Some times when something gets said enough it starts to sound like the truth...
One of the Guatemalan papers ran a story over the weekend about 100+ attorneys not registering cases. One of the cool things about our forums is that Marie posts stories of relevance from the Guatemalan papers. This is done often for cultural and educational reasons as well as for us to see what media the average Guatemalan does.
Just because it is in the papers and just because we posted the story DOES NOT mean it is true.
For the record: Guatadopt does NOT know of ANY attorneys who are refusing to register their cases. Some waited until their amaparo was ruled on. Even if you disagree with the fact that some waited until after the amapro, it is not reason to demonize anyone. To think that out of selfishness they’d prevent an adoption to be completed is crazy. The attorneys want the cases completed too.
In another story in the papers over the weekend, it was alleged that 500 of the in-process cases involve kidnappings. I do not want anyone to believe that any comments we have made imply this to be true because I am willing to bet it is not. The same story alleges that DNA tests are being carried out in an unethical manner. It even implies that tests are done via blood rather than saliva – also not true. Those of us in the adoption community know the rigorous process for DNA and the fact that tests are only done by a select few, embassy approved doctors.
I appeal to the DOS and CIS staff at the Embassy to try to dispel this myth.
In short, don’t believe everything that is in the Guatemalan papers. From my perspective, from Day One the Prensa Libre has tried to defend Berger’s appointees. We all know its history with adoption related issues. So it does not surprise me to see it continuing to be filled with half-truths or non-truths.
Remember, when something is an editorial, even the paper is saying it is an opinion, not fact.
Lastly, please EVRYONE let’s not search for saints and demons because we all lie somewhere between the two. Let’s everyone shed our positions and just stay focused on the immediate task at hand – getting cases registered. To attorneys that means having your paperwork buttoned up and the forms filled out completely and correctly. For the CNA it means being rational. For PAPs it means a bit of patience and faith. Anything that slows down the process at this point is a travesty.
Kevin,
Well said, I agree with you 100%.
Thanks Kevin, for the reassuring post. Do you (or does anyone for that matter) know what happens after the registrations? There still seems to be a lot of confusion as to what you need to get back in process (ie PGN). Is the registration number your ticket to PGN, or do we now wait some more for issuance of a constancia. Is the CA truly going to go visit every child before they will issue a constancia to allow us back in process? Or, does anyone truly know? Between Susana's posts, the different posts from the agencies in the US, and the GT news, there seems to be no consistency as to what happens next. Some are saying we still have a long wait before we are back in process, and others are saying that their attorneys are telling them that they will be back in process this week! As always, thank you for being such a great source of information during these turbulent times.
Posted by: Shannon at February 11, 2008 12:24 PMHow is it coming, since the deadline looms. Does it look as if they will be able to register everyone at this point? And is there any possibility/word of an extenstion?
Posted by: bibb at February 11, 2008 01:15 PMDoes anyone know if the cases can't get registered in time since it is now required that the original paperwork that was stamped received has to now be registered at a second location, if we will still be protected by the old law? I also understand there isn't enough manpower at the second location and the threat of the deadline is just around the corner! Has anyone heard how this will be resolved???
Posted by: Karen at February 11, 2008 01:29 PMDear Kevin & Kelley,
What are you hearing in terms of progress on registering cases? Someone said there were close to 1500 cases registered this weekend? Could that be true? If so, this is great news...
I choose to believe the best about the attorneys and the CNA - they want to get all cases registered according to the law. The next hurdle is going to be PGN. The press is going to sensationalize to sell papers. Has anyone heard anything about how PGN is going to handle an inundation of recently registered cases? Will they get additional staff? Will they order the cases by the date of CNA registration? Will they take previous kick-out/previo cases first? Will the on average 8 week PGN stay be a thing of the past? Does anyone know anything?
Posted by: Leah at February 11, 2008 02:42 PMI just had a quick question which I have not seen anyone ask yet? What happens for the PAP's if their case is not registered with the CNA by the 12th? Do we totally lose our adoption process and the child we are waiting to adopt? I don't want to ask but I need to know what do I do next if my attorney does not get the registration receipt number by the 12th as required? Can someone answer this for me? Thank you and believe me I am hoping against all hope that we all get our registration numbers to continue to finalize our adoptions in progress. Janelle
Posted by: Janelle at February 11, 2008 03:40 PMI read on one of the Guatadopt forums that registration forms without BOTH parents' passport numbers are being rejected. I cannot get a hold of my agency to verify.
Kevin???? Anyone hear anything?
Janie
Posted by: Janie at February 11, 2008 04:56 PMJanie
The parent's SSN works too. Apparently there were some "volunteers" at the CNA that rejected files without passport numbers but they found out that the SSN will work too.
Posted by: Linda at February 11, 2008 06:35 PMMy wife and I thank God, our agency, our lawyer and the new CA.
We have good news. I have just spoken with our lawyer in Guatemala( since spanish is almost my natural language I am sure I have understood well ) and he told me that our case was registered with the CA on saturday and got into PGN today and that now we have just to wait.
I asked few more questions. He told me that our case got a number close to 1000 ( I don't give you the exact number for obvious reasons ). This is a very good news for everybody: if the CA on saturday was issuing registration numbers so high ( 1000 ) that means that they are going very fast.
