Steps of the Adoption Process

Whenever I hear about how Americans just have to plunk down some cash and Boom! they have a baby, I have to laugh. If these people only knew how many steps there are in this process! Here are the general steps, along with where we are with each one:

1. Research, research, research! Talk to adoptive parents, interview agencies, choose a program. May-Sept. 2006
2. Paperchase: Reports from our doctors, banks, the police, etc. Fingerprints (FBI and Immigration). More forms and letters than you can imagine. Learn to love your notary. (Thanks, Mike!!) File I600-A with USCIS (Immigration) to open case w/ U.S. Sept. 2006-Feb. 2007
3. Three interviews with social worker. Homestudy complete. 1/31/07
4. Received 171-H from USCIS (accepting our I600-A). 3/7/07
5. Daniel born! Birthmother sign-off #1. (She has to sign off 4 times during the process, and can change her mind any time up to the last sign-off.) 3/30/07
6. Received referral of Daniel. 4/16/07
7. Completed dossier (all our documents, homestudy, etc., translated and autheticated) sent to Guatemala. 4/27/07
8. DNA test #1 (a fraud-prevention step to prove Daniel is really the biological child of the woman who relinquished him). Birthmother has photo taken with Daniel at U.S. Embassy. Sign-off #2. 5/9/07
9. Family Court (in Guatemala) - Social worker reviews our homestudy and the birthmother's documents, interviews the birthmom, visits Daniel and his foster family, and writes a report in favor of Daniel's adoption by us. Birthmom's sign-off #3. Exit Family Court. 6/7/07
10. Received Pre-Approval from U.S. This is a big deal step! It means the U.S. State Department has scrutinized all the paperwork and determined that Daniel meets the U.S. definition of an "orphan," and he'll be granted citizenship as soon as we bring him home. 7/10/07
11. Submitted to PGN. This is the "main part" of the Guatemalan side of the process. PGN is basically the equivalent of our Attorney General's office. Three reviewers, including the director (Sr. Barrios), review all the paperwork. Any of them can issue a previo, or "kick-out," which has to be corrected before we can be resubmitted to PGN. Most kick-outs are for minor things: typos, a blurry photo copy, an expired notary stamp, even because the reviewer doesn't like the color of the ink we signed a form with. Average cases with no kick-outs are currently taking 8-15 weeks in PGN. We're praying we're among the lucky few who get out sooner! (Today would be good, Sr. Barrios!) IN PGN 8/14/07
12. OUT of PGN - Hasn't happened yet, but when we get the call, you'll probaby hear me yell with joy! This is also where the birthmother signs off for the 4th and final time.
13. New birth certificate and passport for Daniel with our last name. Documents are translated and submitted to U.S. Embassy. Not done.
14. DNA test #2 (recently added to the process, to make sure Daniel is the same child who took the first DNA test). Not done.
15. U.S. Embassy issues "pink slip" - We travel to Guatemala to pick Danny up. Not done.
16. Daniel visits the U.S. Embassy doctor. Not done.
17. We go to the Embassy to present documents and have an interview. Return the next day to get Danny's visa. BRING HIM HOME! Not done (obviously! LOL)
18. After we come home: Readopt in California (to get an American birth certificate, etc.); social security card, American passport, yadda yadda.