Russia is a country rich in culture, natural beauty and history. Covering one eighth of the world’s land area (6,592,800 square miles) and spanning 11 time zones extending across all of Northern Asia and 40% of Europe it is by far the largest country in the world. Russia has a vast recourse of natural energy and minerals.
Russia has been a world power since the earliest time of the Russian Empire through the era of the Soviet Union and now as The Russian Federation. Known all over the world for excellence in science, dance, art and literature the real wealth of this country lies within the Russian people. Some famous Russians include Gorbechev ,Putin, Tchaikovsky, Pushkin and Tolstoy just to name a few. From cities such as Moscow and St. Petersburg to Siberia and beyond, Russia is a country that will remain in your heart forever!
Adoption from Russia is a complex process which involves the efforts of many people and several branches of government. Adoption ARK is currently partnering with an accredited agency for the Russian adoption program. Adoption Ark has applied for NGO status and is actively working on receiving accreditation by the Russian Federation. The role of Adoption ARK is to help the prospective adoptive family prepare dossier, to prequalify the family for adoption based on submitted documents, to assist the family with travel arrangements and to provide pre and post adoption support. Adoption ARK will submit the dossier to the accredited agency and the accredited agency submits the dossier to the Central Authority in Russia. Afterwards, the accredited agency provides the family with information on a preferred child or the family may obtain a referral during thier first trip to Russia.
We believe that adoption affects not only parents and their adopted child/children but also the birhtcountry. The children left behind are a vital part of adoption and we will continue to support and aid them as much as possible. Adoption Ark has active humanitarian projects in Russia and has brought US families attention to older and special needs children. Please visit Arkmission to find out more about our upcoming and completed projects in Russia and around the world.
How to Start Your Russian Adoption Process
- Read over the information on this page and then contact us with any questions or fill out our no-commitment registration form and an adoption consultant will contact you. There may be waiting children in Russia on our Hidden Angels list. Please check our listings and inquire about this when speaking with an adoption consultant.
- Your contract will be reviewed and approved by our director, and then you will be assigned a caseworker to complete your adoption.
- Your caseworker will inform you of the steps needed to move forward with your adoption. Some of these steps include:
-Submitting your petition to adopt an orphan from overseas (I600A form)
-Starting your home study if you do not have one completed
-Collecting documents and forms needed for your adoption dossier
- Once your dossier is complete, all documents need to be notarized and apostilled.
- Send in your notarized, apostilled, and complete dossier to your caseworker.
- Your caseworker will make sure the dossier is complete. She will then send the dossier to Russia .
Trip One to Russia
- Your dossier will be submitted to the Russian government by the accredited agency.
- Children available for adoption are referred by the Russian Department of Education. Information on available children can be posted in Russian newspapers or other Russian media sources.
- When your dossier is approved by the Russian officials, you will be asked to travel for your first trip. We will assist you with travel plans and offer travel and in-country advice while monitoring the process in Russia .
- The first trip is between five to seven days in length.
- Once you arrive in Russia , you will travel to the region and receive your official referral from the Department of Education.
- You will then travel with your driver and coordinator to meet your child/children. Your Russian coordinator will also guide you through this part of the process while collecting, registering, and completing the necessary paperwork. You will be offered advice and assistance to prepare you for your first meeting with your child from your Russian coordinator.
- After formally accepting your referral and signing all necessary documents, you will return to the U.S. and wait for your court date.
Trip Two to Russia
- You will be notified when you are to return to Russia for your court date. Adoption ARK will assist you with your preparations for trip two.
- The second trip is approximatly 10-21 days in length.
- You return to Russia and again will be assisted by coordinators with the court date, paperwork, and of course... reuniting with your child or children.
- Your coordinator will accompany you to court and translate for you. The judge will then make his or her decision to declare you the parents of your child or children.
- Once your coordinator has completed the necessary post court paperwork, you may leave the region with your new family.
- You will return to Moscow for your child's/children's appointment for a medical exam at the American Clinic. Then you and your coordinator will take all paperwork to the American Embassy (just down the street from the clinic) to process and receive your child's/children's U.S. visa. While in Moscow , you must also register your child with the Russian Consulate.
- You return to the U.S. to begin your new life with your child!
- As you complete the next three years with your child, four post placement reports will be required, which will be sent back to the child's region.