Below are the steps that we know about. The status of each step is indicated by icons:
   not begun   just started    half done    two-thirds done    finished   

Some steps include a highlighted word indicating a short comment (hover your mouse over it) or a symbol indicating a link to a related blog entry.

Becoming Paper-Ready (US)

• Research and select a country from which to adopt  
• Research and select an adoption agency to use    
• Hire a social worker licensed for international adoptions to do our in-depth Home Study - the social worker will interview us, visit our home, contact our references, and review lots of paperwork    
• Compile numerous documents that require multiple levels of certification each, and other documents that require only notarization.  
• File form I-600A and supporting docs with US Immigration - includes the Home Study, all certified documents, fingerprinting and criminal background checks
• Send the completed dossier of documents to Guatemala to be translated and re-certified (yes, some docs end up with four certifications!)
• Receive 171-H (US Immigration approval for international adoption)  

Referral (Guatemala)

• Birth mother places child for adoption (usually at birth); Child and birth mother receive medical exams; Child enters foster care
• We receive child referral including her name, photo, and medical information
• We accept referral and sign Power of Attorney for our lawyer in Guatemala to act on our behalf throughout the adoption    

Pre-approval (US Embassy)

• Our lawyer requests authorization from US Embassy to test the DNA of the birth mother and child
• DNA of child and birth mother are tested to confirm maternity, and birth mother signs a consent for adoption form a second time  
• US Embassy reviews paperwork and issues a visa Pre-Approval

Family Court (Guatemala)

• At the same time the US Embassy is checking DNA, the case enters Guatemalan Family Court  
• Guatemalan social worker reviews paperwork, visits the child in foster care and interviews the birth mother. The birth mother signs a consent for adoption form a third time.  
• Social worker writes a report of the circumstances of the relinquishment.
• Family Court judge reviews the report and the case exits Family Court with a (hopefully) positive recommendation.

PGN (Guatemala)

• Once the case has exited Family Court and visa Pre-Approval had been received, the case enters Procuraduria General De La Nacion (PGN) to ensure all legal requirements have been met.
• The PGN reviewer examines the dossier, the Family Court report and the visa pre-approval. The reviewer may request additional documents or interviews. When that happens the case is kicked out of PGN and must be resubmitted with the additional documents. Once the reviewer is satisfied that all legal requirements have been met, the file is signed and submitted for Final Approval.
• PGN issues Final Approval for the adoption to proceed.

Adoption Decree (Guatemala)

• Birth mother signs her fourth and final consent to adopt
• Adoption decree is issued and she is legally our daughter! Unfortunately we can't travel to the US until her passport and US visa are issued.
• A new birth certificate is issued by the Civil Registry with our last name (can't change first or middle name until we're back in the US)
• Passport and Visa photos are taken. The photo and birth certificate are submitted and the Guatemalan passport is issued

Immigration (US Embassy)

• Documents are translated into English to create Final Packet. Lawyer submits Final Packet to US Embassy. Within 24 hours Embassy authorizes second DNA test and Embassy medical exam (called Orange Slip)
• Child is taken to the Embassy doctor for a second DNA test and medical exam. DNA sample is sent to laboratory in the US for processing
• US Embassy receives DNA results and schedules the final interview date with parents (called Pink-Slip)
• US Embassy issues a visa and gives us a "sealed packet" of documents. We are free to take our daughter home to the US!

Back Home (US)

• On arrival we submit the sealed packet to US Immigration at our first point of entry into the US. Since we visited Eliana prior to the completion of her adoption (to say the least!), she will automatically become a US citizen when we enter the country.
  If we had not visited, we would have HAD to re-adopt Eliana in the US in order for her to become a citizen. We do plan to re-adopt at some point in the US anyways in order to get Eliana a US birth certificate, with her changed first name, and to ensure her easier access to SS survivor benefits and inheritance rights.

Mar 15, 2006 - Signed with agency
May 15, 2006 - Homestudy report
Jul 28, 2006 - 171H approval letter!
Aug 3, 2006 - Dossier sent to Guat
Sep 28, 2006 - Rec'd Eliana's referral
Oct 13, 2006 - DNA tests
Oct 19, 2006 - Enter Family Court
Oct 27, 2006 - FC Interviews
Nov 17, 2006 - Exit Family Court
Nov 24, 2006 - Embassy Pre-Apprvl
Nov 28, 2006 - Enter PGN
Dec 11, 2006 - Kick out of PGN
-- long previo wait --
Nov 12, 2007 - Re-enter PGN
Jan 9, 2008 - PGN Final Approval!
Jan 24, 2008 - Passport
Jan 30, 2008 - 2nd DNA test
Mar 5, 2008 - Pink Slip!
mar 12, 2008 - Eliana HOME!

- NOTHING!