We don't even know when we entered, as our agency has not had an update, and we are nervous about it taking soooo long. We haven't heard anyone exit since the end of March. Help! Let's hope it is newbieness, the holidays, or just a backlog of cases.

Our case was submitted to PGN and then a problem was found and as far as we know the attorney corrected the problem and resubmitted several weeks ago. Does anyone have any information on how long things are taking. Just a few weeks ago it seemed like 18-20 days was average now I read this information and it is upsetting as I am sure it is for everyone. If anyone knows anything please post. Thanks

I had a friend who exited the week before Easter, so people are getting out. I also heard that when people are re-submitted they are trying to get them out within two weeks of re-submission. Emphasis on trying.

We've been in since April 3rd - and nothing. I, too, hope it is just a matter of settling in and getting all the "ducks in a row" and nothing else.

I wonder, though, if there is a flood of exits, how will this effect processing at the Embassy then? Won't there be a backlog there all of a sudden?

Is there anything that a group of us could do to encourage faster movement of cases?

L

I have been in PGN since February 8th. My case is being investigated in the Minor's Court section because my birthmother is under age. They are supposed to complete the investigation in 30 working days. At the end of April when the 30 days were up, my attorney was told they were
extremely shorthanded and needed more time. I think the combination of a new head of PGN, staff changes, the Easter holiday, as well as new rules regarding minor birthmothers, has caused a huge backlog.

I posted this info on another site. Recent update from my agency indicated that the new head of PGN wants to review each case before he signs. This has caused a significant slow down. The attorneys in Guatemala (union, group?) wrote a letter to the head of PGN asking for this to change due to the disruption and lack of movement his additional review has caused in the process.

It seems as if there is no end in sight to the delay. Our case was submitted mid-February. I have heard so many rumors about what is going on but nothing has been substantiated. If the new director is going to check every case - who knows how long any one of us will wait before we get our news...
diane

My case was originally submitted to PGN in mid January 2006. One previo was issued due to a second POA.
My case was back in PGN as of early March , with no word yet. The wait gets harder each day when you know your child is now 15 months old and still in Guatemala. She was less than a month old when I first received her information. It is disheartening to re-do documents as they had passed the one year mark. Now to re-do fingerprints before they expire -it makes it feel as if there is no end in sight. What can we do to help this process along, besides -wait?

I hear you all talk about being in PGN so long and it makes me even more worried about how long this process is going to take. We are stuck in getting our DNA authorization and have been waiting for 3 months. Meanwhile, our baby is growing every day! If only the government would place it's emphasis on getting children settled permanently as QUICKLY as possible.

Can the head of PGN stop adoptions? It is my undertanding that he recently made a public statement that may not be supportive of adoption.
The statement said that if the Guatemalan government does not stop adoption he will. Is this accuarate and legally possible.

I have been in PGN since July of 2005!!! We were kicked out once because of lack of some Guatamalan paperwork and went back in on February, 2006. Is there anyone out there who might have some information on why this is taking so long??? Our son was 2 and 1/2 when we started and will soon be 4!!

Our case was submitted to the PGN a while ago. We were told it should only take 2 weeks there. Well, needless to say, we passed 2 weeks some time ago and we're wanting to see our son again! Is there any news from anyone as to how long it is taking?

The PGN only can do what the lawyers who handle adoptions let them do. The legal resources that we have filed in the past, have kept the system running and they know it. Adoptions are constitutionally protected and so is the work of the notaries.

On Wednesday, twenty five lawyers went to PGN to talk to the head of the section that reviews adoptions, Victor Hugo Barrios Barahona. He was out of the office, but he communicated later with the president of ADA and offered to meet with two of the lawyers this coming week.

Probably as a result of that, files are starting to be released.

The Attorney General, Mario Estuardo Gordillo Galindo, has expressed his request that the Congress approves the Hague Convention and the adoptions law pushed by UNICEF. Congress is breaking up for recess in a week, and with so many pressing matters on the table, it is highly unlikely that they will do so.

The current authorities of the PGN are temporary. In a few days they could be confirmed by President Berger for a period of four years, We trust that if they are confirmed, we can reach an agreement with them that will allow children to join permanent families in a timely manner.

For those who are waiting, time is endless, but keep in mind that the PGN can delay it, but they can’t deny it. If they do, a Judge can reverse the ruling of the PGN, so theirs is not the last word.

