The I-171H is a document you ultimately receive from the INS after filing form I-600A- Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition, along with the application fee and all required documents. You should begin this process as early as possible because it takes a while. Specifically, the fingerprint check through the FBI can take up to 3 months (and possibly longer). It doesn't always take this long, and seems to vary considerably state by state, but, to be safe, you should get this particular ball rolling right away. (www.worldchild.org)

The picture shown is of an older I-171H. Their format changes from now and then. However the excitement of the parents receiving them remains the same. Here are some things to caution you upon receiving your I-171H. This is not a guarantee that your adoption will be approved. It is just notification to the embassy that upon preliminary view you are approved to pursue the adoption of _?__ children.

You will also take notice that when the I-171H is received, a cable as been sent to the Embassy in Guatemala called Cable 37. This is the exact same information you have regarding the I-171H but with the information the embassy needs to file it with for when your case is ready for review.

Many parents apologize on message boards and listservs for their excitement over receiving the I-171H because they know they are still at the beginning. By all means...CELEBRATE! It is always advisable to celebrate every milestone as you progress along. Adopting parents who have already passed that point will look back and celebrate with you and those who have yet to reach that point will look forward to the day they too can rejoice. World Child even calls the document the "legendary I-171H!" So don't apologize ;-)