The government of Guatemala does not have a procedure to approve international adoption agencies. Rather, they allow the adoptive family to work with private child-care facilities and attorneys in completing the adoption process.
OVERVIEW: Guatemala is welcoming to the adoptive family, both married couples and single women. There are no arbitrary requirements. Good health and a desire to parent a child from Guatemala are the generally accepted guidelines. Children are usually healthy and referred at birth. They are home between 10 - 14 months of age. An easy four to five day trip to Guatemala City to meet your child and bring him or her home is the usual choice of adoptive families. The first day includes a flight to Guatemala City and meeting and taking custody of your child for the first time. The second day is used to initiate US Immigration work. The third day your child's U.S. visa will be ready. The fourth day will be the travel home. Guatemala allows an escort to bring your child from Guatemala to your home in the United States. Please click through the tabs across the top of this page for further information.
Baby boys and baby girls are referred to adoptive families soon after birth. The children are of Hispanic background from light to dark skin. If you have chosen to adopt a boy, you will most likely get a referral sooner as many families ask for girls. The referral information includes at least one photo of the child, and basic medical information. The time between your acceptance of a referral until you travel to receive your child is approximately 10 – 12 months.
Some children are abandoned and brought to the child-care facility. When a child is abandoned, there is a government process which must be followed before the child can be presented to an adoptive family. The abandonment process takes approximately 3 - 6 months. Children who are abandoned are typically between birth and 5 years of age. Occasionally, there are sibling groups.
The Guatemalan Government is very welcoming to adoptive parents. Parents are expected to be in good health and have a strong desire to parent a child from Guatemala.
- Adoptive parent's age is 30 - 45 years for adoption of infants.
- Adoptive parent's age is 45 - 50 year for adoption of children toddler age or older.
Adoptions in Guatemala through a Children's Home. A local attorney assists in the case. Once a Dossier is sent, a referral can be made to the family as soon as a child is available. Photos, and basic medical information is sent. Once the referral has been accepted, a power of attorney is signed by the family to authorize the attorney to proceed with the adoption in the family's name. The first step is to get the papers presented to Foreign Registry and then on to the Embassy for authorization of DNA. Once that is given, the process starts in Family court which takes approximately 4-6 weeks, at which time the DNA is done as well as a Social report with the birth mother and the Social worker sees the child. Once the Social Worker gives her report and the U.S. Embassy approves the DNA results, the case is presented to PGN which is the Final Court. Most cases are in the PGN approximately 10 weeks. Once the PGN gives its approval, the Final Decree is made and the birth mother signs it and then a new birth certificate is made with the new adoptive family's name. Once the Birth Certificate is issued, the passport can be applied for which takes 8-10 days. Once the passport is in hand, the child can see the Embassy doctor and then the family can travel for the U.S. Embassy appointment and then home the following day. The entire process takes about 10 - 12 months on an average.
The family may choose to have their child escorted to them. This requires that the adoption documents, original and translated, are sent to the family who then sends the documents to the Immigration (CIS) office which services their state. The CIS reviews the documents and sends to Guatemala the approval for an escort visa.
Traveling to Guatemala City is easily done in four to five days. The time zone in Guatemala City is the same as CST. Our liaisons in Guatemala will meet your flight, make hotel reservations for you, take you to meet your child, and assist you with the US Embassy visa process.
The date of travel is determined by the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala. The U.S. Embassy receives notice that the court procedure is completed and the child has received a new birth certificate and passport. The U.S. Embassy usually schedules appointments Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and occasionally on Thursday. Appointments have been scheduled as soon as 6 days and as long as 14 days after receiving notice of completion of the adoption paperwork. After the family and child appear for the appointment, the U.S. Embassy issues the visa the next day.
Meeting your child for the first time is special. Crossroads recommends that married couples share this happy, exciting time. However, one parent may travel.
If your flight arrives in Guatemala City early in the afternoon, you will meet your child that day and be given custody. The following day, you will go the US Embassy and submit your child’s visa application and required documents such as your child’s legal documents, visa photo, and medical exam form. Once these are submitted, you will be called to the interview window and asked basic questions about the adoption. Your child's visa will be issued the following day.
The following day, you can leave for home.
One report and photos are required after you return home with your child. Once you adopt your child in your county juvenile court, Crossroads requires a copy of your child’s county adoption decree and a copy of the state birth certificate.
Your adoption counselor will visit you within the first few weeks after you return home. They will gather a copy of your child’s legal documents which include a copy of his/her Guatemalan passport showing the photo page and the US visa page. Usually the US visa is an IR-4. Although the adoption in Guatemala is a full adoption, your child is not given citizenship upon entering the United States because you have not seen your child face-to-face before the adoption. Hearing about your travel experience and the happy moments when your child was first placed in your arms is always a priority. Your adoption counselor will also help you with the adjustment and bonding of your newly adopted child.
The Crossroads office will assist you with the finalization in your juvenile county court. Each county will utilize forms of their choosing. There will be two or three forms, depending upon the county, and they will be easy to complete. The fees to finalize your adoption vary by the county in which you live. The instructions given to you by your adoption counselor will include how to do each of the required steps. Once you have prepared your court documents, Crossroads will send them along with a agency-prepared court report. You will be notified by Crossroads by mail when your file is complete at the county. You can then call and schedule a time for the adoption to be finalized. The count hearing to complete your adoption will last less than 15 minutes. You will be sent a certified document attesting to the adoption and a new birth certificate from your state. Once you receive these, photo copy them and send them to the Crossroads Office.