More on the adoption..

Here's what we have done so far:
June 2005 Adoption Orientation
7/ 06/05 I-600 A sent in(Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition)
8/16/05 Application sent to adoption agency
9/16/05 Homestudy done!
11/1/05 Homestudy approved by agency
12/1/05 CIS Fingerprints(Immigration)
12/1/05 All dossier documents received the seal from the secretary of State(Trenton)
12/8/05 All documents authenticated( by the consulates of Guatemala in NYC, NY)
12/12/05 Dossier sent to agency
1/19/06 I171H Approval received- we officially started awaiting a referral
3/10/06 REFERRAL --IT'S A GIRL
3/24/06 Dossier/Power Of Attorney sent to Guatemala

NOW- Our attorney is presenting all documents, photos, and medical test results to the US Embassy. The Embassy reviews the file and gives approval for the DNA testing, which is carried out by authorized medical personnel and analyzed by an approved laboratory in the US, under strict chain of custody procedures. The birthmom and child are escorted to the embassy-approved doctor where their identities are verified and saliva samples are collected for DNA analysis. The child’s thumbprint is taken and put into the adoption case file. To verify the child’s identity, US Embassy personnel compare this thumbprint to those taken when the birth was registered or when the birth mother signed custody of the child to the attorney. The birth mother’s identity is verified through her original cedula (photo identification card), a photocopy of which was entered in the adoption case file at the time the birth mother relinquished custody of the child to the attorney. The birth mother’s thumbprints are also taken. A polaroid photograph is taken of the birth mother holding the child on her lap and is attached to the DNA file. The birth mother and foster mother sign forms attesting to their identities, and the birth mother signs her consent for the DNA analysis. The lab sends a copy of the DNA test results (with photos) directly to the US Embassy in Guatemala, and to the adoptive parents and adoption agency.The US Embassy reviews the test results and all supporting documentation. If all documents are in order, the US Embassy provides the attorney with the Consentimiento (consent form)before the PGN will authorize the attorney to prepare the final adoption decree.