When I first started inquiring about international adoption several years ago, I quickly realized that no two adoption agencies are alike. Over the years I’ve heard more adoption agency horror stories than I care to count and come to the conclusion that there are far too many unethical, greedy, dishonest, unknowledgeable and irresponsible agencies handling adoptions, particularly Guatemalan adoptions.

This last year several corrupt adoption agencies were exposed and shut down. Unfortunately, there are still many more that should not be allowed to process... more

There has been no news from Guatemala on progress being made in becoming compliant with the Hague Convention. Furthermore, no one really knows what will happen to adoptions in process if Guatemala is not compliant when the US ratifies the Hague.

Most agencies will tell you that they believe (or hope) that anyone who has filed an I-600A, Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition, with the USCIS prior to the US implementing the Hague Convention (at the very end of 2007 or early 2008) will be able to continue their adoption from Guatemala.... more

With permission from David K, I'm going to send you to a must read website. If you are thinking of beginning an adoption, or have already had a bad agency experience and want to work with another agency, David's advice and experience is excellent.

Yesterday I wrote about choosing an agency in these trying times. David's website will complement what I have... more

When most of us set out to adopt for the first time, we have a naïve enthusiasm, and don’t suspect the adoption world of being flooded with worthless agencies and corrupt lawyers/facilitators. Some of us luck out, and hit on an honest, reputable agency with good lawyers. Others, not so lucky, can get held up for YEARS, or worse yet, never bring a child home. Stories like this are abundant and tragic.

To be honest, I was one of those naïve folks when I started researching adoption three years ago. There were so many agencies online, and I picked one that had a pretty decent website (NOT a good criteria to go by). To make a long story short, I got out in time, and my application check... more

I get news alerts of things that have to do with adoptions from Guatemala. Many times they are feel good stories that are important but not something to inform you guys about here. Then there was this story from the Rockford Register Star (http://www.rrstar.com). As I read, I had no doubt that the readers of The Guatemala Adoption Blog would find this interesting!

Big day for a new mom Janine Brass was first to adopt through group’s Guatemala program

By Melissa Westphal ROCKFORD REGISTER STAR

Janine... more