[chewy3368]

Hello all,
I need some advice. First let me begin by saying that this is NOT happening to me! I have a friend who now has a little Guatamalan child from a disrupted adoption. He came home on an IR4 from Guat because one parent did not visit. Once the child was brought home to the US, one parent refused to allow the other to bring the child home. I won't get into the details. To make a very long story short, the child has now been placed with another family. The readoption process is being completed by the original family and then the second adoption will be completed. The original family is asking the second family to complete the COC process. From what I understand, I thought that the original family had to complete the COC process because they were the ones approved by USCIS in the first place. Can someone please enlighten me on this? The child is extremely happy with the new family and it will definitely be a forever family for the child. I just want everything to go as smoothly as possible. I am thinking that the original family has to complete the COC process and then the second family will have to file for the amended COC, providing the court documents from the second adoption.

HELP!!! PLEASE!!!

Thanks,
Michelle

[Angel99]

I'm sorry I have no advice but I will pray for both families and the child that this situation gets resolved quickly!

[DPline]

I am not sure if this will help or not, but here goes. It is the process of readopting that makes the child a citizen. Not the acquiring of the COC. The COC is just proof of citizenship. I am not an expert by any means, but my take is that if the first family completes the readoption process to establish the child's citizenship, the second family could apply for the COC for the child. All that said, I would be afraid of it confusing the heck out of USCIS when the paperwork hits their desk. If it could be worked out, I think it would be easiest if family #1 would get the origional COC and family #2 could later apply for an amended one in the child's new name.

Assuming they are already working with an agency and attorney familiar with disruptions of international adoptions, my best suggestion (and I am not sure how good a one it is) would be to have your friend contact the nice gentleman (Don?) at the Buffalo USCIS that has posted on Guatadopt in the past about the G884. My thought being he is nice enough he might be willing to give her advice on the situation from a USCIS persepective. If you can't find his contact info. let me know and I can get it.

My one other concern with this situation, and admitedly I don't know much about it, is the actual readoption and how that will go. I just know someone who got divorced soon after bringing their child home and I know that the readoption process was a bit of a nightmare because of the change in their marital status. Sorry if that comes off as very negative, but I wanted to make sure your friend has an eye on all areas that can (but hopefully won't) go haywire!

Good luck to them!

[angel_bayou]

Praying for these families and I hope you get the info you need!

[susy...patience]

I think this is a time where the new family should contact an adoption lawyer with some experience in immigration issues......this is something you wouldn't want to mess up!!!

I have a couple of names (no experience with them just general contacts) if you want those, PM me.

[Devora]

Quite simply, they need to contact an immigration lawyer. They should do nothing without that. They do not want the child's immigration status to be ambiguous or in limbo.

[guatparents2be]

Ditto.
They need a lawyer to make sure it all happens properly. Poor kid! Glad the child is secure and safe now.