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Difference between revisions of "Adopting from Guatemala"

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{{#eimage:https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/graphics/flags/large/gt-lgflag.gif|410x579px|thumb|'''The official flag of Guatemala.'''<BR/>Source: cia.gov.}}
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{{#eimage:https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/graphics/flags/large/gt-lgflag.gif|410x579px|thumb|'''The official flag.'''<BR/>Source: cia.gov.}}
  
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{{#eimage:https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/graphics/maps/gt-map.gif|410x579px|thumb|'''Map of Guatemala.'''<BR/>Source: cia.gov.}}
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{{#eimage:https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/graphics/maps/gt-map.gif|410x579px|thumb|'''Map.'''<BR/>Source: cia.gov.}}
  
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{{#eimage:https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/graphics/locator/cam/gt_large_locator.gif|410x579px|thumb|'''Map of Guatemala.'''<BR/>Source: cia.gov.}}
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{{#eimage:https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/graphics/locator/cam/gt_large_locator.gif|410x579px|thumb|'''Map.'''<BR/>Source: cia.gov.}}
  
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{{#eimage:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Chichicastenango-004.jpg/800px-Chichicastenango-004.jpg|410x579px|thumb|'''Young women on the marketplace of Chichicastenango, Guatemala.'''<BR/>Source: Wikipedia.org.}}
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{{#eimage:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Chichicastenango-004.jpg/800px-Chichicastenango-004.jpg|410x579px|thumb|'''Young women on the marketplace of Chichicastenango.'''<BR/>Source: Wikipedia.org.}}
  
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{{#eimage:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f2/Chichicastenango_market_2009.JPG/800px-Chichicastenango_market_2009.JPG|410x579px|thumb|'''Chichicastenango Market, Guatemala.'''<BR/>Source: wikipedia.org.}}
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{{#eimage:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f2/Chichicastenango_market_2009.JPG/800px-Chichicastenango_market_2009.JPG|410x579px|thumb|'''Chichicastenango Market.'''<BR/>Source: wikipedia.org.}}
  
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{{#eimage:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e7/Tikal_mayan_ruins_2009.jpg/800px-Tikal_mayan_ruins_2009.jpg|410x579px|thumb|'''Tikal Mayan ruins, Guatemala.'''<BR/>Source: Wikipedia.org.}}
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{{#eimage:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e7/Tikal_mayan_ruins_2009.jpg/800px-Tikal_mayan_ruins_2009.jpg|410x579px|thumb|'''Tikal Mayan ruins.'''<BR/>Source: Wikipedia.org.}}
  
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{{#eimage:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/04/Calle_del_Arco%2C_Antigua_Guatemala.jpg/800px-Calle_del_Arco%2C_Antigua_Guatemala.jpg|410x579px|thumb|'''Calle del Arco, Guatemala.'''<BR/>Source: Wikipedia.org.}}
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{{#eimage:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/04/Calle_del_Arco%2C_Antigua_Guatemala.jpg/800px-Calle_del_Arco%2C_Antigua_Guatemala.jpg|410x579px|thumb|'''Calle del Arco.'''<BR/>Source: Wikipedia.org.}}
  
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{{#eimage:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/09/Panajachel_calle_santandar_guat.JPG/800px-Panajachel_calle_santandar_guat.JPG|410x579px|thumb|''' Panajachel Lake Atitlan Guatemala.'''<BR/>Source: Wikipedia.org.}}
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{{#eimage:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/09/Panajachel_calle_santandar_guat.JPG/800px-Panajachel_calle_santandar_guat.JPG|410x579px|thumb|''' Panajachel Lake Atitla.'''<BR/>Source: Wikipedia.org.}}
  
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'''Notice: As of July 14, 2014, all individuals and agencies facilitating international adoptions must be in compliance with the Intercountry [[Universal Accreditation Act]].'''
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'''Notice: As of July 14, 2014, all individuals and agencies facilitating [[international]] adoptions must be in compliance with the Intercountry [[Universal Accreditation Act]].'''
  
 
=Guatemala Adoption Alert=
 
=Guatemala Adoption Alert=
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There have been multiple adoption alerts over the years for [[Guatemala]].  To learn more about these alerts and what they mean for [[International Adoption|international adoption]] please read [[Guatemala Adoption Alert]].
  
