Russia Adoption Blog

Category None
Bookmark :              


The State Department has launched a new website providing information on intercountry adoption for adoptive families. It is located at adoption.state.gov.



The link below is to a press release explaining the new site.

New Web Site Provides Info on Adopting Children from Other Countries US Department of State - Washington,DC,USA The site includes step-by-step instructions for adopting a child from another country, and a new publication for adoptive parents, “Intercountry Adoption ... See all stories on this topic

Posted by Susan N. Vissers At 10:43:53 AM Location | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Category None
Bookmark :              

There are some changes taking place in Moscow affecting families when they make their final trip to bring their children home.  When the I-600 is filed in Moscow there is also a I-604 review that takes place.  Traditionally, this review was conducted by a Department of State Consular Officer even though the legal responsibility for this actually resided with USCIS.  USCIS had delegated this responsibility to the DOS Consular Officer.  The I-604 review confirms the child's status as an orphan and eligibility for adoption.  It also confirms that the child/ren "fit" the criteria in the home study regarding age, gender, special needs and number of children to be adopted.  This means that not only are the child's documents examined but also the home study of the adoptive parents.

This procedure is in the process of changing  and the reviews will now be conducted by USCIS beginning in January, 2009.  This change could affect the outcome and timing of the issuing of the child's visa.  They have already begun with just a few cases.

Although it isn't likely to happen, adoptive parents should be prepared that this could potentially extend their time in Moscow by an additional day or two.  Once the official transition is made, we will have a better idea as to how and how many families this may impact.  It is understood that USCIS doesn't intend to delay or disrupt the adoption process in Russia but rather to insure that all is done according to the U.S. law.  Yesterday I participated in a conference call with JCICS. They have reached out to USCIS and other stakeholders in an effort to join USICS in ensuring that I-604 reviews are completed according to U.S. law and regulation while at the same time seeking to provide timely service to U.S. adoptive families.  They will be meeting with USCIS in both Washington and in Moscow during the next few weeks as part of the implementation plan.

Posted by Susan N. Vissers At 10:41:18 AM Location | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Category None
Bookmark :              


This is the season to be thankful for our many blessings.  Among those blessings are all the children who have come home from Russia in the last year and now have families to call their own.  By the end of November, 29 children from Russia will be celebrating their first Thanksgiving with new parents.  We are hopeful that an additional 8-9 children will come home before the end of the year.  Eighteen additional families will have made first trips but will not come home before the end of the year.

About 25 families have completed dossiers or are in home study process for 2009.  We could accept 25 to 30 additional families for referrals next year.  There are many more boys than girls available and always a need for families for older children both singles and siblings groups.

As we approach the holiday season, this means cold weather in most of Russia.  Culturally there are some differences in dress between Russian and Americans.  Traditionally in Russia children are dressed much more warmly than they are in the United States.  Children would never be taken outside, even on a sunny day, without a warm hat and coat buttoned to the top.  Little girls would not wear a dress without warm tights.  Adoptive parents are often openly  reprimanded by Russian citizens in the hotel or on the street if their children don't appear to be dressed warmly enough.  We would ask that while you are in Russia and have your children with you, that you comply with this custom and keep the hats and mittens on even when it would seem warm enough to be without.  An additional consideration is that your child has not spent much time outside the orphanage in the cold and isn't used to this.  

Another American custom to open windows in the winter time to bring fresh air into the room is considered unhealthy in Russia if children are in the room.  If windows are opened in the orphanage, all the children would be taken out of the room and the windows closed before the children were brought back into the room.

Russian men keep warm in the bitter winter by wearing an ushanka which is a Russian fur cap with ear flaps that can be tied up to the crown of the cap, or tied at the chin to protect the ears from the cold.  It is also referred to as a shapka, from the Russian language word for "hat". Ushanka literally translates as "ear-flaps hat".  Ushankas are often made from cheap sheepskin, rabbit or muskrat fur, though artificial fur hats are also manufactured. Artificial fur has sometimes been referred to as "fish fur" since the material has no relation to any real fur.  The most common "fish fur" is made of wool pile.  Middle class men wear shapkas made of more expensive furs such as fox or mink.  In the United States these hats are sometimes referred to a "Boris" hats or "Cossack Flaps".

Judy Dalrymple

Posted by Susan N. Vissers At 08:23:32 AM Location | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Category None
Bookmark :              


In the past couple months staff in Russia and our branch offices have been busy as several Bethany families have prepared for travel.  In August three families traveled to bring home their children.  Two of the children were boys under the age of three and one was a little girl joining her siblings who had been adopted more than a year ago.  Also in August a family traveled to meet their 7 year old son.  In September, two families came home with their young sons,  one family traveled to visit their 9 year old daughter and three families traveled to identify younger boys.  Three more families had court dates and will bring their children home in October.  Four more families will make a first trip in October to visit children and another family will bring home their 2 older daughters who they first visited in May of this year.  Our hope is that several of these waiting children will be home before the end of 2008.

Looking forward to next year, Bethany can do home studies for several more families for Russia.  We would encourage families to be open to boys and to children who are older.  This is where there is need.  If a family is open to an older toddler or school age boy the wait could be as short at 3-4 months for a referral.  The wait for young girls continues to grow as more and more Russian families adopt and fewer girls are available for international adoption.  Families could wait up to 18 months for a female referral.

