(Posted with permission from Susana Luarca, Attorney at Law).
Dear Friends,
I am glad to inform you that the PGN is working normally. The director Merida - we still do not know whether he will stay, go back to Congress or go to jail - is signing non stop. Today, a long line of lawyers resubmitted all the cases that were rejected for non compliance with the Hague Convention, and the PGN lawyers are working on them. One of them said that they do not want problems, so they will give the required opinions.
At the US Embassy, many lawyers presented new cases. The only limit is that each lawyer may present only four cases, to give chance to the others to submit their documents too.
At the French Embassy things have not changed. They never stopped accepting cases, but it was in France where the adoptions of the children who were already there with their permanent families, were not admitted for registration. "But now that everything is back on track, the Ministry will admit the adoptions", told me the person I talked to.
The UK embassy is going back to the private system, where the adoptive parents dossier is given to the Guatemalan lawyer by the UK consul to work on the adoption.
If the PGN does not attempt any other stalling tactic, we can tell you that all children whose adoptions were rejected for Hague Convention reasons will not be home by Christmas, but in time to dress up for Halloween!
Best regards,
Susana Luarca, Attorney at Law
I can't beleive it...thanks all of you.Hopefully you were there to help us only by giving us hope ...we all love you
How will this affect those of us waiting for DNA and PGN approval...timetable for us?
Posted by: TA at September 16, 2003 05:50 PMDear Susana,
Thank you once again for everything that you have done. We appreciate it more than you could ever know. Just one question, though, you stated that the lawyers were only allowed to present 4 cases to the US Embassy to give others a chance. Does that mean 4 cases per day? What does that mean?
Dear Susana,
What does that mean for the cases waiting for DNA approval and to enter into PGN? What timetable to give those cases?
Posted by: John at September 16, 2003 05:55 PMDear Susana,
Thank you so very much for your passion and keeping us updated with this news. We have had our referral since February 3rd, and we went into PGN May 6th. Last week we learned that our case had been returned by PGN to our attorney (along with the rest of his cases). Our agency said that this was the case with the other attorneys that they work with as well. What does this new development mean to us?
Posted by: Bud & Claire at September 16, 2003 06:20 PMDear Susana,
First, we would like to whole heartedly thank you so very much for all of the updates. This website has been our light throughtout the dark days of not knowing what was happening and through the confusion. Our case is a post March 5th but a pre July 1st. We just found out last week that our case was out of Family Court and is now in PGN. Our question is, Do you think we will get to celebrate a Happy Halloween or even a very Thankful Thanksgiving with our daughter? Once again, THANK YOU, for your hard work and dedication to all of us.
Kelly- - Thank you for your hard work in keeping up this website. Your updates and news have been a blessing to us. I really can't express into words how you have and are helping us get through the adoption of our daughter. THANK YOU!!!! We know that through a lot of PRAYERS and this website, we will be able to get through this!!
Thanks so much Susana. You give us all a little bit of hope with your post. Thanks for all of the support and I will keep all of the families in our daily prayers as we all go through this together.
Posted by: Annie at September 16, 2003 09:23 PMDear Susana,
Thank you very much for your informative web-page. It is the most up-to-date place we can find information on the changing situation in Guatemala. We accepted a referral back in November and went into PGN on May 5th. So our case is complete (DNA, family court, etc.). Our case is therefore a pre-March 5th case and is still in PGN. Can you indicate if or when these cases will be finished? Are they trying to get the backlog of these cases done first?
Much appreciated,
Bob and Joselle
Posted by: Bob and Joselle at September 17, 2003 12:44 AM First and foremost let me thank all of those who have and continue to work so hard to help keep us informed this site is wonderful
One question Susanna please; many seem to have gotten messages form agencies reporting that PGN is returning files. Can this be verified and if so what can those families do. This has become a bittersweet day for me as I am among those being told this. I am happy for all those in PGN and pray for the quick homecoming of so many babies,yet do not understand such a vast difference in reports. PLEASE help me understand as I am now sick with fear for my case.
