Once you have made the decision to create your family through adoption and feel your needs can be met by GAC. Please e-mail us or call our office for a personal telephone interview.

To begin the process with us, complete our application form and mail to our office with the $100 fee for processing. This fee is non-refundable, but is non-binding from any further commitment.

In fairness to the children it is best that all your paperwork is completed before a child is assigned to you. By doing this the child’s stay in foster care will be minimized and the adoption process will seem a lot shorter to you.

Procedures for the adoption

1. Once we receive your application, we will send you our information package explaining the steps need to complete your adoption. It will also contain examples of the various documents needed.
2. Contact a local adoption agency and apply for a home study for an international adoption completed by a licensed social worker in your state.
3. Obtain an I-600A form (Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition) from your local Immigration & Naturalization Service office or by calling 1-800-870-3676. You can also download it at http://www.ins.usdoj.gov. You must complete the form and accompany it with required documents listed on the form - birth certificates, marriage certificate and divorce decrees (if applicable), you can now submit copies of these documents, along with the $460.00 fee. You also need to be fingerprinted (every person living in the home, over the age of 18 years must be fingerprinted by INS). Contact your local INS office for a fingerprint appointment or hand deliver your application. It is recommended that you file your I-600A before you have your completed home study because it could take up to 12 weeks to get your I-600A approved. Advise INS in writing that the home study will follow.
4. Preparing your dossier – we will guide you through the collection of documents required by Guatemala. Some documents like birth certificates & marriage certificates must be certified originals. Others like the letters of recommendation must be notarized and certified at your state level. All must be authenticated from the state where they are issued from and all must be authenticated at the Guatemalan Consulate serving your area. (click here for list of documents)
5. Once your dossier is completed it needs to be forwarded to our office for review and we will forward it to our attorney in Guatemala. Also when you get a Notice of Favorable Determination by INS of the I-600A, please forward a copy to our office. This approval is known as an I-171H.
6. This is the moment you have been waiting for. A child will be identified for you and photographs and medical information will be send to you. If you accept the referral we will need a signed commitment letter and half of the program fee. This is the official start of your adoption process.
7. Once your dossier is translated in Guatemala it will be submitted to a Guatemalan Family Court where a social worker will be assigned to review the case and interview the birth mother. We will keep you informed of when it is submitted and when it is returned to the attorney.
8. The attorney will also submit your prospective adoption documents to INS at the American Embassy in Guatemala for their review and issuance of approval to perform a DNA test on the birth mother and child. This is a mandatory requirement at the embassy since 1998 for all relinquishment adoptions. When the test results are received by INS and, they have had a chance to review your case and approve it, they will issue a birth mother consent that will be included in your adoption file that goes to the PGN.
9. The file can now be submitted to the Procuraduria General de la Nacion (PGN) for their review and favorable opinion.
10. At this point the adoption is ready to be completed. The adoption decree will be drafted and signed and will be recorded at the child’s place of birth. A new birth certificate will be issued to your child with your last name.
11. The final portion of the fees is now due.
12. It is now time for your Guatemalan attorney to apply for your child’s Guatemalan passport. Once obtained, the completed adoption file will be submitted to INS at the embassy for their final review and approval. Your child will now go to see the embassy panel physician for the exit medical exam.
13. At this time we will notify you of when you can travel to pick up your child and file your I-600 form and apply for your child’s immigrant visa at the embassy.