Adopting from Russia
A moratorium on Russia adoptions by Americans has been proposed and will be on the agenda when the Russian Duma (Parliament) reconvenes in mid-September, 2005, after the summer break. Any developments will be posted here.
Getting Started
Prospective parents should remember that international adoption from any country, has the potential for procedural and legal changes that are out of the hands of agencies and parents. In 1992, the first year Russia appears in the
State Department listing of orphan visas issued, the number of visas issued for Russian orphans was 394. By 2004, that number had jumped to 5,865 - second only to China on the list of countries from which Americans are adopting children.
This first step to any adoption, the homestudy is intended to educate, and to confirm your intentions, capabilities, abilities, and understanding what's involved in adopting a child who has lived for some period of time in an orphanage.
You or your agency will secure the services of a social worker licensed to perform your international adoption homestudy. It will take from one to several visits. The process varies but usually includes a walk-through of your home, interviews about reasons for adopting, parenting, and approach to discipline; writing and gathering of documents including an autobiography, health and financial statements, criminal record clearance; and letters of reference. Additionally, the homestudy preparer educates and prepares prospective parents for parenthood.
Your Agency
Your agency will assist with the homestudy, offer resources for pre-adoption education, help with the referral of a child, assist you while you're in Russia, and undertake post-placement reports after you get home.
Finding the right agency is one of the keys to a successful adoption. Do your research! First, your agency
must be
accredited by the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation. Check the cost and the specifics of what's included in the agency's program and what's not; find out how much help they give you; ask about their in-country assistance, and talk to other parents who have used the agencies you're considering.
Be as honest as possible in assessing your comfort level with possible
issues and concerns as you work with your agency.
The Russian government accepts applications from married and single prospective parents. Age is generally restricted to under 60 year of age.
Start the Paperwork
Since you've decided on adopting from Russia, go ahead and apply for a
passport for yourself (and your spouse, if married) if you don't have one. You can download application forms directly from the
Department of State.
International adoption can be an exercise in bureaucratic fortitude! There are basically two categories of paperwork: application information for your agency, and the dossier documents sent to Russia.
Get a started on your dossier! Your agency will provide you with forms and/or lists of required documentation that you need, and you can
download many of them yourself from government sites on the Web. One couple's
documentation experience includes helpful tips.
Home
Comments
I double checked with a friend who adopted from Russia last year. She says:
Russia ONLY recognizes a child's russian citizenship...they aren't American in Russia's eyes. Same applies the other way around...America only recognizes their US citizenship - but they are in fact, dual citizens until the age of 18. At that time they can "renounce" either citizenship (and really have to...) If they travel to Russia, they do so on the Russian passport and otherwise they use the US passport
Hope that helps!
Posted by: Crick at 02/13/2007 03:46 PM
I believe a child born in Russia remains a citizen until they are 18?
I will ask someone more experienced in this area to respond...:)
Posted by: Crick at 02/13/2007 09:59 AM
These websites were such a comfort and fount of information when we were awaiting the adoption of my granddaughter from Russia. I have one question, I know that she automatically became a US citizen with the Child Citizenship Act of 2000. However, what became of her Russian citizenship at that time? Can't find that information anywhere else.
Posted by: Grandcomps at 02/12/2007 08:12 AM
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