[Mamma]

Okay....I guess this is one of those days where I could use an encouraging word from anyone...anyone who survived an Embassy investigation.

We made it through a lengthy DNA process and was hopeful that everything else would be at least semi-smooth.....BUT......

We were informed last week by the Embassy that we did not get PA, and they'll be interviewing our baby girl's birthmother sometime in the near future. Not sure when, and do not know why .

I'm really relying on my faith, truly believe there is a reason for everything that's happened, and believe that He'll bring her home at just the right time.....but for some reason I could still use some encouraging words right now.

[Katelyn's Mom]

I don't have any encouraging words but I wanted to say that I will keep you in my prayers.

[Mandy4President]

Hang in there is so cliche, isn't it? I hate using it but sometimes I don't know what else to say. I hope everyday to see good news from you...I think about little girl all the time!!!! So, I guess, hang in there!!

[Brie Brock]

I wanted to let you know that I am thinking of you today. This process just plain sucks sometimes! I was just where you were...down and discouraged and today we got news that we are OUT of PGN. I am praying that your case gets out of investigation and on the fast track!

Brie

[saranbr]

We had an embassy investigation last time...took three months and our agency was of NO help, refused to find out why, etc, etc. It was a very hard three months, especially the second half since we had visited mid-way through. A gov official whom my DH knows finally got involved and demanded that they give us PA that week. They did, but it was still a terrible long wait. You might consider giving your Congress person a call...problems with the embassy are good only inthat our gov officials have some sway with our embassy. The problems with the Guat side they can't really do anything.

My thoughts and prayers are with you for a quick resolution to all this. It's terrible that they are putting the birth mom through anymore than she has too-- giving her child up, going for DNA and signing off three times ought to be traumatic enough.

[WesieMom]

You know You are in my prayers every single day. I pray that your process speeds up and you make it through this and your little princess is home. Hang in there my friend!

[drjeanne]

Momma,
Is your baby's birthmother a minor by chance? If so, they may be questioning the family court documents if they family court didn't interview both the birthmother's father and mother. When you have a minor birthmother they have to get permission from HER mother AND father in order to proceed with the adoption. Sometimes families are no longer together and a search has to be done for the birthmom's father or mother. Hopefully, your attorney can come up with information quickly and it will all be resolved! Personally, I'd think about phoning my congressman's office and finding someone there who deals with helping in international adoptions. They can call down there for you and let you know exactly what's going on and what the Embassy is asking for.

I wish you the BEST of luck!
Jeanne

[guatmom4113]

I PM'd you.

[my3guats]

Hi,

We also had a very difficult adoption. It took us from January until October to get the DNA done and results to the embassy and then the embassy put us into investigation. Our congressman's office made several contacts with the embassy. The one thing they could do was get us the date of the birthmom interview. Other than that they couldn't do anything as if the embassy feels there is a reason to investigate the case then they will and will only give the approval when their questions have been answered. In our case we were not told the reasons why but are pretty sure it was because the birthmom was born in El Salvador, there was no documents proving when she entered Guatemala, and our son's birth wasn't registered until he was almost 3 yrs. old. We finally received our preapproval in January, a year after all of our documents reached Guatemala. Our son came home that April.

I know how difficult the wait is when you are so worried about if the adoption will even happen. But I have heard of several embassy investigations and all of the children have eventually come home. Like you said it is so hard. In our case I think the long wait helped prepare us for Isaac's homecoming. He has been somewhat of a difficult child and when I am having a time where I am at wit's end with him, I just have to think back to those long long months of waiting and remember the sorrow I was feeling then and that this child is HOME now and that helps me get through these times.

So know that I feel so for your wait and understand the sorrow...but hang in there and the day your child comes home all of that sorrow will be gone as the joy that fills your heart will just push it right out!

[my2boops]

You are in my thoughts and prayers. Hope the investigation gets cleared up soon!

[mhart_sf]

Yes we did. You can see my timelines. It all worked out okay in the end. HEre is my advise contact your local representative post haste. Write a letter and then FAX it to them, then pick up the phone and start bonding to the person that is assigned to you on this case. They WILL write the US embassey in Guat for you. I am convinced that this shook us free. If you PM me
I can share with you a template of my letter I sent.

I also wrote my state senators, Hilary Clinton ect ect went totally overboard, but inthe end it is your local rep that will help the most.

Good luck I know this is tough but you do get out .....

Kind regards
Miranda

[Mamma]

Thank you so much for all your words of encouragement, advice and PM's. I appreciate knowing that all you're all there when I need some encouragement .

I've been told by our agency that we shouldn't contact the Embassy as it prevents the Embassy from doing their job . Hopefully we'll find out more in the next few weeks. As time goes on, I'm sure we'll discuss that option again with our agency.

Thank God for my faith, family, and friends!

[dsepme]

Sounds like you and I had the same agency. I contacted the Embassy every 30 days regardless of what they said. Felt that was fair. I also involved my Senators, but they weren't able to get any information that I wasn't already aware of.

My agency told me that many inquiries makes your case seem "high on the radar." As in, "Why do these people want to rush it along so much? Must be something wrong," causing them to dig deeper. I didn't buy that for a second.

Our investigation lasted 63 days during a time last year when there were a TON of people being investigated (potentially due to a "crackdown"). The day they interviewed the birth mother, we got pre-approval by 4pm. We also did not know why at the time. Since the visa petition is in the name of the child, the case is confidential and you can't know why (supposedly). After receiving our documents post-adoption, I think I know why they interviewed her based on what I read.

IMO, it was a worthless process that caused much undue stress... to my family, to my agency, and most importantly, to my sons' birth mother who had to have yet another person painfully question her about relinquishing her kids.

One positive note.... our PGN stay was speedy after this. Maybe since they knew that the Embassy already went through the case with a fine-toothed comb.

Best wishes.... it sucks, but Embassy investigations usually work out in the end.

[coachmom]

dont know what to say, but that I will be praying for you...
(((HUGS))) and ^^^PRAYERS^^^^
Doretta

[spidermanteache]

We also survived an Embassy Investigation after waiting a very long time to get DNA. We were in an Embassy Investigation from Sept. 2003-March 2004. It was not easy waiting. We got congressmen involved. I don't know if it helped or not. My feeling is that it didn't.
I wish you luck and keep on everyone to get the birthmother in for the interview so you can be done with it.

Best of luck,