[mildredjohn]

Sign with agency in April 2005

Finish dossier in July 2005
Referral August 2005
Out of PGN Nov 2005
Pick Up trip January 2006

[Jaime Christine]

Signed with agency in Sept 2004
Began HS: Sept 2004
HS Completed: December 18th, 2004
Received I-171H: Feb 2005
Received second referral (lost first one) April 5th, 2005
Brought her home July 6th, 2005

Referral until time home- 3 months. Not typical. Very very lucky.

Would not count on that timeline again. I would anticipate 6 -10 months now after you receive a referral (maybe longer)

New Referral;
Updated HS in April
Received New I-171H: June 2006
Received Referral: 7/13/2006
DNA Authorization: 7/24/2006

Good Luck!

[brink]

Do your research to find good agency with track record in Guatemalan adoptions. Not fast, but ethical and completed adoptions. Know that there are things out of your agencies control. They cannot know every detail of your case, either. Know that your case will depend on which lawyer/social worker/judge/official your case is assigned to. As well, those people's work ethic/holidays/family circumstances will all effect how fast your case moves through the system. Factor in holidays and the slow, uncertain process called PGN. But know that if you did your research and chose an agency that knows how to complete legal adoptions in Guatemala, it is just a matter of time before you too will be blessed with a child in need of a family. Some cases seem to move fast, others take the normal 9mo to one year, and still others might be held up because of extraordinary circumstances. You just never know which track your case will take.

Our three adoptions took 14mo, 18mo, and over two years. Our kids were 4yrs, 4yrs, and 10yrs when they came home, not infants. The last one took much longer because we were waiting for abandonment and the Hague entered into it. We're doing it one more time, so it's certainly something anyone can live through, if they are committed to a child.

[NeeNee]

Homestudy Started 7/05
Referal 9/05
I171H 10/05
Home 4/28/06

Whole process about 9 months. Seemed longer when we were going through it!!

[havensd]

Signed contract with our agency: June 20, 2005
Homestudy: July 20, 2005
Received our referral 1 day after receiving our I-171H: October 26, 2005
Home 4 months after receiving referral: March 3, 2006

[guatemommyof3]

Our son's adoption took 10 months. We received our official referral when he was almost 1 month old. He came home the week he turned 4 months old. Our daughter's adoption took 11 months start to finish. We were matched when she was about 2 months old, and she came home when she was just over 6 months old. Both times, we were open to any age children, so I guess we were meant to have babies. Good luck with your decision!

Karen, mommy to Benjamin (6) and Christiana (4), both born in Guatemala, and to Bryan (3)

[momofmng]

Our process took a little less than 9 months. When people ask, I said it was like a pregnancy.

Sent in first piece of paper January 18, 2005
Referral May 23, 2005
In my arms forever October 5, 2005 (a little more than 4 months after referral)

Sarah

PS... Loved my agency and am in no way employed by them.

[aunt Ceecee]

Signed with agency in Sept 2005.....

Statred paper chase - Jan 1, 2006,
Sent in package to Guatemala attorney.... April/May 2006
Excepted baby girl on - May 2006 (born 3/2006)
Entered Family Court - June 2006
Finished Interviews & DNA - July 2006
Waiting for DNA report from Lab Corp....(Last of paper chase)
They (my agency) say I should be looking at a time frame of bringing her home by Oct / Nov....but I think she is going to be a christmas gift. And she will be 9 months old and I was so hopeing I would get her by 6 months even 7 ....but I'll take her at any age.
So if this plays out from start of paper chase to baby home it should be a total of 10 months. But I am keeping my fingers/toes and anything else I can cross, crossed!
Good Luck.................CeeCee

[Scarletann]

With our first adoption: We sent the initial application to our agency on December 8, 2003 and left to pick up our baby on September 19, 2004 (She was 3 1/2 months old)

With this adoption: We sent the initial application to our Agency on December 28, 2005 and received our referral on June 13 (she was two days old) and we are waiting ....