 
 
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<span style="color:red">'''Update on Intercountry Adoptions in Guatemala (May 28, 2013)''' 
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=About Guatemala=
  
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The Maya civilization flourished in [[Guatemala]] and surrounding regions during the first millennium A.D. After almost three centuries as a Spanish colony, [[Guatemala]] won its independence in 1821. During the second half of the 20th century, it experienced a variety of military and civilian governments, as well as a 36-year guerrilla war. In 1996, the government signed a peace agreement formally ending the internal conflict, which had left more than 200,000 people dead and had created, by some estimates, about 1 million refugees.
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Joint USCIS-State Delegation to Guatemala
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During the week of May 13, 2013, Special Advisor for Children’s Issues Ambassador Susan Jacobs traveled with USCIS Director Alejandro Mayorkas to Guatemala for meetings with Guatemalan government officials of agencies directly involved in adoptions, including the Procuraduría General de la Nación (PGN) and the Guatemalan National Council on [[Adoption]] (CNA).  They also met with members of the Supreme Court, the Ministerio Publico (MP), the Ministry of Social Welfare, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA). Their visit provided an important opportunity to meet recently-appointed Guatemalan officials and emphasize that the timely and transparent resolution of all the remaining pending transition [[adoption]] cases in the best interests of the children remains a top priority for the United States.
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The meetings were also an opportunity to review the progress on completion of these remaining cases following recent administrative and personnel changes in the Government of Guatemala.  In the last several months, the Guatemalan government has accelerated its completion of cases, and fewer than 100 pending transition [[adoption]] cases are awaiting resolution as of the date of this notice.  Twenty-nine cases have moved to CNA’s Acuerdo process, and nine cases have concluded with the immigration of the [[adopted]] children to the United States with their U.S. citizen parent(s).  Guatemala also completed an additional four cases under the notarial process and these children have joined their families in the United States.  Some cases have concluded with the child’s [[reunification]] with a biological family member in Guatemala.
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Officials at the PGN, which has the authority to complete the investigations in the pending cases, report having 52 cases in various stages of investigation.  The PGN has received renewed funding for its investigators, allowing them to continue their work with a goal of completing these investigations within two months.  Once it has completed an investigation, PGN will request a hearing with a Guatemalan court judge for a determination of the child’s adoptability , or [[reunification]] with biological or [[Extended Family|extended family]].  It is also possible, though not likely, that the judge will order the case to conclude via the notarial process.  According to the Guatemalan Supreme Court, there currently are no backlogs at the courts in Guatemala City, so that legal process should proceed without delays.  The cases with court decrees of adoptability will go to the CNA for evaluation of their eligibility for completion of the adoptions through the Acuerdo process. 
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The USCIS and Consular staff of the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala City are in constant communication with the Guatemalan officials responsible for [[adoption]] procedures.  U.S. Embassy staff monitor and promote Guatemalan progress in resolving the remaining cases by attending the semi-weekly meetings of the technical group where these authorities work through the cases.  Prospective [[Adoptive Parents|adoptive parents]] may contact USCIS directly at Guatemala.adoptions@dhs.gov, and the Immigrant Visa Unit of the Consular Section directly at AdoptGuatemala@state.gov, in order to inquire about the status of individual [[adoption]] cases.
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<span style="color:red">'''Notice: Update on Intercountry Adoptions in Guatemala (December 11, 2012)'''
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The following is an update on issues and developments in Guatemalan adoptions.  We also take this opportunity to remind adopting parents and others that the U.S. government is not a party to these pending [[adoption]] cases and cannot represent the interests of parties in private legal matters.  Thus, we may not be informed of or be entitled to receive information pertaining to proceedings in specific cases.
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''Joint USCIS-State Delegation to Guatemala October 23-25''
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From October 23-25, a joint USCIS-Department of State delegation traveled to Guatemala to meet with government officials from the Ministerio Publico (MP), the Procuraduría General de la Nación (PGN), the Guatemalan National Council on [[Adoption]] (CNA),and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In case-by-case discussions of the “Universal List” of all known pending grandfathered adoptions of Guatemalan children by U.S. citizen prospective [[Adoptive Parents|adoptive parents]], the visiting delegation encouraged Guatemalan officials to quicken resolution of all these cases in the best interests of the children, and to complete those cases while the PGN still has additional investigators funded through the end of 2012.     
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During these discussions, Guatemalan authorities reiterated that some of the notario cases may not be able to proceed under the notario process when the investigation reveals that the case does not fall within the parameters of the relevant law.  However, if a judge makes a finding of adoptability for the child, such a case may be considered eligible under the CNA’s acuerdo process.  USCIS and the Department of State continue to work closely with Guatemalan authorities to bring pending cases to resolution. 
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''CNA Acuerdo Update''
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Since January 2012, the CNA has referred 17 cases to the U.S. Embassy for final [[adoption]] processing as acuerdo cases, and has identified others that it considered eligible to move through the acuerdo process. 
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Note:  Only the CNA can determine whether cases are eligible under the CNA Acuerdo.  The Office of Children’s Issues, USCIS, and the U.S. Embassy, if informed in a specific case, can only comment on whether or not the CNA has initiated the case, and if so, what documents the CNA requires.  The Office of Children’s Issues can also provide general information on the CNA process.
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''Other News''
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The PGN and CNA have informed the U.S. Embassy of approximately 85 children who are no longer available for [[adoption]] because the child was either reunited with the biological family or placed in [[Domestic Adoption|domestic adoption]].  Upon receiving written confirmation of this from the Guatemalan government, USCIS informed the U.S. families associated with those cases.
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''Visas statistics''
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From May 1, 2012, until today, the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala has issued five IR-3 [[adoption]] visas.  These visa statistics represent only the cases which have completed all processing steps with Guatemalan authorities, USCIS Guatemala, and the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy.
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=Hague Convention Information=
 
