Adoption Process

The current average waiting time for a referral is less than 3 months for most regions; up to 6 months in some cases. After accepting a referral, families will make two trips to Russia. Most children are ready to travel to the US within 4-6 months of being matched with their family. The overall process of adopting a child from Russia is outlined below.

Registration/ Application

Our Registration and Application are the first steps in beginning your journey as a client of Wide Horizons For Children. Full service families will be assigned a social worker and begin the home study process when we receive the first part of the application materials. You will be required to complete and return a number of documents, including general household information, financial information, criminal background checks, and others.

For clients who will be using Wide Horizons for child placement services only, you will be assigned a case worker to guide you through your adoption process, and to liaison with your home study agency social worker.

Home Study and CIS Approval

The home study is an assessment of an applicant's suitability to adopt a child, as well as an opportunity for a social worker to educate and counsel the applicants about adoption. The social worker will help identify the type of child a family is best suited to adopt. The home study itself is a written report of the findings of the social worker who has met with the applicants on several occasions, both individually and together. Additionally, in order to adopt internationally all applicants must submit an I600A application for favorable determination for the granting of an orphan petition.

Dossier Submission

The dossier consists of documents mandated by the adoption authorities in Russia before you can move forward with receiving the referral of a child for adoption. Wide Horizons will provide detailed instructions as well as support to help you with the completion of your dossier.

Referral of a Child

Russian law does not allow for information on children available for international adoption to be provided until the family travels to Russia. Adoptive parents should expect to travel to Russia without knowing anything about their child/ren. Your social worker will simply notify you when you have been given a referral. You will then receive travel information from the program coordinator.

Once in Russia, you will receive the official referral, and be presented with the medical and developmental history of the child. In addition, you will have ample opportunity to meet and observe the child, as well as to ask questions of the orphanage doctor, director, and caregivers.

Travel to Russia

Adoptive parents will be required to make two or three trips to Russia. Each person traveling will need to obtain an entry visa for each trip made.

First Trip: The first trip of approximately one week typically takes place, on average within 1 month from the child's referral, though in some regions it may take up to 3 months from the time of the referral. The primary purpose of this trip is to gather medical information and meet and observe your child.

Second Trip: The second trip takes place approximately 2-5 months after the first, depending on the child's region. Both parents are required to make the second trip. The purpose of this trip is to attend the court hearing. Once court has been completed, parents have two travel options:

• Remain in Russia for a total of 3 weeks, bringing the child home at the end of this period of time.
• Return to the U.S. and make a third trip 10-12 days later for a total of 1 week to bring the child home. Only one parent would need to return for this third trip.

Travel Resources

U.S. Department of State - Lists any current travel advisories for Russia and other countries.

Travel Protectors, LLC - Offers medical coverage and assistance services for Americans traveling outside the U.S.

Re-Fingerprinting & I600-A Updating

Are your fingerprints up to date? CIS regulations state that fingerprints must be no more than 15 months old at the time of I600 filing for child's immigrant visa. Contact your CIS Coordinator at 781.894.5330 for additional information.

Home with Child/ Post-Placement

All children adopted from Russia must be registered with the appropriate Russian Consulate or embassy upon returning to the U.S. Wide Horizons will assist families with the registration process. A 3-year period of post-placement supervision and reporting is required after your child comes home.