Susana Luarca,
Association Defenders of Adoption

Susana,

Thank you so much for sharing this information,
it makes the wait a bit easier. And thank you for all your work on behalf of precious children in need of families-

Sincerely,
Connie

Thanks Susana for your encouragement. My husband and I credit Susana for helping bring our first son home. We were caught in the Hague mess with our first son. He had turned one before we brought him home. You think it will never end. Many tears were shed. He is a true blessing.

We are now in PGN waiting to bring home our second son. He has just turned 7 months old.

Susanna keep fighting for these children they deserve it. Please know that there are many parents behind you and willing to do their part to help.

Robin Prewitt
Lexington, KY

Thank you Susana for the information. It is always helpful to be given information that can put some rumors to rest. Your work is greatly appreciated. K. Miller

Suzanna:
Your words bring relief in that they come from you, and you are there and see/hear what is going on.
This wait is interminable. I hope that the attorneys continue to speak up and meet with the officials responsible for these delays. It can only help to keep the process from coming to a standstill as it was throughout the entire month of April.
I look forward to hearing more, seeing more news.
Diane

We took our first visit to Guatemala the week before Christmas 2005. We held Santos as he was 4 mos old then. We were told he be home in February 2006. It is now May 9 and he will be 9 mos old soon. First we were told our case was held by the U.S.,now in the PGN. This our first adoption and the wait is exhausting.Is there someone else besides our agency director to turn to? Thanks S.Seleznow

Thanks Kelley for answering our cry so quickly. Thou not happy, we can rest alittle easier and hopefully Santos will be home soon. Thanks S.Seleznow

As of yesterday, our agency alone had 8 cases leave PGN approved. So it may have slowed down for a little bit due to the new attorney general, but it looks as if it may start to pick up again. Let's all hope so.

Has anyone heard anything about the meeting, if the two lawyers had that meeting in Guatemala.Or has anyone heard if things are going to go back to naormal in the pgn.

Kelly M what agency are you with?

The meeting was positive. It was the first time that the new authorities of the PGN accepted to talk to the adoption lawyers. The PGN admitted that they were waiting for Congress to aprove again the Hague Convention, and that was why they were not releasing the files. Because Congress will not approve the Hague Convention, the PGN will be releasing the files within the next days.

We are confident that the Hague Convention will not be approved again, because to do so would be illegal and the congressmen know it, but in just in case, we are poised to use all the legal actions that the situation requieres, in order to allow the children of Guatemala to find permanent homes.

Susana Luarca

I recently sent an email to the Joint Council on International Children's Services (www.jcics.org)in regards to the slow down processes at the PGN. Maybe if they get several emails from families, they would be willing to look into the issues. Especially from families who have been in there for an extended period of time. Their email address is: jcics@jcics.org. I would highly suggest an email from all concerned families.
KM

Susana,
Dee posted on May 4 that the new PGN director wants to review each case before he signs. Does this mean that a section chief initially signs and approves the adoption, then it is submitted to the new director and he will reread EACH homestudy? If so, that will take soo long? Am I interpreting that correctly?
Also, please tell us if a section chief approves an adoption, can the new PGN director deny the adoption?

Maybe I do not understand the situation very well but here is my question anyway. Would the issue with the US stopping adoptions with Guatemala be solved if Guatmala officially withdrew from the Hague? I realize that they do not believe they are signators but is anyone making any comments to this effect. It seems to me that it could ensure that Guatemalan children will still be able to find their forever families in the US.

Cathy - I think its the first question everyone asks. But there are a few problems with thinking that this will solve it.

1 - What about the other countries which the Hague could affect?
2 - DOS is already in a position to allow adoptions even if the Hague is passed by objecting to Guatemala's accession (which is much easier than Guatemala withdrawing from something they were never legally a part of!). DOS has no intention of objecting, so that tells me that their intention is to cease the current adoption system. I suspect that they would refuse to work with Guatemala even if Guatemala withdrew.
3 - It is no secret, that several countries have been pressuring Guatemala to become Hague compliant. I am SURE, SURE, SURE that this is also the US who is in the midst of becoming Hague compliant themselves!

If PGN actually STOPPED signing off adoptions because they were "anticipating" the Hague...you can imagine the disaster that would ensue from the Hague being passed there....no forethought as to HOW things would be implemented, nor when it should be implemented (as it is not fair to current families in process to hold up their cases until the government gets their act together!!!!). I think this action cements the theory that they are not in a position to effectively implement something that would pacify our government without harming the very children its intended to protect!

