The Guatemala Adoption Process

Much like in the United States, the majority of Guatemalan adoptions are private matters handled by attorneys.

For This Child works with exceptional Guatemalan adoption attorneys in Guatemala City, who process our Guatemala adoptions with care and efficiency.

During the process, the children reside with loving foster families. Some adopting families choose to foster their children themselves and live with their child in Guatemala during the adoption process. This is an awesome option, but it is not without risk. Families who choose to foster their children in Guatemala must be flexible about time. For more information about fostering your child, click here.

Throughout your adoption process, you will receive detailed updates and new photographs of your child twice a month.

You may visit your child in Guatemala during the Guatemalan adoption process as often as you like.  During your visits, you and your child will stay together in a hotel.

With Guatemalan adoptions, there are two phases to adopting a child:

Phase I of the Guatemalan Adoption - The Paper Chase.
During the paper chase, the parents arrange for their home study with the assistance of For This Child, file the I600A form with USCIS, get fingerprinted, and prepare their dossier.  For This Child works closely with its families during this stage.

Phase II of the Guatemalan Adoption – The Adoption Process.
When the adoptive parent is paper ready, the dossier is forwarded to the Guatemalan adoption attorney and the referral of a child is made. After reviewing the referral information, if the parents accept the child referral, the parents then execute a power of attorney giving the lawyer in Guatemala the authority to act on their behalf in the adoption and the process officially begins.

The Guatemala adoption then progresses in the following general order: