How to Adopt a Child From Russia

Tens of thousands of children are waiting to be adopted in Russia every year. Since the early 1990s, American families have been going to Russia to adopt these children. The availability of children and the less-restrictive nature of Russian adoptions have made Russia a popular resource for potential adoptive parents.

Instructions

    • 1

      Contact the United States Immigration and Naturalization Services office nearest you to apply for approval to adopt a foreign child. You can find the number in the blue pages of your local telephone book.

    • 2

      Find an American adoption agency that specializes in Russian adoptions. You can find such an agency by asking your state's Department of Children and Family Services for a referral.

    • 3

      Fill out the necessary paperwork with your adoption agency. The agency will then submit this paperwork to the Russian orphanages with which they work. A child from one of these orphanages will be selected for you based on the information you gave in your initial paperwork.

    • 4

      Read the information that is sent to you on the child who has been selected. If you feel this child is not for you, let the agency know, so that another child can be selected.

    • 5

      Travel to Russia to meet the child who was selected for you. You'll get to spend some time at the orphanage getting to know the child and his history.

    • 6

      Return home to the United States to wait for an adoption-hearing date in a Russian court. You will not be allowed to take the child home with you at this time.

    • 7

      Return to Russia once you've been informed (through your adoption agency) of your hearing date. You'll appear in front of a judge in a Russian court and fill out all the necessary paperwork to complete the adoption.

    • 8

      Go to the United States Embassy to get a visa for your child to travel to the United States. You'll typically do this the same day your adoption is finalized.

    • 9

      Take your child to a court-approved physician in Moscow for a medical examination. This is required before you can leave the country with your child.

    • 10

      Return to the United States as a new family.

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