GUATEMALAN PROGRAM DETAILS

1. Couples must be between the ages of 25 to 55.
2. Married couples or single women only.
3. Couples can have other children and previous divorces.
4. Couples must be in good physical and mental health and financially stable.

1. Home study completed one to three months after application.
2. Referrals received in approximately 2 - 4 months.
3. Child arrives home approximately 6 months after the time of acceptance.

1. Infants usually under 4 months of age at time of referral.
2. Occasionally siblings and older children.
3. Children are cared for in private foster care while waiting for placement.
4. Male and female children, families may specify gender (longer wait for girls usually).

It is highly recommended, though not required, that you travel to Guatemala to meet your child at the time of referral. A few months later, when the adoption is complete, you may travel to Guatemala again and complete immigration and bring your child home. Each trip typically takes about three days. It is possible to have your child escorted home if travel is a significant problem for you. Children’s International always recommends travel to a child’s birth country , even when it is optional. Visiting the country of birth of your child gives you a personal insight and experience of the country. By visiting Guatemala personally, you will learn much more about your child’s birth country through interaction with Guatemalan citizens and your own first hand observations and experiences.

Our partners in Guatemala and our travel associates will be happy to accommodate you in any of your travel needs. Our experienced associates will gladly arrange your trip, even if you are working with a different agency, arranging your travel on your own, or simply planning to take a vacation to Guatemala, even long after your adoption process. If you would like to use our travel services, please fill out the following Inquiry form and our associate will in contact with you shortly.

For further detailed information please do not hesitate to contact us or visit our Travel page.

V. Estimated Expenses:

Our program fee is based on our standard Fee schedule. In order to adopt a child internationally you must complete your Local Home Study Report, as required by your state laws, US Department of Homeland Security, and in accordance with regulations from the Guatemalan authorities. We will gladly provide assistance with such services. In addition to the standard Application fee and cost of required post placement supervision, additional expenses will be as follows:

1. International program fee ............................................................................... $ 19,900
   (This includes professional compensation to personnel in Guatemala, including coordinator, attorney, translator, interpreter, all fees to courts, administrative bodies, orphanages, or foundations, as applicable, document translations from English to Spanish (e.g. your dossier) and Spanish to English of adoption paperwork, notarizations and legalization of documents originating in Guatemala, registration fees, communication costs from Guatemala e.g. shipping documents, international phone, fax, and e-mail, complete file on child proposed for adoption, photos, videotape (as applicable), physician report on a child, all expenses for the child throughout the adoption process including foster care fees, medical examinations, immunizations, medical care, food, clothes, diapers, monthly developmental reports and photos every 4-6 weeks, monthly medical check-up of child, full and complete adoption, including abandonment procedure when applicable, amended birth certificate for child, Guatemala passport/exit visa, passport and visa photographs, preparation of all paperwork required by the US Consulate (forms 1-600, 1-604, 1-864, DS-230), attendance at immigrant visa interview at US Consulate, supervision of escort, when applicable, appropriate donations, presents or gratuities, if applicable, processing of post placement reports to authorities in Guatemala. This fee is payable in 2 parts: half ($10,000) when full dossier is sent to Guatemala and half ($10,000) when the adoption is complete. Excludes any travel cost or travel related expenses. If you are applying for adoption of two children, the estimated expenses for completion of such case is expected to be a 25-40 % additionally).
2. Case management and Completion fee ......................................................... $ 4,700
3. US Homeland security processing:
   1. CIS –I600A ......................................................................................... $ 525
   2. Biometric fee, per adult ...................................................................... $ 70
4. DNA Testing / US Independent laboratory, from.............................................. $ 400

For all families, who are adopting children internationally, the US Government provides the possible benefit of a tax credit, that could be used in preparation of your tax return for the year, when the placement is completed.

1. Federal Adoption Tax Credit
   The Hope for Children Act (Public Act 107-16), effective as of January 1, 2004, increases the “qualifying adoption expenses” to $10,390. Finalized international adoptions (e.g. internationally finalized) in most cases qualify for this tax credit. The credit can be applied against tax liability over six years or with a $10,000 cap, whichever comes first.

You can learn more about adoption from Guatemala from US Department of State.

For further detailed information please do not hesitate to contact us.