[susanandgrace]

I know there is a hold on a lot of agencies and that even if there isn't, it isn't a good time to move fwd with Guatemala.

Does anyone have any opinion on when it may open up and if the Hague will be in tact by then?

Thanks

[ej-momtobe]

I think that in about 2 years adoptions will trickle....amost impossible to adopt an infant and long waits for any adoption.

I hope I am wrong and that athings open up soon....but if you look at what happened to other similar countries (i.e. El Salvador) when they implemented Hague, its not an encouraging picture. Countries with strong infrastructures seem to do OK with Hague, poor countries don't.

[mayaprincess]

I think that waht happened in 2003ish will happen again. I think that adoption will open back up within a year because Guate sends about 5 to 6 thousand babies to the U.S. each year and I really doubt if even 10% will be adopted in country.

[susanandgrace]

One agency said that it should open back up in about 6 or 7 months. I was just curious what all your opinions are on this.

Thanks

[DPline]

Originally Posted by mayaprincess

I think that waht happened in 2003ish will happen again. I think that adoption will open back up within a year because Guate sends about 5 to 6 thousand babies to the U.S. each year and I really doubt if even 10% will be adopted in country.

The thing is, this is a totally different situation than 2003. In 2003 the Hague was overturned and things went back to 'normal.' At this point, Guatemala is now a Hague country and the US soon will be too. It is now a matter of whether Guatemala can develop a Hague compliant system. I pray they can for the sake of the children but like EJ-Momtobe, I am not terribly optimistic.

[cbmstephanie]

If Guatemala opens up this year, I think it will be late in the year. I believe my attorney thinks she will have all of her cases done by August. I would think that it will take at least that long and then some to get the processes in place...and I think I am being fairly optimistic.

[susy...patience]

No one knows for sure what will happen with Guatemala and adoptions.......even if Guatemala can come up with a system, if the US doesn't find it acceptable after April 2008 when US adopts Hague then no US citizen will be able to start new adoption until US finds Guatemalan system acceptable.

So, I'm not optimistic either.

[kirbystarcat]

Honestly, I don't see it re-opening for several years if at all. I hate to be a downer, but that is my gut feeling based on all that has transpired. I have very little faith that the government will get this up and running again. Not only does this make me sad for the kids, but for the APs as well. There is no country that seems to be running smoothly that it is completely "safe" to jump in right now. Our Vietnamese agency tends to be one of the faster Vietnamese agencies but even it has been very slow going since November and the DOS has a warning out to families about starting a Vietnam adoption at this point because of some uncertainty in what will happen with its program later in the year. We antiipated a referral next month and I doubt it will come until May. In the meantime the wait list for a boy has grown to over 20 families and it sounds like the girl list is much worse. I have an acquaintance who has been waiting over 2 years for a referral from China and she told me this weekend that the speculation there for anyone starting out today is that the process could be as long as 8 years. If I were starting an adoption right now, I think I would go looking for a waiting child because the conventional procedures seem to be a mess anywhere I have investigated.

[lmvsmom]

If adoptions do not open up in the future, we should all fear what will happen to the children. I just want to throw out there that if at all possible, consider sponsoring a child in Guatemala, especially if you have already brought your child home. There are so many who are needy and if adoptions are not happening, there will be far too many more.

[bogeydog]

My insiders tell me that there is major talk about redoing the system. Changes beyond belief, but great changes if they happen. Watch the news! I can't give many details.

[kirbystarcat]

Absolutely, Tina. Please consider sponsoring a child in Guatemala everyone. It does not take much money by our standards to make huge improvements in a sponsored child's and their family's lives. There are so many families that need help. I also think it is a wonderful way to show your child at home that you appreciate and respect their birth culture.

[becky]

There are several issues in play here that need to be considered:
1. How will Guatemala develop a Hague compliant system? Where will the money come from to do it? What will it be like?
--If other south/central american countries are any example, then adoptions will basically stop.
2. If Guatemala comes up with a system they consider Hague compliant, will the US agree? The US has already strongly indicated that they will not allow adoptions from Guatemala if they do not feel the system in place is Hague compliant.

My gut feeling is that Guatemala will develop some system in the next year or two...but that it will follow the same path as El Salvador and Honduras, and that means international adoptions will in all respects stop.

I pray I am wrong, for the sake of all of those beautiful children!

[susanandgrace]

Thanks everyone for your thoughts on this. It is really really sad mainly for the children. What will happen to all of these precious children if they aren't adopted? It truly breaks my heart.

And yes, I agree with sponsoring children from Gautemala as well.

Thanks everyone!

[my2guats]

This post made me so sad. we so want to adopt from guatemala again and have a hard time thinking of any other country. it's not that we wouldn't adopt from another country, we would, it's just our hearts are in Guatemala.

and then to think of all those children who will live in poverty or die. it just makes me sick. we already sponsor a child form guatemala through and organization called compassion international (very good). i also have done mission work there and plan to do more.

even if guat. doesn't reopen our family will always be active there in trying to help in any way we can.

[noahsark]

It is heartbreaking to think about! I wish that this adoption did not take so long so that we could have jumped in late in the game. God has a plan- I just wish that I was an insider as to what those plans were!
Maureen