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Information on Adoption, Russia

Information on Adoption, Russia

Requirements for an Adoption, Russia
1. who is under the age of sixteen * at the time a petition is filed on his behalf; and
2. who is an orphan because of the death or disappearance of, abandonment or desertion by,.or separation or loss from, both parents or for whom the sole or surviving parent is incapable of providing the proper care and has in writing rrevocably released the child for emigration and adoption.
3. and who either has been adopted abroad by a US citizen and spouse jointly, or
by an unmarried US citizen at least 25 years old, who personally saw and observed the child prior to or during the adoption proceedings, or is coming to the US for adoption by a US citizen and spouse jointly, or by an unmarried US citizen at least 25 years old, who have or has complied with the pre-adoption requirements, if any, of the child's proposed residence.


A recent amendment to the INA provides for an adoption, Russia and the immigration of an orphan who is under the age of eighteen at the time the petition is filed, provided that child is the natural sibling of an orphan under the age sixteen who is being or was adopted by the same petitioner(s).


According to the Russian Law, to become available for adoption, russia by foreign citizens, the child must have been registered in the state database for children left without parental care for not less than three months.

 

Visa Requirements for Adoption, Russia

Each official Russian document must be presented in the following way: the original document or a copy certified by the custodian of the document and an English translation, one photocopy of the original and a second translation. Translations from languages other than Russian must be notarized:

  1. Both adoptive parents' passports with a photocopy of the information page of each passport.
  2. Power of Attorney notarized by a US notary. If one parent is not present, the remaining parent should provide photographic proof that he/ she has met the child.
  3. The child's original birth certificate, i.e. the one with the birth parents listed, certified by ZAGS.
  4. Information on the resolution of the birth parents' rights: death certificates, certificates certifying that the listed parents were not legally registered, letters of relinquishment, court decrees removing parental rights, etc. If the child was a foundling and /or the orphanage has been unable to locate the child's parents, there should be certified copies of any official documents such as records of the orphanage's attempts to track the parents.
  5. The adoption decree issued by the local court.
  6. The letter from the Ministry of Education which indicates that the child has spent the required amount of time on the Federal Data Bank and has been released for adoption by foreigners.
  7. The letter from each orphanage or hospital that the child has been in. This letter should include the dates of the child's stay in the institution, any information as to whether the child was visited and a statement of no objection to the adoption by the orphanage.
  8. The adoption certificate.
  9. The amended birth certificate, i.e. the one which indicates the names of the American adoptive parents.
  10. The child's passport and a photocopy of the information page
  11. The medical form in a sealed envelope from the Panel Physician. (see list below).
  12. Form I-600 (the "blue" form) completed, signed and dated by both parents.
  13. Form DS-230 (the "white" form) - Application for Immigrant Visa. This form should be completed from the perspective of the adopted child. Please do not sign this form until asked to do so.
  14. Form I-604 (investigation form). This form should be completed by parents. This form must contain information about the child before adoption.
  15. Immunization Affidavit
  16. I-864 - Affidavit of Support (only required if one of the parents was not presented at the court hearing or if parents reside outside the US ), photocopies of last 3 year's tax returns and proof of current employment. The tax returns do not have to be notarized, but you have to provide complete sets. If you are adopting more than one child, you must submit a separate I-864 and set of financial documents for each child. The copies and translations will become part of the child's immigrant visa. All originals which are presented at the Embassy will be returned to the parents immediately following the interview with the Consular officer.
  17. Three color photos of your child with the right ear and both eyes showing 2"x1 3/4 (30x40 mm)


If You Have More Questions on Adoption, Russia

  • Telephone - Office of Children's Issues - Recorded information regarding changes in adoption procedures and general information, (202) 736-7000.
    - State Department Visa Office - Recorded information concerning immigrant visas for adoptive children, (202) 663-1225.
  • Immigration and Naturalization Service - Recorded information for requesting immigrant visa application forms, 1-800-870-FORM (3676).
  • Automated fax - contains the full text of the office's international adoption information flyers and general information brochure, International Adoptions. From the telephone on your fax machine, call (202) 647-3000.
  • Internet - The Consular Affairs web site, at: http://travel.state.gov contains international adoption information flyers and the International Adoptions brochure.