=Hague Convention Information=
  
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Guatemala is party to the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry [[Adoption]] ([http://adoption.state.gov/hague_convention/overview.php Hague Adoption Convention]).  Intercountry [[adoption]] processing in Hague countries is done in accordance with the requirements of the Convention; the U.S. implementing legislation, the Intercountry [[Adoption]] Act of 2000 (IAA); and the IAA’s implementing regulations, as well as the implementing legislation and regulations of the child’s country of origin.
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[[Guatemala]] is party to the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry [[Adoption]] ([http://adoption.state.gov/hague_convention/overview.php Hague Adoption Convention]).  Intercountry [[adoption]] processing in Hague countries is done in accordance with the requirements of the Convention; the U.S. implementing [[legislation]], the Intercountry [[Adoption]] Act of 2000 (IAA); and the IAA’s implementing regulations, as well as the implementing [[legislation]] and regulations of the child’s country of origin.  For more information please read [[Guatemala and the Hague Convention]].
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The Department of State has determined that Guatemala has not yet fully implemented legislation that would create a Convention-compliant [[adoption]] process.  U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is therefore unable to approve any Form I-800 petition filed on behalf of a Guatemalan child because the Department of State is unable to verify that the requirements of the Hague [[Adoption]] Convention have been met in cases from Guatemala, per Section 301(a) of the Intercountry [[Adoption]] Act (IAA).  The only intercountry [[adoption]] cases that USCIS and the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala are currently processing are cases that were filed before December 31, 2007, and were not completed when Guatemala joined the Convention and implemented its new [[adoption]] code.  
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The Guatemalan National [[Adoption]] Council (CNA) announced in September 2008 that it would not accept any new [[adoption]] cases at that time in order for the CNA to work on establishing guidelines to use in accrediting [[Adoption Agencies|adoption agencies]] and to focus on completing transition cases.  More information about the CNA’s September 2008 decision may be found on its [http://www.cna.gob.gt website]. 
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In August 2011, the CNA announced a plan, referred to as the “Acuerdo,” which provides a general processing framework for a limited group of pending [[adoption]] cases already under CNA processing authority.  This process applies only to cases pending with the CNA and not to cases pending with the Procuraduría General de la Nación (PGN) as "notario" cases.  In December 2011, the CNA confirmed the details of the processing plan for a limited group of pending [[adoption]] cases already under CNA processing authority filed before December 31, 2007.  Since January 2012, the CNA has referred 28 cases to the U.S. Embassy for final [[adoption]] processing as acuerdo cases, and has identified others that it considered eligible to move through the acuerdo process.  The CNA performs all [[adoption]] processes free of charge.
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=Who Can Adopt=
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N/A
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==Residency==
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N/A
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==Age of Adopting Parents==
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N/A
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==Marriage==
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N/A
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==Income==
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N/A
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==Other==
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N/A
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=Who Can Be Adopted=
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N/A
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=How to Adopt=
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N/A
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==    Adoption Authority==
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N/A
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==The Process==
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N/A
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=Traveling Abroad=
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N/A
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=After Adoption=
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==Contact Information==
 
==Contact Information==
  
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'''U.S. Embassy in Guatemala'''
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'''U.S. Embassy in [[Guatemala]]'''
  
 
Avenida Reforma 7-01, Zona 10
 
Avenida Reforma 7-01, Zona 10
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'''Guatemala’s [[Adoption]] Authority'''
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'''[[Guatemala]]’s [[Adoption]] Authority'''
  
 
National Council on [[Adoption]] (CNA)
 
National Council on [[Adoption]] (CNA)
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'''Embassy of Guatemala'''
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'''Embassy of [[Guatemala]]'''
  
 
2220 R Street, N.W.  
 
2220 R Street, N.W.  
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Guatemala also has consulates in: Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, [[New York]], Providence and San Francisco.
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[[Guatemala]] also has consulates in: Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, [[New York]], Providence and San Francisco.
  
