The Process at a Glance
Get Started!
Apply to WHAL
Submit Contract
Meet Your Coordinator and Develop Your Personalized Adoption Care Plan
Begin Compiling Your Dossier
Submit Your Dossier For Approval
Dossier is reviewed, assembled and forwarded to Accredited Agency.
The Dossier is submitted to Russian Coordinators in Moscow and translated.
Once approved....
Parents receive regional assignment & Dossier Travels to the Ministry of Education in the Identified Region in Russia for in-country approval.
Agency receives a Child Referral with limited information.
If referral is preliminarily accepted, parents are Invited to travel to Russia and travel dates are received.
The WHAL Adoption Care Team Helps Parents Get Ready to Travel!
Arrival in Russia and Meet In Country Staff Who Will Facilitate the Completion of your Adoption!
You Will Visit Your Child in the Baby House or Orphanage in Accordance to the Country Law. Parents usually Accept the Child and Submit Court Application while in Russia. By Law the Family must notify the Dept. of Ed of their Decision within 10 days. A Medical Doctor in Russia may Accompany the Family to provide an Independent Professional Opinion or an International Adoption Medical Expert may be contacted in the US.
A Court Date will be scheduled to present your Adoption Petition. The Finalized Adoption is Completed in the Russian Court during the Second Trip; Both Parents must be Present in the Court. The Next Trip will be approximately 10-15 days after Court. Some Families may Wait in Russia while Others Return to the US and then go back to Russia to Receive the Child.
Your In Country Coordinator Will Prepare You Each Step of the Way.
Your Dream Comes True and your In Country Coordinator Guides You Through the Exit Process.
Continue to Learn and Take Advantage of WHAL Education Opportunities
We Celebrate TOGETHER the expansion of your FAMILY!
With Hope and Love
Adoption Agency, Inc.
Specializing in Forever Families
Contact Us: (732) 688-7978 or info@whaladoption.org
The Adoption Process
Under normal circumstances, an adoption may take 9-12 months to complete. One parent must travel to Russia to meet the child on the first trip and both must travel to be present in court. Two trips are required in most of the regions. The length of the trips is 5-10 days if the legally required 10 day post-court waiting period is waived by the Judge. If it is not waived, there may be the need for a third trip depending on the region – if required, only one parent must travel for the third trip to receive the child. Escorts are not permitted. Again, families must be flexible. As with all international adoptions, there are paperwork requirements necessary to complete the adoption. Often there are additional documents which must be provided later in the process and any documents which are over a year old or out-of-date according to Russian requirements must be replaced prior to court. WHAL and our partner agency will assist you with all of these processes. Support and guidance is always available.
Once you have applied to and been accepted by WHAL and our accredited partner agency, you must complete your home study and provide separate documentation for your home study and for your adoption dossier (some documents will be similar to or duplicates for the home study and the dossier) which will be sent to Russia, translated and delivered to the region where you will be adopting. The regional Ministry of Education will determine which child they will refer to you. Depending on the age and gender you request and the children who are available for adoption in the orphanage, the referral process may take a few weeks up to approximately six months. The more flexible you are with both age and gender, the quicker the referral of a child will likely come.
After the adoptive parent(s)’ dossier has been registered with a regional Ministry of Education, the agency will receive a very limited amount of information about a child who is available for adoption. If the adoptive parent(s) are willing to consider that particular child, they will be asked to write a limited acceptance of the child and will be invited to visit the child in Russia for a few days at the orphanage. Transportation and accommodations will be arranged near the orphanage where parents may stay. The orphanages are located throughout the regions in Russia.
Once a child is referred to the adoptive parents, by law the family must notify the regional Ministry of Education of their decision about the child. If they decide to pursue the child (and 90-95% of families do pursue the first child referred to them), they will be asked to travel to Russia to the region to meet the child. After spending a few days with the child, they must make the decision if they will continue the adoption process for that child. They may declare the acceptance or rejection during or very soon after the first trip.