Thanks you for your many kindnesses thoughtout this long process.
mk
Dear Susanna and Kelly..,
You are both angels from heaven and childres advocates..Thank God for both of you..reading Susanna's news, brought tears of joy.Finally our dreams are comming true..Finally our son will be comming home ..Again THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF ALL OUR HEARTS..YOU LADIES ARE A GIFT FROM HEAVEN....THANK YOU ..THANK YOU...
Message to MK - When did you go back in to PGN and when was your file returned? Trying to help figure out what's going on. We were supposedly re-entered yesterday.
-Denise
Our case is pre-March 5th. Has anyone heard anything on how pre-March 5th cases will be handled?
I must say that this website has been invaluable to us over the past five months that our case has languished at the PGN. Keep up the awesome work.
B&V
Posted by: B & V at September 17, 2003 11:45 AMWe are at the DNA process, how much longer until we get our babies?
Posted by: Sandy at September 17, 2003 02:38 PMIf the Hague has been ruled unconstitutional - isn't the designation of pre-March 5 and post-March 5 a "wash"? If there is no treaty, there should not be pre and post, correct?
Posted by: Maravore at September 17, 2003 06:09 PMI only just became aware of this site last week, and think what you are doing to help us gain info. is so great. Mine is a pre-march 5 case...my daughter was born Dec. 12, 2002...been in pgn since march...no word of the file being returned or rejected. I supposedly wasn't effected by the Hague, but of course was. Should I assume there is a possibility of freedom soon for my daughter? Thanks for your opinion.
Posted by: mb at September 17, 2003 07:23 PMIf the situation has changed for the positive, as stated, why are the large adoption agencies not accepting applications for Guatemala? Is it because it is so new that they have not updated their websites? Or are they being careful?
Posted by: Katrina at September 17, 2003 09:24 PMWe have been waiting along with all the other parents and grandparents, and with this latest information are beginning to feel hopeful. God bless you for keeping us informed, and God bless these babies who are waiting to come home to loving families.
Let's all pray that our days of worry, anxiety and confusion are about to end with the joyful arrival of these very loved children.
Posted by: grandma delray at September 17, 2003 11:56 PMHas anyone else been told that their case has been out of PGN somewhere but noone knows where?Can anyone give me Susan's email? I can't get answers and I don't know to panic or rejoice.
Thanks,
Pam
What does all this mean for pre-March 5th cases. We have been kicked out of PGN four times. Our daughter is 18 months old now and was 3 weeks old at referral.
Posted by: Gwen at September 18, 2003 08:23 AMWe are a pre 3/5 case who was released by the PGN on 9/10/03 after 2 denials. Our daughter is 14 months old today and we are praying to have her by her 15 month birthday. Our problem is with the BCIS. Due to these delays, our I171H is set to expire on 9/22/03. We recognized this fact back in July and resubmitted a new I-600a to be in place when the old one expires. I must admit that the BCIS was not very helpful in giving us the guidelines for resubmission(although their web-site says that they have an expediting service) We tried to submit in person but were told that they only receive them by mail. After 5 weeks of no response we contacted our Conressmans office to intercede since BCIS Never answers their phone. On 9/5 we were told that due to a backlog we had been delayed in being reentered into the system and that it was now done and it should take 2 months for approval. We have since contacted our Senators office seeking expedition of our approval due to the fact that we should be ready for travel by early October. We are awaiting their reply. If anyone out there has any suggestions on other avenues we can pursue please let me know. It would be a shame, after fighting the Guatemalan government to be delayed by our own!!! My advice to all waiting cases is be patience. Many of us have waited over a year to bring our children home. Good luck to all.
Thanks
Posted by: PN at September 18, 2003 12:21 PMWe were matched with our little girl who was preciously declared abandoned since last December 2002. We are currently held up in the courts and have been since our court date on August 28th. What is going on--she is an abandoned child and has been for over a year. We were told the court process would be maximum three weeks after court date and just yesterday our lawyer was told to come back next Wednesday just like she has been being told--is there not something that can be done? We will miss Christmas for sure as we have the PGN next and our hearts are breaking--she was to be home in June! Is this appropriate for an abandoned child--is this ever really going to happen. What if anything can be done??
Thanks for anything anyone can do to advise us and thanks Susana for your updates!
Wendi