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#1
10-12-2007, 12:19 PM
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Embassy Appointment WITH family members???
Just curious, does anyone know if we can bring family with us the embassy appointment? Got some relatives that would like to take part in this joyous occasion.
Any info would be great. Thanks, Scott
__________________
Tenleys Very Proud Daddy  343  4/02/2007 Born 4pnds 6 ounces (full term) 4/13/2007 Referral 4/16/2007   Visit Trip #1; 5/17/2007 DNA submitted 5/29/2007 DNA back 99.99% 7/21/2007 Pre-Approval PGN 7/26/2007 Visit Trip #2; 8/01/2007 PGN (Appox.)  PGN! 10/15/2007 PGN Kicked us OUT on my B-Day. 10/16/2007 Resubmitted to PGN 10/25/2007 Visit Trip #3 12/7/2007  OUT of PGN......YEA! 12/17/2007 TRIP #4 Fostering in Antiqua.12/21/2007 BC (GC) with my name on it...yea! 1/4/08 2nd DNA taken in GC 1/10/08 2nd DNA 99.9% 1/14/08 2nd DNA at Embassy 1/17/08 Email inquiry "Where's my Pink" 1/17/08 PINK 1/30/08 Embassy Appointment 1/31/08 Packet pick up from Embassy 2/1/08 Home forever!!!!!!! 
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Guatemala Adoption Information
Guatemala Websites
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#2
10-12-2007, 12:24 PM
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Scott,
My mom came with DH and I to our Embassy appt. and had no problem getting in. I also saw other families with relatives there. 
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Jen 05/04/06 - 1st Homestudy visit 05/20/06 - 2nd Homestudy visit 09/13/06 - File I600A and fingerprints 11/02/06 - Dossier sent to be certified and auth. 11/15/06 - Received letter from USCIS requesting additional documentation  11/16/06 - Cert. & Auth. Dossier received by our agency  11/20/06 - Dossier sent to Guatemala 11/27/06 - Referral of baby girl (d.o.b. 11/20/06)  12/12/06 - Received I171-H  12/13/06 - Power of Attorney arrived in Guatemala 01/30/07 - Received DNA Authorization 02/16/07 - 02/21/07 - Visit Trip 02/23/07 - It's a match 99.99%!!!!!! 04/13/07 - I-72 04/16/07 - Resubmitted 04/24/07 - PA!  05/08/07 - Enter PGN!!  07/06/07 - OUT!!!! 07/23/07 - Submitted for Pink!  07/25/07 - I-72 07/30/07 - Resubmitted 08/07/07 - PINK!! 08/17/07 - Embassy appt. 08/21/07 - HOME!
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#3
10-12-2007, 12:26 PM
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I don't know about now, but during our PINK, another family from our agency was there with family. The adoptive mother, her daughter, the aunt, and nephew were all there. It was a slow day at the Embassy, so there was plenty of room for us. I am not sure on a regular day if that would be possible-it can get pretty cramped in there.
Not to downpla this wonderful time, but it's really pretty anti-climatic. Waiting around for awhile, go to a window, wait some more, and go to another window. If it were me, I'd rather save the celebrations for the hotel, or outside where there's more room and more to see. But that's just my opinion. Good luck with PGN!
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#4
10-12-2007, 12:39 PM
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Thank you for posting this. My MIL is coming with us for our pick-up trip, so she will be thrilled to know she can come along.
__________________
Kris Application 9/18/06 I/600A 10/10/06 I-171H 12/22/06 Dossier mailed for authentication 12/28/06 REFERRAL 1/19/07! Boy DOB 7/30/06 Dossier finally rec'd from authent. 1/22/07 Dossier to Guatemala 1/29/07 POA to Guatemala Consulate in Chicago 2/3/07...finally back 3/2/07...  DNA taken 3/2/07 DNA match! 3/15/07 SW Interview 4/13/07 PA 5/9/07 Best Visit Trip EVER 5/15 - 5/19, 2007 Out of Family Court end June (after 3 months???  )Submitted to PGN July 6th KO'd (Embassy listed incorrect ID# for birthmother on PA)  Resubmit 8/13/07  OUT! OMG! 9/14/07 Drama and heartache....then... HOME 2/6/08 CHECK OUR OUR BLOG! http://ourjourneytocaleb.blogspot.com/
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#5
10-12-2007, 12:48 PM
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Quote:
I agree. When we were there it was PACKED. (Though this may not be the case as much now with assigned appointments) And really it is very anti-climactic. Just like she said, a lot of waiting around (outside and inside) and going back and forth between windows, and really nothing to see. Good luck with whatever you decide to do!