They may also request the guidance of a Russian pediatrician or an International Adoption Medical Expert. There are excellent Russian pediatricians in Moscow, who go with many families to orphanages to evaluate the children during the family's first trip. They usually go there for day two of the family’s stay and on the third day in the morning they get a comprehensive medical report in English. If the doctor has concerns, s/he may order tests to be done and then it is possible to ask for an extension about the decision deadline until the results become available. These doctors are not affiliated with the agency. Most regions / orphanages allow such visits of doctors. The family may also contact an International Adoption Medical Expert in the US from Russia, if they choose. We will provide you with a list of these doctors. The consultation must be arranged well before the family travels to Russia on the initial trip.
If the family cannot accept the referral of the child, they may submit a rejection letter. If this happens early on their first trip, the officials may provide the referral of another child while the family is still in Russia and if the next child matching their criteria is legally available. However, if the adoptive parent(s) reject the child after returning from Russia, they must travel again for trip #1 to meet the next child. If that is the case, the coordinators will try their best to get more detailed information before the trip, if at all possible. Rejections are not frowned upon, if the family provides serious and understandable reasons to reject the child. However, these reasons must be clear and have nothing to do with the “looks” of the child unless they signify medical issues. If a rejection occurs, the family remains the first “in line” as long as they make their decision reasonably quickly and with clarity on the reasons for their rejection. Sometimes families may take too long to make a decision and the officials will decide to place children with other families.
Travel
Two (or three) trips to Russia are required for adoptive parents. The length of stay varies depending on the region and parents must be flexible. As stated above, the first trip will be to officially identify the child. Both parents are required to attend the adoption court hearing. The second trip is the court trip and only then will the parents find out if the judge waives the 10 day post-court waiting period. Some regional judges are predictable (and we will advise you once we know), but the judge always has the right to not waive the waiting period. Again, flexibility is required. After court, parents may go home to wait for completion of the post-adoption paperwork, which takes about 10-15 days post court. Once the waiting period has ended, a new birth certificate will be issued and a passport may be obtained. When this paperwork is ready, one or both parents can return to Russia to begin the process of bringing their child home. During this last trip, your child will be evaluated at the international medical clinic approved by the US Embassy and then, you will visit the US Embassy. After receiving the child’s Immigrant Visa from the US Embassy, it is necessary to register the child’s adoption at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA). Please refer to the section below regarding Obtaining Travel Documents for Adopted Child.
We will advise you when you should begin to plan your trip to Russia. DO NOT PLAN YOUR TRIP UNTIL WE ADVISE YOU TO DO SO!!! We will also tell you when to apply for a visa and which type of visa to request. Please understand- this is also not a time to plan to tour the country or to do anything other than to complete the adoption. You may be able to sightsee or visit museums, but we definitely encourage you to consider this a business trip to accomplish the adoption and only the adoption! We will assist you with travel agencies which are familiar with adoption travel. Do not arrange travel or purchase visa without our instructions! Each region has been well established and staffed with a coordinator, translator and a driver. English-speaking staff greets adoptive parents in Russia at the airport. You will be cared for in a positive and comfortable manner!
Internet connections are available in most regions so families can communicate as needed while in Russia. You may also take a mobile phone or we can arrange for one while you are in Russia.
There are many steps required to complete your adoption once you are in Russia. Our partner agency’s In-Country Team will handle every detail. The team has completed hundreds of successful adoptions and will handle each detail of your adoption with professionalism and exact precision. You will be given step- by-step instructions for each phase of the in-country adoption; you will not be expected to coordinate or handle a single detail, including lodging, obtaining cell phones, or official appointments while in country. You will be guided through the exit process through the US Embassy, escorted to all embassy meetings, and all paperwork will be gathered on your behalf for signature.
