[Allesia]

Hi, since there has been so much talk about Hague and the effects on our adoptions I wanted to let others know that our adoption has already ran into problems because of Hague.

We were told by our agency a month ago that we were on our way to Birth Certificate and Passport. We were worried and wondered why we had not got our travel date yet.

We talked to our agency several times and finally found out today that we were on our way out of PGN when 3 more documents were requested because of the Hague requirements.

Now we are expected to be waiting another 4-5 weeks to travel.

Birth Certificate has also slowed way down, they now have a back log.

Our baby is almost a year old and we have been waiting for her since she was 6 days old.

Everyone will see changes in their adoption no matter how far along you are, unless you cleared PGN before March 5, 2003.

Allesia

[danandkim]

What documents were they wanting?

[sydneysam]

Allesia,
How disappointing. I do feel for you. We entered pgn the end of Feb. so it will be effecting us, too. It has been 7 mo. since our referral. It is all so discouraging. Could you please tell me what three documents had to be submitted? Did you supply the documents or did the attorney have to do them.
Hoping that you get to travel soon.

Pam

[Bassette]

Regardless of the Hague obstacle, can you tell me why your child is reaching a year old? What has taken a year from the point of referal? Did you accept a referal before you were paper ready? I was hoping to bring our baby home within 3-4 months of accepting a referal, but my husband and I agreed not to accept a referal until we were paper ready and translated in guat which just leaves family court and PGN.

Of course all this was before 1.)guat adopting hague treaty, and 2.)husband flipping out and stopping the whole process. (see "Husband halts adoption! Help!", posted 3/10/03)

Good luck Allesia, you're almost there!

[KDhappygal]

Allesia, I understand this is a difficult time for you but I too would be interested in your story.

[becky]

Allesia,

I am very sorry to hear about this. What really worries me is the fact that your agency told you a month ago that you were on your way to BC and Passport. This should never have been said if you were not yet approved by PGN. If you were told this, you should have already had PGN approval. Once you have approval they certainly are not coming back and asking for more documents. It sounds as if you were misled by your agency. It seems much more likely that you were in PGN all along, and you were kicked out because of missing or inaccurate documents. Is it possible your agency is using Hague to cover their mistake in leading you to believe your were out of PGN?

I am truly sorry that your case is taking this long...it is truly a shame. I hope that once your child is home you share your entire story with the group.

Good Luck,

Becky

p.s. to Bassette...it was possible to bring home a 4 month old if you were paper ready at referral AND chose the right agency/attorney. Keep in mind that MOST do not make it in that time frame...only a few are consistent in the 4-5 month age range. Of course if Hague is actually implemented, and the attorneys do not succeed in getting it declared unconstitutional, then it is likely that the process will take longer....at this point no one knows for sure!

[auntieCAt]

It looks like we are in the same boat. our little girl will be one on april 2nd. we just keep waiting, we are at the same stage as you are. the first I heard of the Hague was yesterday. as far as we knew we were just waiting to travel.

[KDhappygal]

Allesia, from what I am reading on other boards about the meeting yesterday. There have been NO changes or decisions made about the Hague in Guatemala.

Curious and concerning that your agency is telling you differently and telling you it is the cause of your current delay.

[Allesia]

All we really know is what our agency has told us. We were told that on March 5th, 3 new documents were required from the attorney. I don't know what they were though.

Yes, we accepted our referral before we were paper ready. We started out in the Marshall Islands program and were all ready for that when INS changed requirements, so we switched.

We have learned a lot of things and would certanily do things different if we would have known them at the beginning. It has been a long (almost 2 years) process.

We are trusting God to work it all out and bring our little girl home soon. Although we are not completely happy with the way our agency has handled our adoption, I don't think they would lie to us. Maybe the attorney??or not?

We have no choice but to hang in there and do what we can to get our baby home.

Keep us in your prayers!

Allesia