Was it actually voted on, or just postponed? It doesn't look like there was any congressional meeting yesterday. According to the Guatemala Congress website, http://www.congreso.gob.gt, there will be 4 extraordinary sessions of Congress in June, and adoptions will be discussed then. The first article mentions adoptions in its discussion of the June sessions.

Kevin

Was there any congressional action yesterday? I can't find any on their website, but there is an article on the Guatemala Congress' website http://www.congreso.gob.gt that says there will be four extraordinary sessions of Congress in June, and adoptions will be discussed. It is the first article on the homepage above.

Kevin

Congress did meet yesterday and approved some other stuff. I do not know if they votyed down the Hague or if it never came to a vote.

Kevin
Guatadopt

Hi we are in the very early stages of adopting a baby from Guatemala. We are dealing with an Adoption Agency in the US. We are submitting our dossier to them next week. Since we are from Europe does this effect us? We are from Malta which is a Hague country.

Thanks and Regards,
Josianne

we have our 171h and have accepted a referral - does this mean we have received the i-600a? we filled out an 1-600 in the beginning.

we have received our i-171 and have accepted a referral - does that mean that we also have an i600a.

To those of you adopting from gt,you won't regret it! I pray for some resolution that keeps foster care in tact and babies coming home at an early age. It makes the transition much easier. I feel so blessed to have my sweet angel! Guatemala has ao much to offer! Too bad the good doesn't get highlighted! Thank you guatadopt for keeping us informed!
Hoping to adopt again... Gabe's mom

What does "have an I660A form in" mean exactly? Does it have to be just mailed in by then, or actually approved? What if the form is in, but your homestudy has not been completed yet?

Let's be a little careful Gabe's Mom. you have no idea where anyone is in the process. They may in fact regret starting the process right now! Blanket statements aren't so good right now. you have no idea of what will happen.

To those asking about the I-600A and I-71H forms. In most states you can file the I-600A from with your local USCIS office before the homestudy is complete. Once the homestudy is complete that needs to be sent to the USCIS office as well. You will receive notice when the I-600A form is filed and then receive notice for your fingerprint appointments. Once the fingerprints are complete and your homestudy has been received they will issue the I-71H form and once your case worker has that form you will usually receive your child referral. of course there is still the process of getting your Dossier approved by the Sec. of State, and then the Guatemala Consulate. Your case worker should be able to help you with these questions as well.
I hope this helps.

I will say it again with Gabe's mom, an adoption from Guatemala, the country of eternal spring is one that you will not regret. My son is 5 now and we are in the process of bringing our 2nd home. The regret will only come if you give up. If you give all you can give to help one of God's little one's, He will make a way.
The statement made by Gabe's mom rings true for all of us that are in process now or soon to be. Our blessed hope is found in Jesus Christ, and in him alone.

My faith is stronger than the obstacles before me!

Encouraged

Paul C.

I also have to agree with Gabe's mom. When I started the adoption process almost two years ago many people told me not to go with Guatemala(and the same thing happened again with adoption #2). I'm glad I didn't listen. I now have the daughter of my dreams and we are waiting on her bio brother. I could not imagine my life without my kids.

I have a wonderful agency that keeps me up to date with the Hague and if they didn't think I would be able to bring my son home(or daughter) they wouldn't have let me start to begin with.

I know one thing, I have NO regrets, whatsoever:)

It's good to see another person with strong faith. Don't let your circumstances determine the outcome, but let your faith. The joy of the Lord is our strength!!!
Blessings in Christ
Ashley

The department of state file is incredibly hostile and worrisome. Some aspects of the Hague agreement seem to be less in the child's best interest than in the interest of advancing the anti-american cold war/third world socialist agenda of the majority of the attendees of the convention held long ago.

Oversight is one thing. But demanding state control is another.

The Article 4 demand that children be put up for adoption domestically prior to international adoption will inevitably introduce delays in the process that are not in the best interest of the child.

The requirement for investigation of extended family placement will also introduce inevitable delays. The requirement that both parents be counseled seems innocent, unless of course one parent cannot be located.

Then there are the flat misleading statements made by the DOS:

Guatemala doesn't have a functioning central authority.
Then what is the PGN?

Guatemalan system has no requirement for counseling.
In our case the mother has been counceled no fewer than three times -- most recently by the family court social worker. And she has still to appear before the PGN.

In regard to permissible fees & improper payments. Anyone who has looked into domestic and international adoption knows that Guatemala adoptions cost the same or less than most other countries -- including third world countries like Ethiopia.

One concern seems to be that government burocrats are not the ones getting all the money. The implication that providing Guatemalan mothers with compensation for prenatal care and expenses is somehow wrong is hypocritical, specious and insulting. Most domestic birth mothers in the US-- not to speak of serrogate mothers -- receive prenatal and postpartum care that costs much more than is probably given to Guatemalan mothers. Serrogate mothers, sperm donors and egg donors are reimbursed without major complaint or moral concerns being raised.

This is not to say that more oversight would not be a good thing in Guatemala. But if the price of that oversight is to deny children the opportunity to have a good start in life in a loving home that can afford to provide for them, then it is too high. Are african children really better off now that internationa adoption have been made nearly impossible by Hague convention and UNICEF guidelines? I doubt it.