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Debbie - Mom to 3 Including 2 from Guatemala Community Moderator
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#6
10-12-2007, 02:15 PM
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My mil went with us for pickup trip, but did not accompany us to the appointment. I am glad she didn't. The place was fairly packed... there were lots of people standing. We had seats, but we were one of the first ones in, since we had an 8 am appt, I think.
Since we had no one but ourselves there, it allowed us to talk to another adoptive parent (single mother) who happened to be in our same hotel (Marriot, of course) but whom we hadn't met. It was a really nice conversation, and our kids helped to entertain one another. The "interview" was so much of nothing, that I would not think of this as a joyous event at all. (You can't even take pics there). Also, you aren't even completed at that point... dh had to go and pick up the papers the next business day. D.
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DD born 1/11/06 (referred 1/18/06)DD home 12/14/2006
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#7
10-12-2007, 02:30 PM
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I agree...kind of like taking family to the Dept. of Motor Vehicles with you (really!). The Embassy appointment really is about that exciting. I would also save the celebration for the hotel or a nice restaurant after it's all over!
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Amy
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#8
10-12-2007, 04:40 PM
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We were there Jan. 3 of this year & it was PACKED!!! We had both of our DD's w/ us & DH spent most of the time standing along w/ several other dads. I was glad we had no one else w/ us, & it was rather anti-climactic! Next time, I hope we don't have to take any extra kids w/ us. Just the baby, especially if it's right around the Holidays again.
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Kim SAHM, & Homeschooling Mom to: one birth daughter, age 8 one adopted daughter from Guate, age 3 one adopted son from Guate-born Aug. 2, 2007, age 2 Our miracle through birth:   Our adoption miracle Born in Guatemala City: June 27, 2006 Home: January 9, 2007   Our second adoption miracle (birth siblings) Born in Guatemala City: August 2, 2007 Home: February 28, 2008   Dillon Days & Doings The Moderate Mind
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#9
10-12-2007, 05:25 PM
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My mom went with us on our pick up trip and went with us to the Embassy. I agree with most of the posters - it's very anti-climatic, and your relatives can't go with you up to the window, so all they would be doing is sitting with you.
My mom is still glad she went - she did get to experience with us, and will be able to tell Alex stories about it when he is older. Kim
__________________
Adoption #1  1/2006 - Started our journey 5/15 - Accepted referral - Alexander Diego (DOB 5/2) 10/15 - HOME FOREVER!! www.questforalex.blogspot.com Stateside Medical Fostering Alex arrives from Guatemala - 5/15 Cleft Lip Surgery Scheduled - 6/5 Surgery Postponed - Double Ear Infection, Eye Infection and Throat Infection!!  Surgery Rescheduled - 6/24 Stitches Out - 6/30 Travel back to Guatemala to return Alex to his parents - 7/24-7/27www.fosteringbabya.blogspot.com
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#10
10-14-2007, 07:58 AM
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Our lucky you all are to have family members that even interested in going!!
I have BEGGED my mom, my sister, even my little niece to come with us on our pick up trip. Sorry -- nobody's even interested. It must be great to have so much support. Enjoy it, whether they go to the embassy with you or not... PS: They could hang out outside the embassy while you are there,too...
