- We are the legal parents of Caleb. However, our attorney is unable to register the adoption and get an updated birth certificate listing us as the parents because the city where Caleb was born, Sayaxché, Petén, has passed a law that has CLOSED their registration of adoptions. We have received notification from the US Department of Homeland Security that unless the adoption is officially registered in the Sayaxché Book of Adoptions, there is no way to get Caleb a visa back to the United States.
- Our attorney is doing everything in his power to get this rectified. He is taking the Sayaxché law to constitutional court in hopes of getting it overturned, on the grounds that it is unconstitutional. He is also filing some kind of legal appeal, which is appealing the judges ruling that the adoption cannot be registered (and new BC issued) because it is the law in Sayaxché. We have been warned - THIS COULD TAKE MONTHS AND MONTHS to be rectified.
- While fighting this in the courts, Caleb remains in foster care. This is a HUGE reassurance to us. His foster family is wonderful, and it is very obvious to us that he is receiving as much love and care as possible.
- The delays that are happening with our adoption are NOT typical. Sayaxché, Petén (think of Sayaxché as the city, Petén as the state, such as Chicago, Illinois) is the only city, to our knowledge, in the entire country of Guatemala that has passed a law that has "closed" the Book of Adoptions. This is really unheard of, something no one has ever experienced before, and certainly not on anyone's radar when we began this adoption. We are aware of 4 other families who are caught up in this exact same mess, and there are at least 2,000-3,000 Guatemalan adoptions in process right now. Lucky us, huh?
As soon as anything changes, we will let you know. Unfortunately, we don't anticipate anything changing quickly. Guatemala is a country with a very strong religious base, and many of the courts and government agencies there shut down for weeks during the Christmas season. In the meantime, please keep your thoughts, prayers, and positive vibes coming. We will never give up until Caleb is safe in the US with us (or until we win the lottery and all move down to Guatemala to care for him ourselves ha ha ha).
Have a GREAT Monday.
7 comments:
Siiiigh, let's pray that this new group will move things through. Siiiiiigh, you know we're praying!! BTW - I borrowed the info for my blog to give people a glimpse of what we are up against. Much love - Bamagirl!
Kris, I'm so sorry you have to go through all of this. You're doing all that you can and making a path for all the other families. Just know you are doing all that you can and it will bring him home.
Hang in there,
HappyKosmo
Your family is in my prayers. May God bless you with continued strength!
Kathy
Waiting on Greyson
Ugh! Every time your blog pops up on my google reader I hope for good BC news. Continuing to send positive thougths your way.
Kerri and Ruby
Kris and Keith,
Oh, we are so saddened by this. Although we are positive that it will all work out in the end. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all for a speedy trial and such...
All our love,
Denise Jeremy Brenna and Delaney
UGH is right! He will be with you soon enough! Meghan and Jared will have their brother soon! He is a cute little boy---However, Kris/Kieth, if you need some money to buy him a decent shirt, let me know, I can send some purple and yellow....he he he he he he he...
He'll be with you soon.
Kim
Kris and Keith,
You are in my prayers. I am so sorry for the difficulties you are having getting your son home.
Thanks for your post on my blog. Kristi is a friend of mine and I am sorry to say we have both been walking this difficult road for a while with not much info to go on.
I pray you will get your birth certificate soon and have your son home with you.
God Bless,
Tammy
Post a Comment