Yes, it's old news now (six-days old!), but I wanted to pass along this notice from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services about the current status of Guatemala adoptions and adoption law. This press release is available from the USCIS website as a PDF. USCIS Update January 25, 2008 USCIS ANNOUNCES NEW GUATEMALAN ADOPTION LEGISLATION Intercountry […]

I'm passing this request on from another adoption agency. If you have a friend who has faced this problem, please point them here. Personal adoption stories are an extremely effective force for policy change. Please help me collect stories of families who have had difficulties changing incorrect birthdates on Certificates of Citizenship. If your child […]

The following information is adapted from the post-adoption support files here at Carolina Hope. Note that this information is directly applicable only to SC residents who have adopted from overseas. The information provided here should not be construed as legal advice, for which you should see a qualified attorney. Once you are home with your […]

On January 11 the U.S. Department of State issued a warning (dated January 9) about the status of Guatemala adoptions. (As mentioned in a previous post, Carolina Hope has put its Guatemala adoption program on hold pending new standardized procedures for adoptions in Guatemala. Of course, cases registered under the old system are still being […]

Today the Joint Council on International Children's Services (JCICS) issued an update regarding its Guatemala 5000 initiative: Joint Council Update Program: International Relations Initiative Date: January 14, 2008 Regarding: Guatemala 5000 Dear Colleagues, As part of our ongoing Guatemala 5000 Initiative, Joint Council has maintained dialogue with USDOS and USCIS and met with them most […]

This morning the Joint Council on International Children's Services issued the following announcement about newly proposed adoption legislation in the Guatemalan congress. Although this legislation hasn't passed, this is a good step in the right direction, and it's encouraging to adoption agencies and adoptive families. More importantly, it's good news for Guatemalan children in need […]

The Joint Council on International Children's Services has posted copies of the letters sent by the U.S. Congress to Guatemalan President Oscar Berger and to UNICEF. If you participated in lobbying your congressmen to sign the letters, thank you. The announcement (and link) from JCICS are below. Dear Colleagues, Joint Council has posted copies online […]

This morning, Thomas DiFilipo, President of JCICS, sent out this update of the Guatemala 5000 initiative. (I've previously blogged about this initiative here and here.) Joint Council Update Program: International Relations Initiative Date: October 31, 2007 Regarding: U.S. Congressional Letters – 203 Signatures Dear Friends and Colleagues, Through our collective efforts, the Guatemala 5000 Initiative […]

Today Thomas J DiFilipo of JCICS released an update on the Guatemala 5000 initiative, an effort to organize families with a stake or interest in Guatemala adoptions - or in child welfare generally - to advocate for a humane process while Guatemala transitions to a new adoption law. At present, there is no certainty

In a press release yesterday USCIS announced an interim rule that will govern adoptions under the Hague. The announcement, which is reproduced below, essentially states that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has formalized the procedures that will govern international adoptions from countries that are party to the Hague Convention on Protection of Children. The interim […]