Finally, a little movement I can report! On Friday, we finally received the notarized copies of our home study. So I immediately made an InfoPass appointment at our local USCIS (formerly known as the INS) to file our I600A (basically an application to our government to adopt internationally). I was able to get an appointment on Wednesday. We will get a same day fingerprint appointment as well. Someone recently told me the turn around for the I171H for our local office was less than 2 weeks! (The I171H is basically a letter from our government granting permission to adopt internationally.)
Today, we received my birth certificate back from the secretary of state where I was born and FINALLY Steve’s state police clearance letter (done correctly this time – guess 3rd time really is a charm).
Now we are waiting for our FBI clearance from our ink fingerprints and Steve’s CA birth certificate to be returned from the secretary of state there. Then I take everything to the secretary of state here in PA to be certified and send it all off to the Guatemalan consulate to be authenticated. After that, the paper chase will be officially over!!!