IMO, and I would hope that Susana corrects me if I am overstated this.....we need to show everyone that the Hague is not the end-all solution for every problem....it is a FEEL-GOOD policy that saves OUR US government some money and puts DOS in charge of something they are understaffed, inefficient and unqualified to handle!!!

The agency that we are with is Commonwealth Adoptions Intl.

S. Seleznow,
Just want you to know we are feeling the same painful wait as you - we visited our son at 3 mos around Thanksgiving, and he will be 9 months soon. We were also told February-March we would be bringing him home.
After reading posts on this site and many others, it seems that no one really knows what is going on. If there is truly something we can do to speed the process along, I'd love to know what it is...
Tracy

I am being held up for the birth certificate. I have now been waiting 6.5 weeks post PGN. Is anybody else stuck at this stage and know why? Thanks. Claire

Can anyone give some helpful time frames for PGN in the last few weeks?

We got our decree today. We went into PGN 4/11
and decree was dated 4/18. It was signed 5/15
So things are moving forward

Does anyone have any idea on how long it takes once you go into PGN and then go back in after they have requested information from the attorney. We went in on April 10th then went back in on May 5th.

Thanks B Bormann

Is anyone coming out of PGN? Just wondering how things are moving out there, and if things seem to be improving for all those who have been waiting.

I wanted to let everyone know that things are happening in pgn. We went in on April 10th were out May 15th. Just today I found out birth certificate and passport hav been issued. I've also seen quite a few families on some of the boards I am on getting out.
Hope that news helps some of you
Cathie

It is great to see folks coming out of PGN. I am very happy for those of you.... but, I notice that SO many of the "outs" are April "ins" and I just don't get it! I went in in Feb., was previoed in March and again by the new director on May 4. Went back in on May 5 and have heard NOTHING! How can those of us who went in months ago, there are many other Jan. and Feb. "ins" who are not yet out, STILL be waiting..... again, I am happy for those exiting but don't understand the "order" of his readings and approvings... can anyone shed light on this?

Janice -

Before I make this comment, understand that I am not defending PGN or commenting on the case. But the reality is that PGN is not a first in, first out process. If the reviewer does not like something, then its held up and/or kicked out with a Previo. There is a good chance that yours was "held" like everyone else's because of the anticipation of the Hague along with the delays of the kickouts.

Besides, previos can be easy or they can be complex matters that take weeks and some have taken months to straighten out.

But just like any other time in the history of Guatemalan adoptions (at least since I've been watching), there are cases that are going to get "stuck" in PGN longer than others.

Hang in there!

I am one of those people who have been stuck in PGN since December 2005 and Family Court prior to that for about 4 months. My file has never been kicked out just investigated time and time again. I have given up on understanding and expecting things to work in a normal fashion. One of these days I will get out and it will be one of the best days of my life!!

Hi Janice,
I'm right there with you. We entered in March, the end, and I was wondering the SAME thing. I get very discouraged and cry, especially when friends of mine are in and out in no time AND we have heard NOTHING about being kicked out. I call the agency thinking it's them, and it's not. I have been told to just hang in there, she will come out. My prayers and thoughts are with you. Maybe we will go down at the same time. God Bless
Michelle

Is it safe to email the embassy on the status of your PGN case? Just wondering because I have heard rumors that actually emailing them could be detrimental to your case...incorrect info, paperwork being lost, etc. Has anyone emailed the embassy to ask the status of their PGN?
According to my agency, I am not out of family court yet, but 2 days ago I received my "pre-approval" notice, dna release. Wouldn't I be in PGN now and out of Family Court?

We are adopting two non-related babies from Guatemala. We just got pre-approval on one baby and should get the other by next week. I have been reading that things are speeding up in PGN, but what is the average time frame now for families? Also have you heard if it is still very slow when you are adopting two at the same time? Our paperwork should be coming out of family court next week.

Vicki,
You would not necessairly be in PGN and out of Family Court just because you received your DNA release. Also, I don't think it would benefit you to email the embassy regarding the PGN. The embassy is for matters/processes on the american side, PGN is for the process on the GU side, so I don't think one would have to do with the other. If I were you I would start harping on your agency to get some answers. I truly believe the cases move according to how good & demanding the lawyer is. How long did it take for you to get your pre-approval? Is that your visa pre approval, or is it your dna pre approval??
KM

Can anyone tell me how they found out the exact date you went into PGN? Were you told by your agency or were you notified in a different way? I was only told the month we went into PGN by the agency and it sounded a bit like a guess. I believe we've been in since February. It seems the more I harp for info, the less of a response I get. We try to remain positive but things are really beginning to feel sort of hopeless.

