job, the company that employs you probably will process the formalities required for getting you the work permit and this involves initially getting you a residence permit. Before a visa can be granted, you will need all your academic certificates certified by a notary. Note that to make certified copies of birth certificates (any type of certificates with a Crown) the notary will need to see the originals.

The UAE authorities are extremely particular about the documents necessary and, in the absence of even one; this can result in your application being refused. Hence, you should be extremely careful that you have all the documents describe below with you:

1. Passport, which should have at least six months validity.
2. If you are accompanied by your spouse and children each one of them should have a separate passport.
3. There should not be any Israel visa entry on the passport.
4. Marriage certificate if your spouse is accompanying you.
5. If you are a female employee and will have your children staying with you, you will need a letter of consent from the father of the children which is certified, notarised and attested.
6. Notarised copies of your academic certificates.

Please contact your local MyNotary if you need any further information on any Gulf country.

Notarised driving test?

08/08/2009 in Type of document | 1 comment

Having gotten a traffic ticket in the USA I need to take an on-line ‘driving test’ with a notary in attendance. How would I best go about this?