Adoption from Russia

Russia sent 1,861 children to the United States in 2008, making it the third-largest sending country. An estimated 750,000 children live “without parental care” in Russia. About one-third live in institutions; the rest typically live with guardians, or under police jurisdiction. Poverty is a factor in most relinquishments.

The process can vary considerably, depending on the region where the child is living. Two trips to Russia are required to adopt from most regions, although one in three families who adopted in 2007 and 2008 report having to make three or more trips since most courts weren’t waiving the 10-day waiting period after the court date. For a list of U.S. adoption agencies accredited by the Ministry of Education and Science in Russia, see the website of the Russian embassy: www.russianembassy.org. Americans adopting from Russia will either work directly with one of these accredited agencies or with a local adoption agency that, in turn, works with an agency accredited by Russia. Russia is not a member of the Hague Adoption Convention.

Russia, known for somewhat strict health requirements for potential adoptive parents, has recently begun to enforce those rules more stringently. Some regions require that parents have eight medical specialists sign off on their medical forms. This can often be completed at a one-day appointment in Russia, at clinics that are familiar with the process, though some regions require that the forms are completed in the U.S. prior to the trip. Parents considering adopting from Russia should speak to their adoption service provider about any past or present health concerns that may disqualify them, and about the specific requirements for the region.