Each and
every case is handled the same but each and every case will be processed
differently from another. Your case might go through the Family Court process
very quickly only to get bogged down in the PGN court. Another case might be
slowed down in the DNA process while going through the PGN court in record time!
Please be assured that we are monitoring each case on a daily basis. We are
constantly in contact with the attorney to be sure that they are following up on
your case.
The following is a list of the steps for your case. The timelines are estimates
and can be affected by workload, strikes, bad moods and good luck and bad luck.
We will advise you of any significant delays or issues if they occur.
Please remember that in between each step the file needs to be picked up,
logged, re-packaged and then taken to the next step. As a result each step is
not handled the very next day after the previous step. The good news is that
some of the steps can and will be completed, or at least started, at the same
time.
10 STEPS TO YOUR ADOPTION
STARTING YOUR CASE
· Your dossier is sent to the attorney in Guatemala via FedEx.
· The entire dossier is translated into Spanish for the courts.
· The case is presented to the Ministry of External Relations. The Ministry of
External Relations registers the case and certifies all the documents.
· This takes about 2-3 weeks.
DNA TEST
· The attorney submits the Request for the Authorization for the DNA test to be
administered. You must have your INS I-171H to get the authorization.
· The Embassy issues the Authorization for the DNA test.
· The attorney will fax the Authorization to our office.
· We send your Payment Authorization to Labcorp who will process the DNA test
· The lab will send a receipt showing payment to our office
· We send the paid receipt to the attorney.
· The attorney can now make an appointment with one of only three approved
doctors to administer the DNA test.
· This takes about 1-2 weeks.
* note: As of Feb 21 the lines at the Embassy are excessively long. The
established system of each messenger getting a number for the line and being
seen the next day have fallen apart. The big boss from Mexico City (where the
Guate Consualte is overseen) is in Guatemala along with the team from Focus on
Adoption in an effort to get a system in place. As of today we are experiencing
a few week delay on getting new DNA authorizations. We will let everyone know as
soon as the DNA authorizations are being processed again. Right now we think
will take 1-2 weeks from today to get a DNA authorization on all new cases.
· The birth mother and the child will be tested.
· The specimens will be sent to Labcorp via express mail
· The test will be administered.
· This takes about 1 week.
· The results will be faxed to our office. We will email you.
· The certified and notarized results will be sent to the US Embassy in
Guatemala.
· The Embassy will open a case review of the adoption file. They are ensuring
that all of the documents are in order.
· The Embassy will release the case once they are satisfied that all is in
order. This is called the CONSENT
· This takes about 4 weeks.
The Embassy can call the Birth Mother into the Embassy for a personal interview
at any time. They claim that these interviews are done randomly. This will not
stop your case but it will slow it down as the Embassy will not approve the case
to go on until they have had the interview which can take several weeks to
schedule and complete.
FAMILY COURT
· The case will be presented to the Family Court.
· A Social Worker will be assigned to the case.
· The Social Worker will arrange for an interview with the birth mother.
· The Social Worker will arrange for an interview with the foster mother to see
the child.
· The Social Worker will prepare a report for the courts.
· The Family Court judge will approve the case to continue.
· This takes about 5-6 weeks.
Some of the attorneys will tell us when the interview is and others do not. We
are tracking it and following up so as soon as we know, we will let you know.
PROCURADURIA COURT (PGN)
· The case will be presented to the Procuraduria Court (PGN).
· A PGN attorney will be assigned to very carefully review your case file. The
PGN attorney can ask for any additional documentation from the attorney or from
the adopting family. NO information is given out about the case when it is in
PGN until it is either released or sent back for additional information.
· This USUALLY takes about 7 weeks but it can take as long as the PGN attorney
needs. A case can be procesed and appoved in the PGN in as little as 4 weeks or
as long as 4 months. If the PGN attorney requests additional or corrected
information from you, it will delay your case. We are following up on each case
will let you know the moment we hear anything from the PGN about your case- good
or bad.
BIRTH MOTHER SIGNING
· The birth mother will come in to sign off on the final paperwork.
· This takes about 1 week.
BIRTH CERTIFICATE
· Once the case is released from PGN, the Civil Registry where the child was
born will issue a new birth certificate. The name will remain the same with your
last name added to the end. This is the name you will use for the flight
reservation for the child.
· This takes about 1-2 weeks depending on where the original birth
certificate is from. Right now it is taking at least three weeks to get a new
birth certificate for babies born in Guatemala City.
PASSPORT
· A Guatemalan passport will be issued with the new last name of the child.
· This takes about 2-3-4 days. Up until about a month ago it took almost
6 weeks!
FINAL EMBASSY REVIEW
· The entire case is presented to the US Embassy once again for another review
of the case.
· The Embassy will confirm that all of the documents are in order.
· The Embassy will issue a "PINK SLIP" that will authorize the Final Medical
exam.
48 hours not counting holidays, Fridays or lazy days
FINAL MEDICAL EXAM
· The child will go to the INS doctor to get a final review of the medical
records and to be sure that all of the vaccinations are current. This is needed
for the child to get the Visa to travel to the U.S.
2-3 days
**** As of a few months ago the Embassy started setting appointments for the
families to go to the Embassy to do the final paperwork for the Travel Visa.
USUALLY the appt is set for about 6 biz days after the Pink Slip is issued. Once
we have the date for your appt you can make your flight reservations. We will
not not not be responsible for families that guess on their own as to the date
of their appt and make flight reservations that they have to change. Please do
not even talk about having us help you to guess when your appt will be. We have
to simply wait for the Pink Slip to be issued so we can all confirm the date of
your appointment.
TIME TO TRAVEL!!!
· Pack your bags and go to Guatemala!!!!!
this takes about 15 minutes!!!!