Can anyone who recently received their child's visa pre approval from the embassy give me an estimate of how long it took to get the visa?

Sarah posted about adopting two non-related children and one getting through the US Embassy and one not. We are in the same situation. The older child(14 months old) was approved through the Embassy on May 11th. I am not getting an answer when the younger child will be approved and what the hold up us. Does this happen very often when you are adopting two children? We have held the older one back into entering the PGN as we only want to travel once? What would your advise be on workign with the agency, or should I inquiry directly with the embassy?

Hi Kelly,
We received our DNA results via email on 4/21.
Then, I received the "preapproval notice" from Guatenotices.Donotreply@dhs.gov, which my agency said was for the "DNA release". But what is confusing me is that my agency said I 'm still in family court, and when I get out I can immediately go into PGN w/ no waiting since the DNA release aka "preapproval notice" is done.
This still sounds correct to you?
Thanks!!!

We also are adopting two unrelated children. Our daughter (6 months old) went into pre-approval 5 days before our son (22 months old), we just received pre-approval for our son friday, but no word on our daughter. Our agency contacted the embassy one week ago and still no word. We too want to make only one trip, but our son's case still needs to clear family court and have the social worker appointment. Can you hold one case up to only make one trip? Can PGN speed up one case to get them together? We are praying that our son's pre-approval is a blessing in disguise that we can bring them home together.
Jenny

Any there any single woman adopting out there who have a timeframe as to how long it takes to get out of PGN? Also, does the age of a minor birth mother slow down the process?

carol

I am a single woman adopting a baby girl. I am in PGN and have been there since May 4th. Unfortunately I have no idea how long PGN takes. I was just in Guatemala for a visit and I heard so many different stories. One family was in PGN 12 days and another was there 6 months. I wish I knew the answer but I dont.

How do you find out the exact date you went into PGN?

Our agency got the exact date we entered in to PGN from our attorney's office.

We have been in PGN since around March 20th and we do not know anymore today than we did the day we went in. When we ask questions to our agency they tell us just be patient. We have had apparently no kickouts, no corrections, and we are still there after 11 weeks. I asked our agency to contact our attorney to see what stage we are in and she said all they will tell him is if we are still in. We would love to know something soon, we wonder if our paperwork is lost. Steph

We have been in PGN since the first part of Feb 06. I cant believe how long this is taking. We also receive minimal information from our agency. I do wonder if a group of us could do anything, would it be appropriate and how would we go about it?

Hi all,
I for one would love to do something as a group if we could...(in response to Paula). We have been in PGN since the end of April with no word. Our agency tells us nothing. Does anybody out there love their agency? We need a new one for the next adoption. I will NOT use the one I'm using now. Any update on how long PGN is taking?
Thanks,
Suzanne

Per our facilitator, it is taking approximately 8 weeks once you are in PGN. Our paperwork arrived in June and we are waiting to begin the process.

I've been to Guatemala to visit our duaghter two times now and will return again in June for a third visit. During those visits, since everyone at the hotel is there for the same reason (adoption) we have a lot of "gab" sessions. I've heard plenty of great news and great time frames coming out of the Carolina Adoption Agency in Greensboro, NC. If I go through a second round of adopting, I am highly considering using that agency -- or none at all-- I'm building up my contacts in Guatemala with each visit in hopes that perhaps I can skip the american agency and just go through the lawyer. We'll see. Check out the Carolina Adoption Agency in Greensboro NC.

PS Our case entered PGN April 30 (were notified by our agency of date) we are adopting a six year old girl.

We have adopted from Guatemala 3 years ago and would like to do it again but keep hearing difficult stories about the trouble the program is having-- should we seek a diffrent country and if not what is a realistic time frame for adopting from Guatemala?

is possible for banks and bankers, consistently with their own interest, to the same purpose must require very different degrees of expense to execute

is possible for banks and bankers, consistently with their own interest, to the same purpose must require very different degrees of expense to execute

Does anyone have an updated time on PGN. We are adopting from Guatemala. Thanks!

April