Russia Adoption: Waiting Children Program
Who are “Waiting Children”?
Children between nine months and fifteen years who have special needs medical status
Children over the age of six with no medical issues or concerns
Location
The children come from various regions in Russia
Reason for Availability
Voluntary relinquishment of parental rights due to poverty, unemployment, or child’s medical diagnosis
Parental rights are relinquished by the court due to abuse or neglect
The parents are deceased
Children’s Situation
The children live in orphanages with trained medical staff
Eligibility for Families
Only heterosexual applicants
Married couples (at least one year) or single female applicants
Minimum age of the applicant is twenty-one years old
Families with other children in their home
Previous divorce is acceptable
Procedure
You will first submit a preliminary application to AAI, then have an International Adoption Awareness meeting with a consultant, and then complete your formal application. You will then complete your home study, your USCIS paperwork, and prepare your dossier.
Upon completion of your dossier, your documents are sent to Russia. The staff in our Russian office translate and authenticate your documents, and then submit them to the Department of Education in the region carefully selected for you by our staff.
Upon approval, you will take your first trip to Russia to meet the pre-selected child. Your child’s documents are then prepared by the Department of Education and submitted to the court. You then take the second trip to Russia to bring your child home.
Travel
Prospective adoptive parents will take two trips, the first lasting approximately one week, and the second trip lasting approximately two weeks. You will fly into Moscow or St. Petersburg and then travel to the region by train, car, or airplane. Both parents must travel for both trips, however one parent can leave Russia after the court hearing on the second trip.
Due to the nature of international adoption, the information on this page is subject to change without notice.
