[shellysarita]

My agency/attorney will not allow me to foster these last couple of weeks! What?!? I'm legally responsible for Isabel and have to add her to our insurance, but I am not allowed to care for her............. We are so close to the end, I just don't get it.

Love, Shelly

[braedensmommy]

What is the reason that they are giving you? I don't understand.

[shellysarita]

No reason - just that the attorney and the agency do not want that.

[becky]

Many agencies have a no fostering rule in place. It is definitely something to check out before signing with anyone.

I know that our attorneys do not like parents to come early as there are several things to do right at the end (passport, exit exam, etc.) and when the baby is with the foster mother it is easy to coordinate...but it's not as easy when the baby is with the family at a hotel.

I know the wait at the end is awful, but hang in there...you are so close!!!

[Bizzie]

Sorry they won't let you foster that has to be frustrating. Hopefully you will be going to pick up soon!

[jpeel99]

I'm so sorry. I suppose that have had problems in the past. As stated in another post, there are a lot of things that are done at the end and getting aroung to all those appt with the family can be tough...also, you don't know how long it can all take.

I had to sign an agreement to go down early with a lot of odd requirements....


It will come....you will be down there before you know it.!!!!!

[shellysarita]

Our contract does not state that they have a "no fostering" policy, only that we have to have our visit/travel "approved" by the agency/attorney. Once again, I feel I am at their mercy........

[NeeNee]

So sorry!

I pmd you.

[csw]

Hi
I do agree with you, that you are out of PGN and if you have the final signature (protocolo I think) she is legally yours I would think they would allow you to come down. I was there and had someone helping me who spoke English..she took me for the passport, visa interview, photo, physical etc..if she wasn't there it would have been harder, mainly because our attorney didn't speak a lick of English..maybe you will be able to change their minds..

[kcbailey777]

I am sorry your agency will not let you go. I am sure they will let you once you receive Pink. This could get you there a week or so early depending on your appointment date.

I hope your baby is home soon.

Lisa

[MNStarr]

Our agency had a no fostering rule and only approved visit, we could only visit once, thats it. I'm sorry you are not able to be there.

[azamboni]

I'm sorry, Shelly -- that is so frustrating. Praying that Isabel will be home really soon!

[Mariais5]

I've been there... We were told no too.. We had planned a visit trip and received our pink slip before we left. They brought Bryce to us on 12/28, and we kept her until our appointment on 1/6. Once you receive pink, you could go regardless of how far out your Embassy appointment is..

[Paparama]

Several thoughts:

(1) It's not fostering when the adoption is complete. If you have exited from PGN and the birth mother has signed for the final time, the adoption is complete and the child is yours. You are responsible, and you have all parental rights. You wouldn't be fostering if you went to Guatemala and took possession of your child - you'd be parenting.

(2) Unless there's something very unusual about your situation, you don't ever need your agency's or attorney's permission to travel to Guatemala. All you need is a valid U.S. passport. Of course, if you travel before the adoption is complete, you have no right to see the child you hope to adopt; you only have the ability to visit with the child as authorized by the person with legal custody (almost always the attorney and/or the foster mother). On the other hand, if you travel after the adoption is complete, you darn well ought to be taking possession of your child!

(3) Once the adoption is final, the remaining steps are immigration-related. The only thing that your agency or attorney could possibly mean if they tell you you are "not allowed" to travel before Pink is that they won't help you with the final immigration steps if you do. If one is willing to do these steps without assistance from an agency or attorney, I can't think of any reason why the agency or attorney have any say in whether you travel to Guatemala and take possession of your child. Of course, most parents wisely choose to accept help from the agency and attorney with these final steps in bringing the child to the U.S. But the notion that you "aren't allowed" to reject that help and do them yourself, for your child, makes no sense to me.

[shellysarita]

Paparama
1. You're right -I wouldn't be fostering, but taking custody of my child and parenting.
2. Our contract says we need approval. I could travel there but not have anyone willing to bring me the baby....
3. If the agency/attorney are really uncooperative, I don't know how I would finish the rest of the immigration process.....


Why do we walk around on tiptoe trying not to upset our agency/attorney? Wy do we pay them all this money to do their job and then feel like we have to "toe the line" or our child will never come home?

I'm not coping very well today!!!!!!!!!!!!!