Josianna, I think that since Malta is a Hague Country, it is exactly the same as if you were a US citizen bringing your child home to the US. Since the Hague Convention makes the rules, it should apply equally to any Hague country. You should check with your agency to be certain.

By the way, my father is Maltese! We're practically family! (there aren't many Maltese in America!)

Rachel

Bob M.
I will disagree with you on one small detail and that is the Ethiopia is substantially cheaper than about any other county out there. It is even cheaper if you adopt siblings. I do agree that many countries adoption costs are about the same, however, most of their costs are under the table. When my brother-in-law adopted from Ukraine several years ago, he needed to bring $15,000 in cash along. I have heard similar things about China and they are Hague compliant.

As for the Central Authority, PGN is not but tried to set themselves up as such in 2003 and it was a disaster.

Concerning Malta,
I believe it would be important to know WHEN and IF Malta has already "ratified" the Hague on it's part. The US signed years ago, but ratification will not happen until late 2007/early 2008 and then it will go into effect (here in the US) 3 months later. Malta's timeline MAY be different.

Praying for the children of Guatemala,
Jennifer

Rachel,
This is the first time i came across someone whose father is maltese. I am so happy!! We are the first couple here in Malta who are adopting from Guatemala. This is the only resource of information i have so I check it every day, apart from a yahoo group i signed with who are UK families and they invited me to their group whom i find very helpful. I will check with the Maltese Authorities about this.

Thanks
Josianne
Family :-)

Rachel, Half-Maltese!!

Finally I am so happy. I never came across anyone who is maltese related. We are the first couple here in Malta adopting from Guatemala. This is the only resource from where I get information. Also I signed with a yahoo group of British Families whom i found very helpful. Thanks for your reply. I will also speak to the Maltese Authorites and check about this.
Josianne Part of Family :)

To clarify on a few things, for the most part bio-mothers are not "counseled" three times by a family court social worker. The bio-mother is interviewed. The bio-mother has to first sign relinguishing documents upon placement of the child and then again when DNA is done. A Family Court social worker interviews the bio-mother to complete a social work study needed to enter PGN. Interviews are conducted with the bio-mother's parents (both father and mother of the bio-mother have to appear if her parents are listed as married), only if the bio-mother is a minor.
Additonal interviews may be requested on a case by case need, but by no means is this to be confused with counseling. Interviews with both the bio-mother and bio-father is what the DOS statement is talking about, prior to seeking adoption within the country of origin. Placing the child internationally is the last resort. Regarding improper payments, this is due in large part to the amount that "runners" are demanding in locating pregnant women. I am all for leap of faith, and all bets are off when you fall in-love with that first photo, but please keep in mind the many parents who also saw themselves in this same situation, who had I-600s and where in-process, sadly they never saw their child come home because countries like Romania and Cambodia shut its doors.
Marie, Guatadopt.com

Marie,
Thank you for pointing out a very difficult truth. In another thread people were recommending adopting from Guatemala and while I adore my children and truly believe that God meant them to be together and with me, it is too scary of a time to adopt from Guatemala for the very reason you state. There is nothing stopping Guatemala or the US one day from saying, "No more!" It is desperately sad but I am afraid it is a possibility, no matter how small.

A little off topic, but I wanted to respond to Bob's comment about Article 4. Actually, I believe it would be a *good* thing to allow and/or encourage domestic adoption before placing a child. By definition, adoptees lose their family of origin. In the case of international adoptions, they also lose their country, culture, and language. In general, international and cross-cultural adoptees will have more challenges to resolve than their domestic counterparts. I doubt that the consequences of implementing this article will result in more than a delay in referrals, however. Most Guatemalans are not in the financial position to adopt, and those who are would not consider adopting a child of indigenous heritage.

Elizabeth,
I believe that most people would agree with you in spirit that it is in the child's interest to remain in the culture/country into which s/he was born. The great disagreement comes in your statement, "I doubt that the consequences of implementing this article will result in more than a delay in referrals." The key word is delay. What kind of a delay? It is never specified anywhere that I know of. Is this delay a month or 2 years? It could be either or both depending on the mood of the ones making the decision. No where, again that I am aware, does it say the even more importantly than a child growing up in her/her culture/country of birth is that the child be given a forever family as soon as possible! This is where and why this particular article is so scary and worrisome to me.

Concerning Elizabeth S. statement that cross cultural addoptees have more challenges to resolve than their domestic counterparts. This statement assumes that the people who would adopt a child domestically are just as good as the people who would adopt a child internationally. The truth is for any given child, we have no way of knowing whether the person/couple who would have adopted domestically would be just as good as the person/couple that would adopt internationally. We would need to be able to simultaneously observe parallel universes. I think the emphasis should be on placing the child with a good person/couple regardless of whether they are domestic or from abroad. You also refer to "their own culture" and rightly point out that people who can financially afford to adopt aren't interested in children of Native American heritage. So these Guatemalans who can adopt really aren't the same culture as the adoptable children anyway. So what is the point in keeping these kids in Guatemala then?

Hi Josianne from Malta, My name is Jennifer I am Maltese, by coincidence I entered this sight.
I am in the proces of adopting, how are things going for you with regarding the adoption in Guatemala ? I will be very greatfull if you give me some feedback please. Regards Jennifer
jennifer_hubbers at hotmail.com