Thursday, October 04, 2007

It's been a busy week at work and home. I think I'm nearly finished with the US documents and hopefully soon I'll get the dossier requirements for Vietnam. Oh how I can't wait to start that.

The State Department is now telling people not to adopt from Guatemala in pretty blunt language. My heart breaks for all those children and the families of Guat who can't take care of them. I will always have a special place for them. We'll be back one day and I hope to instill pride in E for his homeland even though it's far from what I think of the place and my own country at the moment.

8 comments:

Bacchus said...

I know several years ago, when we were considering a foreign adoption that there were lots of concerns not only with Guatemala but several other countries. What exactly is the State Department saying now?

the rube said...

i stumbled upon your blog because of the excellent title you chose.

turtles need all the help they can get these days.

god bless the turtles of our world.

Daddy Cool said...

bacchus, here's the warning:

The U.S. Department of State urges American citizens not to begin an adoption in Guatemala at this time. Fundamental changes in Guatemalan and U.S. adoption law will take effect over the next six months. These changes are likely to inject considerable uncertainty into the adoption process.

Guatemala has stated that it will become a Hague Convention country on January 1, 2008. The Government of Guatemala has informed us that they will not process adoption cases that do not meet Hague standards after December 31, 2007. They have also informed us they will not process adoptions for non-Hague member countries after December 31. We understand this to mean that Guatemala will stop processing adoptions to the United States beginning January 1, 2008, until U.S. accession to the Hague Convention takes effect. Given the average time frame for completing an adoption in Guatemala, cases started now cannot be completed before January 1, 2008.

When the Convention takes effect for the United States, there may be a period of time during which we will not be able to approve adoptions from Guatemala, until Guatemala’s adoption process provides the protections for children and families required by the Hague Adoption Convention.

Daddy Cool said...

thanks rube!

japanesewhispers said...

I've been thinking of adopting. Not for a while yet but I was wondering how difficult it is? My partner and I plan on doing it in Scotland after we get married there. Well I say planning, that's all it is now. Ideas we know nothing about how to get it started or how long it takes. Any advice would be great

Daddy Cool said...

Hello and welcome!

The international adoption process is a cumbersome process. Some of it makes sense and other times you just jump through bureaucratic hoops to get to your goal. On the plus side you completely forget about all the paperwork hassles once your little one arrives.

Being a parent is just the most tremendous experience you'll have. He helps me to be a better person and I think the make the world around me a better place. Feel free to email me if you have any specific questions or need any info! B

Minge said...

I suppose home is where the heart is. Or is that just a cliché?

Daddy Cool said...

Yes and yes!