Time to Adoption

It will take your family about two to four months to get a dossier together. This is dependent on your local USCIS office's processing time and the length of time it takes to complete your home study.

You are eligible to receive a referral after your home study is approved by AHH. Families typically wait between 0 - 2 months for the referral of a boy and 2 - 5 months for the referral of a girl.

Once your dossier is complete and you have a referral, the adoption process begins. From this point, it typically takes between 6 - 8 months for the adoption to be finalized, and once it is finalized you travel shortly thereafter to pick up your child.

After referral and the completion of DNA testing, you may travel to see your child. This trip can be of any length and is advisable.

The trip to pick up your child will be 3 - 5 days long. In the event that you are unable to travel, you may have an escort bring your child home from Guatemala to the United States.

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