THE FOLLOWING IS A SUMMARY OF THE UK PROCEDURE THAT MUST BE FOLLOWED FOR ADOPTION FROM GUATEMALA

THE FOLLOWING IS A SUMMARY OF THE UK PROCEDURES THAT MUST BE FOLLOWED FOR ADOPTION FROM GUATEMALA. CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL TEXT VERSION OF THE REQUIREMENTS.

Applicants contact their local council with social services responsibilities or a VAA that undertakes intercountry adoption work.
Council or VAA completes preparation, training and assessment in accordance with UK requirements and those of authorities in chosen overseas country.
Application is considered by the Adoption Panel and agency decision maker makes decision in the light of Panel recommendation.
Where application has been approved, council sends papers to the National Assembly for Wales/ Department of Health under cover of the decision maker's letter or approval.
If the Department of Health/ National Assembly for Wales endorses the application, a Department of Health Certificate is issued.
Where required, the Department of Health co-ordinates notarization of all papers. If notarization of home study not required, applicants make separate arrangements for other papers.
The Department of Health forwards all papers to Foreign and Commonwealth Office for legalization.
Papers are returned to the Department of Health. Translation requirements must be considered here. May be carried out by independent translator in UK, the Embassy or Consulate, or undertaken in child's country.
The Department of Health will co-ordinate. Papers are forwarded by the Department of Health to relevant foreign Embassy or Consulate for authentication.
Papers forwarded to child's country of residence either via the foreign Embassy or Consulate or, more usually, by the Department of Health.
Agency in country will consider application. If approved, agency in country identifies child and sends information on the child to the UK. Prospective adopters travel to meet child. (In married couple cases both must meet child before entry clearance granted).
Adopters apply for UK Entry Clearance for the child as soon as his/her details are known and they have accepted the match.
Adopters fulfill country's conditions and requirements for adoption hearing (or equivalent) in that country.
Following adoption (or equivalent) in child's country, UK Entry Clearance procedure completed.
Adopters and child travel to UK. Adopters who have adopted in a non-designated country inform council of their intention to adopt" under UK law within 14 days of their arrival in the UK.
When the notification of intention to adopt is received by the relevant local authority, the child becomes a protected child under Section 32 of the Adoption Act 1976.