Adopted From Russia

Children being adopted from Russia is quite common, as a matter of fact; it is the number one country in which Americans choose to adopt from. There are two main reasons Russian children go up for adoption and they are 1) their birth parents are deceased or 2) because they have been abandoned by their birthparents.

When either of these scenarios occur, the child is then cared for in what is referred to as a government orphanage system. For the first six – eight months after they lose of their parents, a child must be listed in the Russian government’s database.

Following the six- eight month waiting period, the Ministry of Education is the government bureau that will then oversee the adoption process, with the assistance of an adoption agency of course.

*This is a powerful video of the conditions in Russia and the adoption of a young girl.

A child being adopted from Russia does not mean that they are of a Russian background. Just as the United States has a variety of ethnicities available for adoption such as Caucasian, Asian, Mediterranean and Gypsy, so to does Russia.

When a child is adopted from Russia, for you, it will mean traveling there a couple of times. The first time, is so that you can go to your selected orphanage with the adoption agency. Once there, you can choose a child, actually, the agency will select the child, if you do not bond with them, another child will be chosen.

You can then review their medical information if it is available and then apply to the court to get a court date. This trip should not take you any longer than one week and then you can return home, but the child must remain in Russia until the adoption is complete.

However, if you want you can stay in Russia and wait for the court date but it will likely take from 6-8 weeks and in most cases you will not be permitted to spend additional time with the new child you are hoping to adopt prior to the court decision. Not to mention that it will be expensive to stay there and you may run into visa problems, you would be better off to make the second trip.

On your second visit to Russia, which requires a two to three week stay, you will be required to attend the court hearing. Among other issues covered during this time, you will present and sign the necessary documents. Following the hearing you will receive the adoption certificate, as well as a new birth certificate for the child showing their new name and your name as the child’s parents.

Fees for Russian Adoption

It has been reported by parents who have adopted from Russia, that the cost of a Russian adoption will average between $20,000.00 and $30,000.00. This cost includes travel, accommodations and adoption fees.

Requirements for a adoption in Russian?

* As a married couple you may adopt from Russia.
* If you are single, you must be 16 years older than that child you are adopting.
* There are some medical conditions that could disqualify you from adopting, you should check with your agency regarding this.

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