DATE: 09/10/2005 10:48:55 PM
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Here is a more detailed (and more accurate) listing of what has to happen next with our adoption:

* The lawyer then meets the birth mother for the 4th and final sign-off.

* The adoption decree is then written and issued by the lawyer and the child is legally now the child of the adoptive family.

* A new birth certificate is then issued by the Civil Registry with the child�s first and middle names unchanged, but with the names of the adoptive parent(s).

* Lawyer takes new birth certificate and applies for a Guatemalan passport (although the child is adopted by US parents, he or she is still a Guatemalan citizen).

* All documents are translated into English by certified translators, as required by US INS regulations.

* Passport is issued.

* Child gets a visa photo done.

* Lawyer takes all the paperwork back to the Embassy, including the passport, your dossier, the Family Court findings, the adoption decree, the DNA results, all translations, and the visa photos, and requests approval for an orphan visa to enter the US.

* Embassy authorizes visa. This approval is on pink paper and is called the "pink slip". It is usually issued a day or two after submission of the documents.

* Child gets an exit physical by an Embassy-approved doctor (to make sure the child doesn�t have unrecognized handicapping conditions or infectious diseases). Note that this exam used to require prior embassy approval, but can now be done any time after the passport is issued, without prior approval of the embassy.

* You are told your case is complete and you travel to Guatemala (many people travel sooner but this is the "official" time when travel is recommended).

* The lawyer completes required INS and State Department forms for visa issuance and includes them in the document package along with the results from the exit physical.

* You -- often but not always accompanined by the lawyer or someone from their staff -- bring your child and all the papers back to the Embassy early one morning (Monday - Thursday only, no visas are issued on Fridays), come back the next afternoon for your visa and sealed packet of documents.

* Then you can go home.

Like I said..... a lot of little things have to happen. PLEASE pray with us that they happen in less than the quoted 3 week timeframe so my trip will be quick!