Court Hearing
We will hold a conference call with you approximately 2 weeks prior to travel on the second trip, as well as on the first trip, to prepare you on both the travel as well as to discuss the court process. The adoptive parent(s) must (both) be present on those calls which will last approximately half an hour.
All applicants will be required to have a Medical Assessment completed by a Russian doctor while in Russia on the court trip. We will tell you to arrive a few days before the court date in order to accomplish these examinations. Medical evaluations completed by US physicians are no longer accepted by the judges, but some must be completed for the dossier. The judges do accept the US doctors’ evaluations only in addition to the Russian ones. Certain test results must be done right before travel to Russia and we will provide you with that information at the appropriate time.
The judge's decision will be based upon a review of various documents in each individual adoption case during the court hearing. For married couples, both adopting parents must be present. The packet of documents for the adoption case is presented to the judge. As a general rule, the judge's decision is announced and issued the day of the hearing. However, the decision will not take effect for ten days post court. During the 10 day waiting period, the adoption may be appealed; however this is very uncommon.
Obtaining Travel Documents for Adopted Child
After the court’s decision is finalized, In Country Staff will apply for the adoption certificate on behalf of the parents, the child’s new Russian birth certificate and the Russian passport based on the court decree. Children do not receive a US Passport at this time and will exit the country on a Russian Passport. All these documents will include the child’s new name. In Country Staff will be present to assist you and coordinate every step of this process. In addition to the passport, the child will need a Russian exit visa.
An adopted child must be registered with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) in Moscow prior to departing Russia. This process may take a couple days. You will be advised prior to travel as to how long to allot for this step in the process. The MFA will stamp the child’s passport as proof of registration.
The child will become an automatic US Citizen once they have entered the US on an IR 3 visa, which is the visa provided by the US Embassy for almost all Russian adoptions. Approximately 45 days after arrival in the US, the child’s US Certificate of Citizenship will be sent to the family. At that point, it is possible for the family to apply for a US passport for the child. It is possible to expedite this process. If you need information on how to speed up this process, please ask us.
Post Adoption Reports on Adopted Child from Russia
Russia has a very serious requirement that all adoptive parents must have Post Adoption Reports (PAR) completed and submitted for their adoptive children. The four reports must be completed over a period of three years by a licensed social worker. The visits for the reports, which WHAL will complete for home study families, will be conducted at months 5, 11, 23, and 35 post adoption visits and must address the adjustment of the child in your family. Reports are due in Russia at 6, 12, 24 and 36 months post adoption so we must complete and send them a bit earlier.
It is important to adhere to the exact requirements regarding Post Adoption Reports, as failure to do so could jeopardize future adoption processing in Russia. Each report must include 6 photos of the child and will be provided to our partner agency for submission to the child’s native region in Russia.
Process Overview for Adoption from Russia
The Country
Russia is the largest country in the world in terms of land mass and a population estimated at 148 million. It spans two continents, Europe and Asia, and has 11 times zones. It is bordered by Azerbaijan, Belarus, China, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Kazakhstan, North Korea, Latvia, Lithuania (Kaliningrad Oblast), Mongolia, Norway, Poland (Kaliningrad Oblast) and Ukraine. Russia comprises 11 time zones and spans two continents- Europe and Asia. When people in Kaliningrad, Russia’s westernmost city, wake up, the inhabitants of Eastern parts of Siberia are getting ready to go to bed.
Russia is the largest of 15 countries of the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), which ceased to exist on December 26, 1991. Russia has and is home to more than 100 different peoples and ethnic groups; it is the largest country in the world territory-wise. The capital and the largest city is Moscow. Russia is a country with a unique and very rich culture, dramatic history and spectacular nature. Russian people are very hospitable and eager to embrace other cultures. There are hundreds of museums and theaters in the country. We strongly encourage you to become familiar with the country, its culture and heritage, and the region where you will be adopting.
WHAL will act as your service provider for parent education, home study, consultations, dossier preparation and post adoption reports, etc; your adoption will be processed by a partner agency which has permanent Accreditation approved by the Russian government.
