New PGN Plans to Review All Adoption Cases Currently in PGN

May 8, 2008


The office of the new Guatemalan Solicitor General (Procuradoría General de la Nación) or “PGN” advised the U.S. Embassy on April 29 that he plans to review all adoption cases physically present in the PGN office, including those that may have already been approved by the PGN under its former leadership. 

The PGN indicated that they will require the presence of the birth mother and child to verify identification and reconfirm the mother’s voluntary relinquishment of the child for adoption.  The first set of these interviews is being conducted today.  The PGN confirmed their intention to identify any cases that are readily approvable and to release them for final processing as soon as they have been reviewed.

The Embassy maintains close communication with the PGN and has expressed the hope that the review of cases can be accomplished as quickly as possible.

We recognize the responsibility of the Government of Guatemala to establish procedures that safeguard the adoption process for its citizens.  As the Government of Guatemala continues to develop its procedures and regulations, we anticipate that the situation will continue to change.  We will provide updated information as it becomes available on the travel.state.gov website.