Judy Dalrymple

Posted by Susan N. Vissers At 04:02:34 PM Location | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Category None
Bookmark :              


To update the information sent out earlier this week regarding the conflict in Georgia.  It is our information and understanding that there continues to be no impact on the adoption process or travel.  CNN news reported yesterday that the US would be issued an ultimatum if they supported Georgia.  It is true that this statement was made but it was made by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and not Prime Minister Putin or President Medvedev.  This is significant because it doesn't have the same authority.  We will continue to monitor this with our staff.  

Posted by Susan N. Vissers At 04:26:41 PM Location | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Category None
Bookmark :              


We have talked with staff in each of the regions where Bethany families may travel to adopt.  At this time they have not see any impact on the adoption process or the ability of the families to travel to Russia.  The good news this morning is that President Medvedev, after meeting with the EU, has ordered an end to the operation and to restore peace in Georgia.  

Posted by Susan N. Vissers At 02:28:04 PM Location | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Category None
Bookmark :              


In addition to offering international adoption services to families considering adopting from Russia, Bethany also supports a number of services offered to Russian orphans, vulnerable children, and at-risk families. Open the link below for more information about the work being done in the Leningrad Area by Bethany's strategic partner, Bethany Social Services Foundation.                 http://www.bethany.org/pdfs/updateJanuary-June2008.pdf

Posted by Susan N. Vissers At 03:20:27 PM Location | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Category None
Bookmark :              


Five Russian judges along with U.S. District Judge Gordan Quist visited Bethany Christian Services on Wednesday, July 23 as part of a week-long tour that was sponsored by the Open World Program.

With the help of two interpreters, the judges from Tuva heard presentations from families that adopted from Russia. The families, who worked with Bethany and a Russian accredited placing agency, shared how Bethany prepared them for their visits. Many families express how impressed they were with the orphanages and the adoption process while in Russia. Bethany also gave an overview of the social services programs including a project teaching orphans the life skills needed to succeed in life after the orphanage.

Although Bethany does not work in Tuva, it was interesting for Bethany staff to hear the judges’ experiences that they have had handling both domestic and international adoptions in their court. This year, 2008, is the year of the family in Russia and the judges help strengthen families through their work. One judge noted that the “best orphanage cannot replace a family.”

The judges found it beneficial to hear the positive stories from the families, and to learn about Bethany’s role in preparing families and providing services after the children come home.  One judge commented how impressed he was that “families would incur the costs to adopt from Russia.”  At the end of the morning, the group from Tuva presented a Russian nesting doll and a miniature plate representing Tuva. The judge noted that the doll was “symbolic of the work you do (at Bethany).”  

Bethany was very grateful for the opportunity to meet the judges. And a thank you to Judge Quist and the Open World program for including Bethany in the delegation’s tour.
                             

Posted by Susan N. Vissers At 04:08:05 PM Location | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Category None
Bookmark :              


Since June 16, several family have received travel plans for their first trip to Russia.  In July four families will make their first trip to visit a total of seven children.  Five of these children are school age and will finally have their forever families after years in an orphanage.  Three families will travel in July for court dates to bring their children home in August.  Bethany has 35 families who are in process who have not made that initial trip for a referral.  Activity seems to continue even though it is peak vacation time in Russia.  

Referrals have been made quickly, within a few months, for those families who can be open to either gender child and up to the age of three or four.  Several families will be home in less than a year with their child from the time their dossier is submitted to the Russian authorities.  In addition to this many older children wait for those families who can accept them.

Judy Dalrymple

Posted by Susan N. Vissers At 09:35:29 AM Location | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Category None
Bookmark :              


As we reach the midpoint of 2008 we see activity for Russia increase considerably.  In the first three months of the year, 5 Bethany families came home with their new sons or daughters.  By the end of June another 6 families will be home with a total of 8 children.  Also by the end of June 15 families (a total of 18 children) will have made an ititial trip to identify and accept children for adoption.  Only 4 of these families traveled in the first three months of 2008.  The rest have traveled in April, May and June.  All of these families anticipate court dates in the next 1-4 months.
 
We have 35 additional families without a referral who have a home study and dossier submitted or are in process.  We are pleased to see more families who are open to boys or either gender child.  This will decrease the time waiting for an invitation to Russia to idenitfy a potential referral.  Many families who were open to either gender and a child up to the age of three years or older waited only 4-6 months after their dossier was completed before making their initial trip.   There continues to be a need for those families who can consider school age children or those with special needs.
 
We have not included the Irkutsk region in the general Russia blog in the past.  This region is unique in it's requirements and no American families have been able to move forward with their adoptions for more than three years.  With the accredition of agencies earlier this year, the judge is now willing to consider the documents of the waiting families.  Our first dossier will be presented to the judge for consideration on June 20.  Please pray for a positive review and minimal changes to be requested.  Bethany has 12 families who have remained commited to the children they visited so long ago.  They need your support and prayers.
 
Judy Dalrymple
European Adoption Coordinator

Posted by Susan N. Vissers At 12:21:12 PM Location | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)