Our Family Journey

We Received PA Today!!

We received our Pre-Approval from the US Embassy in Guatemala today. We waited 54 days for them to issue our Pre-Approval. Getting Pre-Approval basically means that barring any unforseen circumstances the US Embassy plans to issue an immigrant visa to our baby once the Guatemalan governement releases our case.

Where are we now??

Well we are still waiting for word that Family Court has been completed. Family Court is similar to the completion of the homestudy process in the US. A social worker interviews the birth mother, the foster mother, meets the child and writes a report either recommending that the case proceed or God forbid, stating that she does not think the case should proceed. I know that the social worker has conducted the interviews but I have not been told that the report has been completed and that the judge has signed off on it. That will be the next thing we should hear about. Keep your fingers crossed that we hear soon, so we can continue on to the next phase.

Here's our Pre-Approval letter from the US Embassy

Name of child / Nombre del menor: XXXXXXX XXXXXXXX XXXXXXX XXXXXXX

A pre-approval was issued for the above-listed adoption case. You may pick up this pre-approval at Window #10 at your earliest convenience. You must bring a copy of this notification.

Reminder: Adopting parents should not travel to Guatemala prior to issuance of the pink slip by the Consular Section, in order to avoid unnecessary expenses. Travel before pink slip issuance will not be considered an emergency and final documents will be processed as usual.

This office will not be giving priority to other cases over those who have complied with this requirement.

The Consular Section has implemented an Appointment System for the Immigrant Visa.

Please do not travel until you have received your appointment date and time.

La pre-aprobación correspondiente al caso de adopción que esta mencionado arriba

fue emitida. Puede recoger esta pre-aprobación en la Ventanilla #10. Deberá presentar una copia de esta notificación.

Recordatorio: Los Padres Adoptivos no deberán viajar a Guatemala antes de que la Sección

Consular expida la hoja rosada, para evitar gastos innecesarios. El hecho de viajar antes de que se haya expedido la hoja rosada no se considerará una emergencia y los documentos finales se tramitarán de manera regular.

Esta oficina no le dará prioridad a otros casos sobre los que sí hayan cumplido con este requisito.

La Sección Consular ha implementado un Sistema de Citas para la Visa de Inmigrante. Por favor, no viaje hasta que haya recibido la fecha y hora de su cita.

Sincerely, / Atentamente,

Adoptions Unit

U.S. Department of Homeland Security

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

American Embassy - Guatemala