Where We've Been, Where We're Going!

Here is a timeline of where we have been and where we will go witht the adoption. I hope this helps those of you who do not understand the process. I sometimes do not understand what is going on :). We are just ready to bring Nathan home!!
We are so thankful for family and friends who love us and are praying for us through this journey. I hope this helps!

By the way, Nathan got his first care package from us yesterday! I hope he is enjoying his mobile! I can not wait to see pictures of him in his clothes:). Hopefully the lady who took his package will be able to take the disposable cameras that we sent and bring them back with her!

Waiting for Nathan,

Casey and Stephanie

Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

Psalm 27:14

~Where We’ve Been, Where We’re Going~

Where We’ve Been:

~2006

Nov 7 - Mailed Lifeline Application!
Dec 8- Hueytown Fingerprints done

~2007

Jan 3- Fingerprints done for USCIS (US Citizenship and Immigration Services)
Apr 30- #4 on the Boys List!
May 23- USCIS Approval in the mail
May 29- #1 on the Boys List!
June 7- Received Mauro Jose’s Referral, Born March 24, 2007
June 11- Officially accepted Mauro’s Referral (Joseph Cooper)
June 21- Received the call that Mauro’s birthmother decided to keep him, so we are back at #1 on the boys list
July 13th- Friday, the 13th, we received our Referral of Jose Pablo. We are naming him Nathan Lee. He weighs 6lbs 14oz. and was born June 24th. We will officially accept on Monday.
July 17th-Turned in Power of Attorney(POA) and USCIS, Our attorney is Pedro!!
Aug 2- Received updated pictures of Nathan Lee (5weeks old)
Aug 8- Received health update- Nathan weighs 8lbs 9oz, 21in long, 14in head circ, 3.2in foot length. He has a cold right now. He also went for the appt for his DNA test today.
Aug 17- DNA is a Match!!!! (Took exactly 1 month J for DNA)

Where We’re Going:

THE NEXT STEP:

We are waiting for Pre- Approval from USCIS Guatemala. It is taking up to 60 days now. Our lawyer will do one of two things.

1.Wait for PA before submitting us to PGN
2.Or submit us to PGN without PA, let the reviewer examine the documents and notify the lawyer if there are any missing documents besides our PA, then “kick us out”. Then he will resubmit us with our PA and hopefully make it through PGN with no more KO’s.

ADDITIONAL STEPS:

*PGN (Guatemala side)

Once the case has exited Family Court and visa Pre-Approval had been received, the case enters Procuraduria General De La Nacion (PGN) to ensure all legal requirements have been met. The PGN reviewer examines the dossier, the Family Court report and the visa pre-approval. The reviewer may request additional documents or interviews. When that happens the case is kicked out of PGN and must be resubmitted with the additional documents. Once the reviewer is satisfied that all legal requirements have been met, the file is signed and submitted for Final Approval. PGN issues Final Approval for the adoption to proceed. On average PGN takes 8 weeks.

*Adoption Decree (Guatemala side)

Birth mother signs her fourth and final consent to adopt.Adoption decree is issued (which makes him legally ours!). Second DNA testing done (on baby only). Now we wait until we have his passport and US visa are issued so we can travel home! The new birth certificate is issued by the Civil Registry with our last name (can't change first or middle name until we're back in the US). Once the new BC is issued our Lawyer takes new birth certificate and applies for a Guatemalan passport.

*Immigration (US Embassy)

All documents are translated into English. Lawyer submits paperwork to the US Embassy and requests a US visa. Visa photo is taken. US Embassy issues Pink-Slip requesting final interview with us and an embassy-approved medical exam of our child. US Embassy issues a visa and gives us a "sealed packet" of documents. We are free to bring our son home!