__________________
9/03 Begin Adoption Country #1 7/04 Give up on Country #1 8/04 Begin with Country #2 1/05 Sign with HS Agency, begin HS 5/05 Give up on Country #2 6/05 Begin with #3 (Guatemala) 7/05 Dossier complete except for HS 10/05 "Social Worker from Hell" finally submits HS to DHS 11/05 HS Rejected for errors 12/05 On the Agency's list for "Waiting Child" 1/05 HS Finally done - I-171H 5/10/06 Referral #1 6/06 In FC 8/07/06 Referral #1 Gone 8/08/06 Referral #2 8/09/06 Referral #2 Gone 8/19/06 Referral #3 12/04/06 Into FC (finally!!?? why so long?) 1/19/07 DNA Test 1/26/07 DNA Results Positive 2/12/07 PA 3/06/07 SWI 4/15/07 Fingerprints Renewed 4/29/07 Out of FC (FIVE months in FC) 4/30/07 PGN 8/07/07 Copa Cabana Club - 100 Days PGN 8/19/07 One Year Anniversary of Referral 9/14/07 OUT!! 9/2007 I-171H Renewal 10/05/07 ORANGE 10/08/07 2nd DNA sample taken 10/16/07 DNA results at USE 10/18/07 PINK! 10/26/07 Together forever 10/29/07 Visa Appointment 10/31/07 HOME
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#11
10-14-2007, 01:14 PM
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Quote:
I am so sorry! That just stinks! While the Embassy appointment itself is kind of like going to the DMV, they just don't know what they are missing not going on the pickup trip itself. I volunteer to go with you if you can clear it with my husband!
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Debbie - Mom to 3 Including 2 from Guatemala Community Moderator
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#12
10-14-2007, 01:25 PM
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im having a hard time finding someone to go with me too. We are hoping to expidite a passport in two weeks time,(and pay over 300.00 to do it), so my SIL can go with us.
__________________
  Come Visit Us At: http://www.freewebs.com/ournewyorkfamilynews/ ESTIMATED TIMELINE Oct 20 2006: Agency accepts application Nov. 8: Homestudy Dec. 26: Homestudy completed Dec. 28: Dossier done Jan. 8, 2007: Guat Embassy Authentication Jan. 21: Fingerprinting January 31: baby boy born at 10:30 AM March 14: Clearance! I171-H April 24: Referral of baby boy! April 30: Lost our Referral. devastated May 17: Baby boy born May 23: Referral! June 13: DNA Authorization! June 28DNA taken June 30: Newborn screening results recieved July 11: DNA report received July14: Waiting for PA September 4: PA!! September 17: We go into PGN! September 22: WE ARE OUT! October 4: 2nd DNA approval October 8:DNA Taken October 22: DNA results delivered to Embassy October31: PINK! November 8: In our arms forever! November 9:Embassy appointment! November 13:Pick up Visa November 14:Home forever!
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#13
10-14-2007, 02:22 PM
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Scott, everybody here is exactly right. Being single, and having a non-supportive family (they absolutely love my son, but they never thought I'd actually bring him home), going to the embassy alone with my son seemed daunting.
It was. I was so bored and frazzled (because my little guy was scared), that I was just delighted that nobody was there. There are limits to the boredom that one can inflict on anybody. The document pick up the next day was equally horrid. Celebrate back in the hotel when you can walk into a happy and loving situation with your child. How soon are you going? I'm very happy for your new family. Bob
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#14
10-14-2007, 04:04 PM
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I think you can
WOW you are very lucky/blessed that your family is interested in coming along!!!
It is a lot of hurry up and wait, and a bit boring, but also a special and important part of the journey
__________________
Lola Mom to Beautiful Bio Son 8, Gorgeous Guataling Son 4 and Guapa Guataling daughter 2 1/05/07 Sent application to agency 1/20/07 began update on home study 1/30/07 beautiful baby girl born 02/02/07 referral of baby girl 6/4 - 6/7 Amazing visit trip Big LONG wait!!!!!!!! 1/30/08 HAPPY 1st B-day  02/29/08 We are HOME!!!
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#15
10-15-2007, 07:32 AM
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Well, I think if you can have other family members there on the pu trip that's great. I was on my own with DS - it was much better than the DMV. Not a huge party mind you but when I had my second interview and the American employee administered the oath and then said "congratulations on adopting your son" - yes, it was a very special moment. I even got a big hug from my atty!
IMO - if you are bringing adults that's fine but little kids will be bored v quickly. You can only bring in a book and perhaps a small water bottle if you're lucky. Someone posted here last week I think of how her kiddos were not happy campers. There is no entertainment, not enough chairs for everyone to sit and it was v. crowded when I went. No, I would NOT recommend just hanging out outside the Embassy - as there were probably over 100 Guatemalans waiting, selling, I'm not sure what. Folks should either go in with you to the Embassy or just hang out at the hotel. My atty picked up the visa the next day for me so we only had one Embassy visit (until next time!).
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