  
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For questions about a pending Form [[I-600]] petition for a child from Guatemala:
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For questions about a pending Form [[I-600]] petition for a child from [[Guatemala]]:
  
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USCIS Guatemala City Field Office
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USCIS [[Guatemala]] City Field Office
 
Email: Guatemala.Adoptions@dhs.gov  
 
Email: Guatemala.Adoptions@dhs.gov  
 
Phone:  011-502-2326-4000 (ask to be transferred to USCIS)
 
Phone:  011-502-2326-4000 (ask to be transferred to USCIS)

Revision as of 23:24, 4 November 2014

The official flag.
Source: cia.gov.

Map.
Source: cia.gov.

Map.
Source: cia.gov.

Young women on the marketplace of Chichicastenango.
Source: Wikipedia.org.

Chichicastenango Market.
Source: wikipedia.org.

Tikal Mayan ruins.
Source: Wikipedia.org.

Calle del Arco.
Source: Wikipedia.org.

Panajachel Lake Atitla.
Source: Wikipedia.org.

Notice: As of July 14, 2014, all individuals and agencies facilitating international adoptions must be in compliance with the Intercountry Universal Accreditation Act.

Guatemala Adoption Alert

There have been multiple adoption alerts over the years for Guatemala. To learn more about these alerts and what they mean for international adoption please read Guatemala Adoption Alert.


About Guatemala

The Maya civilization flourished in Guatemala and surrounding regions during the first millennium A.D. After almost three centuries as a Spanish colony, Guatemala won its independence in 1821. During the second half of the 20th century, it experienced a variety of military and civilian governments, as well as a 36-year guerrilla war. In 1996, the government signed a peace agreement formally ending the internal conflict, which had left more than 200,000 people dead and had created, by some estimates, about 1 million refugees.

Hague Convention Information

Guatemala is party to the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (Hague Adoption Convention). Intercountry adoption processing in Hague countries is done in accordance with the requirements of the Convention; the U.S. implementing legislation, the Intercountry Adoption Act of 2000 (IAA); and the IAA’s implementing regulations, as well as the implementing legislation and regulations of the child’s country of origin. For more information please read Guatemala and the Hague Convention.


Contact Information

U.S. Embassy in Guatemala

Avenida Reforma 7-01, Zona 10 Tel: 011-502-2326-4000 Fax: 011-502-2326-4674 Email: adoptguatemala@state.gov Internet: U.S. Embassy Guatemala


Guatemala’s Adoption Authority

National Council on Adoption (CNA) Address: Avenida Reforma 6-64, Zona 9 Tel: 011-502-24151600 Fax: 011-502-24151601 Email: cna@cna.gob.gt Internet: Guatemala Adoption Authority


Embassy of Guatemala

2220 R Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20008 Tel: (202) 745-4952 Fax: (202) 745-1908 Email: consul@guatemala-embassy.org


Guatemala also has consulates in: Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Providence and San Francisco.


Office of Children’s Issues

U.S. Department of State CA/OCS/CI SA-17, 9th Floor Washington, DC 20522-1709 Tel: 1-888-407-4747 Email: AdoptionUSCA@state.gov Internet: U.S. Department of State


U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)

For questions about immigration procedures: National Customer Service Center (NCSC) Tel: 1-800-375-5283 (TTY 1-800-767-1833) Internet: USCIS


For questions about a pending Form I-600 petition for a child from Guatemala:

USCIS Guatemala City Field Office Email: Guatemala.Adoptions@dhs.gov Phone: 011-502-2326-4000 (ask to be transferred to USCIS)


For questions about filing a Form I-800A or I-800 petition: National Benefits Center Tel: 1-877-424-8374 (toll free); 1-816-251-2770 (local) Email: NBC.Adoptions@dhs.gov

SOURCE

Intercountry Adoption, Bureau of Consular Affairs. U.S. Department of State Country Information[1]