PGN-All that you may ever want to know and more

So now that both of our kiddos are in PGN I thought a more in-depth explaination of what it is would be helpful. Over Easter we had so many careing friends and family ask us how the journey is going, it is hard to explaine so this info might make it a bit clearer. I got most of this info from another adoptive mom in PGN

The PGN is almost the equivalent to the Solicitor General's office in the United States. Literally translated, Procuraduría General de la Nación means "General office of the judge advocate general of the Nation".

The PGN is responsible for reviewing each adoption case individually when all of the paperwork has been completed by the adopting parents, the agency, and the lawyer. A PGN officer (reviewer) determines whether a case is ready to be signed off or needs additional information or corrections. The US Department of State describe the process the following way:

The PGN scrutinizes the adoption case for signs of fraud or irregularities before providing its approval of the adoption. Upon receiving PGN approval, the adoptive parents in the U.S. are legally responsible for their child(ren). The attorney obtains final approval from the Guatemalan birth mother and then requests a birth certificate listing the adoptive parents as the parents of the adopted child.

If the PGN reviewer sees any irregularities in the file, they will stop reviewing the file and return it to the representing attorney for corrections, issuing a "previo". This is referred to as being "kicked out" of the PGN. While it is a frustrating development in the process, it is a common one among all cases. My agency said over 50% of their families' files, are getting KO's. Very few cases go through the PGN review without having to make some corrections.

If the case is complete, the officer will send it to the PGN director's (aka Sr. Barrios, "the big guy", Mr. PGN, "the big kahuna", etc, etc.) office to be signed. After the PGN signs off, the "Escritura final de Adoption" is issued and placed with the file. The adoption is now completed from the standpoint of the Guatemalan government. This is the event that people refer to as being "OUT!"

Once a case has been approved by the PGN, there are a few more smaller steps before the file is then submitted to the US Embassy for final approval. However, the PGN review is most important step in the process. Once this step has been completed, most adopting parents begin to celebrate as they know the end of the adoption process is near.

Each case is just as unique as the people involved in every step of the adoption process. However, the average PGN review currently is taking about 12 weeks, from submit date (or re-submit date) to OUT.

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Ok, sorry for all the political jargon... here it is in layman's terms: PGN, is the Guatemalan court system, that is the final, major step in the adoption process. Your file is submitted to PGN and you pray that you will make it thru in a short amount of time. Your case first goes to a "reviewer", I believe there are about 20-25 reviewers currently working for PGN. The reviewer typically looks thru the file and if they see anything they don't like, you will be kicked out (same as being issued a "Previo"). I have heard of just ridiculous KO's.. things like : an original staple was removed from a document, or a signature was in black ink, instead of blue, or a document was missing, when in reality it was just further down in the file, but the reviewer decided not to look that far.
In general, the reviewer stops looking at the file, when they issue a previo. So, once that mistake is fixed and your file is resubmitted to PGN, there's no telling if just a few more documents down in the file, the reviewer might find another reason to kick your case out. It's incredibly frustrating, and while I'm sure some of the reviewers consider the families who's lives they are affecting, by all of these pointless Previos, of course there are plenty that don't.

We have been praying that our reviewer would be merciful and really care about their job. Mateo's case will have been in PGN about 9 weeks this coming week, Ellie's has been in at least 3 weeks but maybe longer because we have not gotten an exact submttion date yet. We are praying to have a KO soon or to get through this crazy court system being the 50% that do not get KOs. You just never know but we are in prayer that God will work a miricle on behalf of both Mateo and Ellie and that this will be a smoother part of the process for us.


When our cases make it though the reviewers Sr. Barrios is supposed to look through each one and then sign-off (pending him finding nothing worthy of issuing a previo). Once he signs, he releases your adoption file and you are officially OUT (of PGN, of the Guatemalan Court System)!! Unfortunately, there is no rhyme or reason as to how Mr. Barrios signs off. He doesn't seem to work everyday, he does not go in date order or in any order, for that matter. Some friends have been waiting for his sign off for months, and others have gotten signed off on, in weeks.

Adoption is not for the faint of heart, to begin with.. but PGN could seriously push you over the edge! Adoption is one of the most AMAZING journey's of my life, but I will be honest -- never in my life could I have done it, or gotten this far without the LORD. If I didn't have the knowledge that HE was ultimately in control of my case, I just don't know how I would do it. I keep reminding myself that God is bigger than any court or government and that his timing will happen. Please pray for our cases and all those who are stuck in this part of the process waiting for their children to come home. Thank you for your interest and support. Lots of love,
Laura