[Archive]

Originally Posted By Laura

I am working with a facilitator in Guatemala to adopt a child. My home study is being prepared by a social worker with an adoption agency in the U.S. in order to meet INS requirements, but I am not adopting through that agency. I am getting confusing information from the social worker and the facilitator. Twenty-two years ago I participated in some demonstrations against nuclear weapons and was convicted of trespass. Of course I have disclosed that to both the social worker and the facilitator, and they agree that the homestudy that goes to INS must include that information.
But my facilitator says that the homestudy that goes to the Guatemalan government does NOT have to include that information. She wants the social worker to delete it from the copy sent to Guatemala. The social worker says it is up to the facilitator what to include in the version provided to the Guatemalan government. Is it possible for the version of the homestudy provided to the government of the adopting country to be "summarized" and different from what goes to INS? If so, who would prepare such a summary? Any other suggestions?!?

[Archive]

Dear Laura,

My advice is to cut to the chase and find out from the Guatemalan lawyer involved whether your charge would prevent a judge from granting a final decree to you. If your charge is a felony, it certainly would. If a misdemeanor, the lawyer would need to find out how your record would be dealt with in a Guatemalan court.

I am not in favor of summarizing home studies. The home study is an official document and should not be altered. The version filed at the local INS office should be the same as the original presented to the foreign court and will be part of the package presented to the the US Consulate abroad for the orphan's US visa.