About the Children
There are many orphaned children who cannot find a family in Russia. There are also children with correctable handicaps who need loving homes to meet their needs. Russian children who have been registered on the regional and national registry for 8 months are available for international adoption. Siblings may also be available and if they reside in the same orphanage, they MUST be adopted together. There are many, many ethnic groups in Russia so it is very difficult to say what the most common features of a Russian child are: many are blond with blue eyes, some are slightly or strongly Asian in appearance while others have brown hair and brown eyes. Our goal is to find families for children rather than children for families and thus, families may not request a child with a certain appearance.
The children range in age from 8 months to 16 years and may appear to be healthy, have minor correctable conditions or have special needs. An “infant” is considered to be a child under the age of 18 months at the time of referral. There are children with correctable handicaps who need loving homes to meet their needs so we hope that if you are open to particular handicaps, you will mention those on your application. Those children eligible for adoption live in institutions called Baby Homes (infants to 3-4 years old), Children’s Homes (4 – 7 years old) and Boarding Schools (7-16 years old). Children may have been in these institutions for a fairly short time or since birth. The children are candidates for adoption for different reasons: 1) parental rights may have been revoked due to the birth parent(s)’ inability or unwillingness to care for their children; 2) birth parents may have relinquished their parental rights for economic reasons; or 3) the parent has died or 4) abandoned the child. These are the only acceptable legal reasons for the child being available for adoption according to US requirements. Very often the child will be in the orphanage because the parent is a single mother with no money or ability to care for the child. There are no guarantees regarding the previous care of a Russian orphan.
The medical condition of children available for adoption varies from minor issues to more serious ones depending upon their family background, such as parental alcoholism, drug abuse, neglect, abuse, difficulty or risky birth histories. Some children may also suffer from bonding and / or attachment disorders. Children with correctable medical conditions or health issues that usually improve when the child is placed in an appropriate environment are also available for adoption. Although the institutions try to give as much love and care as possible under extremely hard conditions, no one can predict future emotional or physical problems that a child may suffer from.
Russian authorities expect prospective adoptive parents to familiarize themselves with possible medical, physical, mental, emotional, social, developmental issues which may develop. This is one of the reasons we require Parent Education and Preparation in the form of reading, online courses and discussions with your social worker during your home study process. You will receive a package of information that covers our Parent Education requirement. Most of the reading and online classes must be completed prior to your receiving the referral of a child.
Eligibility
Married couples and single women may adopt from Russia. At least one of the adoptive parents must be a citizen of the US. Residence outside of the US is possible as long as one of the adoptive parents is a US citizen. (If needed, we know social workers who will travel to the family’s overseas home.) The general guideline is that there should be no more than 45-47 years between the age of parent(s) and child. Older parents (e.g. those over 50) must be open and prepared to adopt an older child(ren). US Immigration regulations require that adoptive parents be a minimum of 25 years of age. Russia allows applicants to request a child of a specific sex and to adopt two unrelated children, as well as sibling groups. Adoption of two unrelated children at the same time and its ramifications should be fully explored with your social worker, if that is a consideration of yours.
Russian authorities require potential adoptive parents to be in good health, with no known serious medical conditions or disabilities, which would affect one's life span or ability to parent. Applicants also must have no serious mental health issues, no malignant oncology diseases, no internal organ diseases, no central nervous system disorders, no acute infections, no tuberculosis (active or chronic), no alcoholism or drug addiction and no diseases or traumatic disorders causing working disabilities. Individuals with a current/ongoing history of depression, cancer, epilepsy or Bi-Polar disorder may not be legible for adoption from the Russian Federation.
You must also provide a clean criminal history and child abuse record. If you have had any history of activities that you believe have been expunged, you should complete a criminal history clearance through the state and the FBI to ensure that the report states “No Record Found” prior to pursuing an adoption from Russia.
