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Could it already be 15 months since our fingerprints cleared the FBI system? Apparently it was. It seemed strange but our I-171H expired in June 2005 but our fingerprint clearance expired in February 2005. We had only looked at the expiration of the I-171H and suddenly for some reason I took notice of the fact. Quickly I called Kristina and we both made arrangements to have our fingerprints redone. I was to be fingerprinted in Charlotte and she would be fingerprinted in the US Embassy in Guatemala City.
While this seemed traumatic for the moment, as we figured out how to work it out, with many thanks to our friends on the Adoption Forum, we realized it would be OK. However, even this process wasn’t without it’s bumps and bruises for Kristina. I made it fine to Charlotte and I was in an out in a matter of minutes. She, on the other hand had a difficult experience.
Again, I’ll refer to her own writing about the incident
Fingerprints
Wednesday, February 02, 2005
5:56 PMMia and I were off to the US Embassy today. We got there around 11:45am. We had to pay the cashier then wait in line for my fingerprints. The cashier closed at 12pm so we had to wait until they re-opened at 1pm. Mia was great we had the whole room to ourselves, so she played and ran everywhere. At 1:30pm we were in front of the Embassy waiting and one of the workers standing with the guard outside asked if he could help me. I told I needed fingerprints taken and he said they would not be doing that until 2-2:30pm. He said if I wanted to go eat and come back that would be fine. Mia and I went right next door to the steak house and ate a quick bite and we were back around 2:20pm. We I went up to the entrance the guard asked me what I wanted and I showed him my receipt and said fingerprints. He said some things in Spanish and the only thing I understood was come back tomorrow. I told him no that fingerprints were at 2:30pm. He did not speak English so I asked for someone that did and he told me no. I was furious. I looked at him and said “This is my Embassy and I want someone that speaks English immediately!!!” He walked over to me and looked at my receipt again. I spoke in Spanish and told him fingerprints were only at 2:30pm. He asked me to wait a minute.
Finally someone that spoke English came over and said that fingerprints were at 1:30pm and I told him that one of the workers there also confirmed that I should come back between 2-2:30pm. He said there was nothing he could do about it and I would have to come back tomorrow. I thanked him and said ok. What a day!!!!!!
Also Edwin still has not gotten the papers from Family Court, which he was supposed to have yesterday. He will try to get them again tomorrow.
Friday, February 04, 2005 (I’ve been in Guatemala 1 year today!)
10:18 AM
Kristina – Well yesterday went great. Mia and I were at the Embassy by 1pm and we were finally taken back for fingerprints at 1:40pm. They were very nice and everything went fine. After that we walked to the mall and ate lunch, then we went back to the office at 3:45pm. I called Cody and asked him to call Edwin to see if he had the papers from Family Court. Guess what????? He said YES and we were going to PGN today!!!!!! YEAH, finally PGN we are almost done. I am very excited and I hope our connection in PGN can get us through fast!Edwin took the papers to PGN and he had someone already reviewing them. He is going back Monday and we are hoping things are approved by Monday or Tuesday.
Wow after hitting all of those bumps, we stand up and we are headed for the PGN…could things get any wackier?
The Mummau Series
1. Choosing To Adopt
2. Why International? Why Guatemala?
3. The Call From Guatemala
4. The Process Begins
5. A Prelude To Mia
6. How Can You “Choose” A Child – Leaving Others Behind?
7. Peer Into The Heart – Journal Entries
8. Meeting Maria – Finding Mia
9. Leaving Our Daughter…is that…no way!
10. Rivers of Waiting
11. Mistakes, Intentions, and Naivety – How Hope Began To Die
12. Alone in Guatemala and Waiting
13. Time Marches On – Goodbye Mia for Now
14. Joyful Gringos in Quetzaltenango
15. Mia Mia
16. Abuela Comes To The Rescue
17. Doctors, Couriers, and Delays
18. Even So, You Won’t Believe This
19. The Summer of Frustration Ends
20. Fall Approaches with Broken Hearts…Teeth
21. 1600 Miles from Tecpan (pt.1)
22. 1600 Miles from Tecpan (pt.2)
23. Kristina Comes Home
24. Mia’s First Steps
25. December’s Momentum
26. An Angel In The Embassy? I
27. An Angel in the Embassy? II
28. A Christmas to Remember…and Forget
29. Daddy’s 2nd Visit
30. Clash at The Embassy
31. We’re In The PGN! OK Let Us Out!
32. Accomodations
33. The Pencil – Never Give Up
34. Exiting the PGN…sort of
35. Exiting the PGN…yet again
36. Daddy Has Enough
37. The Countdown Begins
38. Easter Brings Hope
39. Sit With Me in San Cristobal
40. T-Minus a few things and counting
41. My New Favorite Color
42. Hope Becomes Reality-The Embassy Interview
43. Mia Mummau Goes Home
More blogs about Guatemala Adoption.