Next time I will have a full night of sleep will be when I' ll know that all the in process cases have been registered. Hang on, don't lose your faith and trust your lawyers, agencies and people working hard at CA.
Vince
Posted by: Vince at February 11, 2008 07:54 PMRE: PGN for Kicked Out/Previo cases:
I read in one of the forums or the ADA that the PGN will only take our cases if all 3 directors of CNA sign the constancia. I'm not sure if this is true, but I read it somewhere. I'm not sure about the cases which were/are at PGN.
RE: What Happens If the Case Does Not Get Registered:
I read in one of the forums, ADA, or somewhere else that those that are not registered will have to follow through with the new laws. That means that one will need to file papers (new forms probably), may need to get them certified and authenticated, etc. If anything has expired, such as the fingerprints, 171-H, home study, or physician's approval, you will need to do it again. I was told that it is most likely that one will still get the same child.
Attorneys releasing information:
I asked my case worker to get the old and new registration numbers from the attorney and when it comes time for the constancia, to make a copy of it and send one to me. Her response was that we cannot ask the attorneys because there are cultural differences. "The attorneys tend to interpret this as families trying to interfere with the work they are doing" even though having such information is just for "peace of mind".
Is this true? For 10s of thousands of American dollars, I think they should respect our wishes too - to give us peace of mind.
Bethie,
You have the right to ask for those papers. Attorneys working on adoptions have dealt with PAP from different cultures for a while, so they surely understand. They may not like the extra bit of work, but using "cultural differences" is a lame excuse (I'm Guatemalan, btw). You certainly deserve your peace of mind.
Posted by: Mariale at February 12, 2008 01:24 AMI was just notified by my agency that we are registered with the CN and we are grandfathered in!!!! When I heard this news....tears overwhelmed me!!! We have been in process for over a year....lost a child with whom we fell deeply in love with because of DNA not matching! We now wait his abandonment. It is a fine line I stand on.....I know the adoptions in Guatemala need/needed reform...but I long to hold our little guys (1st referral and 2nd) in my arms while I am sitting on my own sofa! With my other children sitting next to me....and my husband by my side....with the dogs at my feet! My bio. children are 19, 15 & 9 and help me get through this very rough process everyday! I pray everyday for each and everyone of the babies....the parents....(both bio and adoptive) and all who fight to help! May God keep you all strong! God Bless!
Posted by: Biff at February 12, 2008 08:30 AMVince,
That is wonderful news! We are still waiting to hear from our agency about our registration status (which is making us nuts!). Your post gives me hope!!!!
God Bless!
Posted by: allison at February 12, 2008 08:31 AMHi Kevin-
Heard anything new today?
Thanks,
Michelle
Biff, are you grandfathered with the child for whom you are hoping to receive a Certif of Abandonment? I am waiting to hear how they are handling such cases - so far it has looked like all children being issued COAs will be referred by CNA post-April. Lisa
Posted by: Lisa at February 12, 2008 01:40 PMOk, my last post asked if anything new has happened. Well, I finally got an update that I have been registered! My number is in the lower 2,000's. Sounds like things may be happening!
Posted by: Michelle at February 12, 2008 02:30 PMI got an e-mail from my agency last night informing me that all the babies within my agencies have been registered. We are all grandfathered in. My coordinator waited in line for 3 days in order to get us all done.
Posted by: Michelle C. at February 12, 2008 03:00 PMWe found out about being registered today even though it sounds like we were registered over the weekend. What a relief!!!
Posted by: Kelly at February 12, 2008 04:15 PMBiff,
Iam right there with you. I have longed for 5 1/2 yrs to hold my 1st & 2nd referral together. I dont know what the future will hold for our 1st daughter that is not home but we will continue to fight for her. No matter what happens that little girl will know we are her family and will wait for her. I hope to hold both my girls together one day.
I dont know what the future holds but I pray that all these children find loving homes sooner then later.
Audra
Still no word on registration. It is 4 pm GT time, I believe.
Has anyone heard whether or not the CA is staying open late tonite? I'm a wreck.
Posted by: Debbie at February 12, 2008 05:20 PMLisa....
I am grandfathered in for the 2nd referral....not the one we are waiting for the COA. Sorry! I have no idea how that will play out! We will just wait!!!!
I am sure the people at the CA are still working at this time but I would like to know if we are close to have every case registered. As I said before this is not the time the be selfish. We are all on the same boat and all of us have the right to be granfathered. Most of you out there have been probably already granfathered but you don't know yet because your agencies didn't tell you anything yet.Have faith and trust the good people of Guatemala and your agencies and lawyers. God bless us and our children all.
Vince
My agency told me today that we probably will not know whether or not we were registered until Thursday (at the earliest). They most likely will not provide us with registration numbers or any details regarding when we were registered, etc. She said that they will probably just state that "all adoptions were registered" - if it will be true.
Again, she reiterated that the attorneys don't like when they ask for details because they interpret it as the agency/PAP is not trusting them. You can imagine my thoughts about this, but I have to play the agency's little game of blame it on the attorneys.
In short, I need to wait to hear some kind of word. Hopefully I'll be notified on Thursday or Friday...
You are all very lucky. I'm glad that it sounds like the majority children will be with their loving parents soon.
Posted by: Bethie at February 12, 2008 09:42 PM