The Final Steps to bring Auri HOME

Well it's official...we have our PGN Adoption Decree...although there are a few minor errors...a typo and a generalized address for us..which could end up being a HUGE problem but we are praying and hoping RENAP will be okay since nothing should impact what they need to do.

Here is what we have left to do:


ADOPTION DECREE:
The attorney then prepares the final adoption Protocolo or deed, and meets with the birth mother for her to sign her final consent to the child’s adoption. The executed Protocolo is filed with the Archivo de Protocolo. At this point, the child is legally the child of the adoptive parent(s) under Guatemalan law.

CIVIL REGISTRY AND PASSPORT:
The attorney presents the required documents to record the adoption at the Civil Registry where the child’s birth was recorded, and requests that a new birth certificate be issued to reflect the adoption, and to change the child’s surname to that of the adoptive family. This used to be a simple process but now it has to go to a central registry called RENAP that could take months. I really don't know what they do besides delay the process..I guess they re-review the documents and once they approve it then you can have the new birth certificate created. The attorney then takes all documents including the new birth certificate and applies for the child’s Guatemalan passport. The child is again fingerprinted to affirm his/her identity.

2nd DNA
Is then taken and send off to a lab in the US to make sure Auri is the same child we started the process with. The results are then sent to the US Embassy.

US EMBASSY – FINAL APPROVAL AND VISA:
The attorney presents the case file with the child’s passport and new birth certificate to the US Embassy. The Embassy again evaluates the file as well as waits on the final DNA test and, if all documentation is in order, issues a “Final Document Approval” or pink slip. (Note: Guatemalan passport is NOT required to submit the REQUEST for the pink slip, it is however required to PICK UP the pink slip from the US Embassy.) After the attorney receives this approval, the adoptive parents and child appear at the US Embassy for final verification, and an embassy official then issues a visa for the child’s entry into the US.