Below is a copy of an invitation from the US Embassy. I was not informed of the meeting until after the deadline and for that I apologize. I am also wondering why agency representatives were not invited to attend, but then I do not know the purpose for the seminar.
{Posted to agencies by the US Embassy}
The Embassy of the United States of America is pleased to announce an upcoming seminar on The Hague Convention on InterCountry Adoption for Guatemalan Attorneys and Notaries.
Date: Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Time: 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Place: The Embassy of the United States of America, Avda. Reforma 7-01, Zone 10, Guatemala City, Guatemala
We request that your organization, as an adoption service provider representative of those serving Guatemala, nominate ONE Guatemalan Attorney or Notary with whom you work to participate in this Seminar.
This seminar is by invitation only. Due to space limitations, we can only accommodate one attorney or notary nomination per adoption service provider.
If your agency would like to nominate a Guatemalan Attorney or Notary with whom your agency works, please email us directly at consularguatem@ state.gov with the name and email address of the individual no later than Tuesday, September 19 and we will forward them an invitation.
Thank you for your assistance in this matter.
Sincerely,
John A. Lowell
Consul General
Embassy of the United States of America
My agency informed me of the meeting AND was invited to it. So there is at least one agency attending the meeting.
Posted by: Jennifer at September 22, 2006 06:38 PMThe rep from my agency happened to be in Guatemala this week, so she was asked by the attorneys to attend as well.
Posted by: David at September 25, 2006 06:20 PMThe US Embassy meeting was today. So does anyone have any word on how it went? I have had to hire Adoption Supervisors in regard to my adoption. They feel like adoptions won't stop in Guatemala. My baby girl is 14 months old. I use AFTH, Gina. Things have not gone well and I'm terrified that if adoptions stop, I will never get my or a baby.
Posted by: Pamella Chilson at September 26, 2006 07:18 PMMy agency told me about the possibility of Hague implementation beginning Oct. 1.
I wonder if this is related. My husband and I are waiting for a referral, and I am very very nervous about the Hague since speaking about this to the agency last week. I had been under the impression that nothing would happen until at the earliest Jan. 2007.
Fingers crossed that 2007 is more likely the case.
Posted by: Stephanie Byrom at September 26, 2006 08:40 PMWhat happened at the meeting?
Posted by: Teri at September 26, 2006 10:05 PMPamela,
I am also using AFTH for my second adoption as well. If you don't mind please email me at JCar422162 so that we can compare timelines. My son is not nearly as old as your child but is getting older every day with no hope of coming home at least not in the near future.
This is on the State Department's website under FAQ's on the Hague Convention:
Q: What if I am in the process of adopting a child, but my adoption is not finalized by the time the United States ratifies the Convention?
A: This was taken into account by Congress in passing the IAA. Section 505(b) of the IAA states that neither the Convention nor the IAA shall apply if the application for advance processing of an orphan petition (I-600A) or petition to classify an orphan as an immediate relative (I-600) is filed before the date the Convention enters into force for the United States. The date of the Convention’s entry into force will be posted on our web site and published in the Federal Register well in advance.
If prospective adoptive parents have not filed the I-600 or I-600A or equivalent forms before the Convention enters into force, then the entire adoption would be governed by the Convention, the IAA, and the regulations implementing the IAA. This generally means that prospective adoptive parents will need to select an accredited or temporarily accredited agency or approved person to provide adoption services in their case.
Posted by: Steven at September 27, 2006 10:52 AMFrom Steven's post (copy of the State Department's Hague FAQ), it sounds like they do not have a set date for the convention to take effect. I was under the impression that it was already determined the convention would be in force Jan.1, 2007. Does anybody know when the convention will start affecting adoptions?
I wonder what they consider "well in advance". I would hope its at least longer than it takes for CIS to process the I-600A...