[livismom]

Hello all~

Obviously we all get news from our respective agencies and I am not suggesting that mine knows more or is more correct than any other agency. We really like our agency but as someone pointed out in another thread, how do any of us really know the competence or integrity of our agencies. Thus far our experience and impressions have been positive. I also know how desperate we all are for ANY information so I thought I would share the following for what ever value it is worth to anyone else.

I sent an e-mail earlier today really putting it on them re: what is happening in Guatemala in view of the recent DOS and ADA warnings/postings. I have been hitting the wall lately and let them know that... The response I got back was as follows:

"the US has finally given a date for agencies to be hague compliant and also when the hague will be implemented. It is in February 2008. They have also assured us that we will have several months to complete all adoptions in process in Guatemala."

My SW went on to say that she feels very confident that they will be able to finish all of their cases in progress even those recently started (I know for a fact that they took new people into the Guatemala program 4-6 weeks ago). She has been doing this a long time and has experience with adoptions in progress when countries have shut down their program. For what it is worth at the very least I believe that she believes what she is telling me.

I don't know if this is helpful or not but didn't want to keep it to myself. If anyone receives similar information from their agency I would love for you to post.

[amyruston]

To me, ANY info is always great.... thanks for sharing!

[JosieWales]

I agree...I like to know the outlook of agencies, to give me an idea of what could happen. Thanks.

[JosieWales]

Originally Posted by livismom

"the US has finally given a date for agencies to be hague compliant and also when the hague will be implemented. It is in February 2008. They have also assured us that we will have several months to complete all adoptions in process in Guatemala."

My SW went on to say that she feels very confident that they will be able to finish all of their cases in progress even those recently started (I know for a fact that they took new people into the Guatemala program 4-6 weeks ago). She has been doing this a long time and has experience with adoptions in progress when countries have shut down their program. For what it is worth at the very least I believe that she believes what she is telling me.

Do you think she means any adoptions started before Feb 2008 will be allowed to finish?

[livismom]

Beca,

I don't think that is what she meant. I think (and I am speculating a bit) that what she was telling me is that our govenment is giving agencies the heads up that they need to wrap up their adoptions in progress and that come 2/08 the agencies themselves and the countries that they deal with will all need to be Hague compliant. By saying that they will have a few months to complete pending adoptions suggests to me that they (U.S. Gov't) will institute some sort of a cuttoff within the next few months so that most adoptions would likely be done by 2/08. This of course assumes that Guatemala won't find a way to become hague compliant by 2/08 which I would like to think/hope is still possible.

We are fairly far along in the process (which of course doesn't meant I don't have my moments of panic !! but if I were earlier in the process i think I would find these statements comforting.

Maybe someone else can inquire about this 2/08 deadline with their agency and add to our intelligence...??

[skipdaisy]

Has anyone else heard this from their agency yet?

[AngelQT]

I just called my agency and asked if they heard anything.

"Nothing has been confirmed, and they are waiting to here"

So, with that... there was no denial.... But, I think they are just waiting to see..

HUGS

[rapf777]

Thanks for sharing. Praying for everyone in Process.

Rose

[mcmom]

Thanks for the info. That sounds promising for those of us already in process.

[knarfmo]

Thanks for the information.

[livismom]

In response to Beca's questions I pushed my agency for a little more information and here is what I got... My agency is taking new cases and is working under the assumption that most cases will take approximately 9 months to complete. Consequently (and I paraprased a bit)

"as of May 1st any new clients will be 9 months away from 2/08 and will be required to sign a waiver acknowledging the risk. If there are delays (which we all know there can/will be, it puts people past the February Hague date. Although we are being told by the DOS that we will have several more months to complete cases in process, I have a good source that says they are only going to give about 3 additional months. So there in lies the risk. Thus any new clients that sign after May 1st will be required to sign a waiver acknowledging the risks...the agency has taken on two new clients this month, but they did not have to sign the wavier.

Hope this helps!!

[allido]

WOW! That's great info.; and fairly good news. Thanks for sharing!

[KevinK]

Actually what they are saying is incorrect. The DOS issued a statement that AGENCIES must be hague accredited by 2/15. You can read it here: Department Sets February 15, 2008 Deadline for Initial Accreditation or Approval (DIAA) (4/6/07).

The notice explicitly states that this is NOT the date the Hague goes into effect. By default, the hague will go into effect on the first of some month, which could be March. We will know at least 90 days before that when they submit the papers of ratification.

The US DOS has made it 100% clear that as long as you have your I600A in by the time it goes into effect you will be allowed to complete the adoption whether or not Guatemala is hague compliant. This of course has nothing to do with any changes which may occur on the Guatemalan side. It also has nothing to do with how long a case will take to complete given the additional scrutiny on the US side. So this is not me advising people to get into the process. You can read the Guatadopt warning to see our opinion on that.

With no offense intended to anyone's agency, I am amazed at how they don't know all this by now and how messages continue to get mixed up.

I hope it all makes sense.

Kevin
Guatadopt

[Dulcey]

Linda,
Thank you so much for the insight! It is nice to hear some positive things once in awhile. I can't wait to bring our Little Cecilia home. We are hopelessly in love with her! I can't wait to hold her in my arms!

[maccafan]

Thanks for sharing this! Any news is welcome, I don't care whose agency it comes from. I even go on other agencies' websites to see if they're saying anything I haven't heard from my own agency. (My agency is very good with communication, but hey, I need something to do while I'm waiting!)