"Adoption just got Easier"

Call today
 864-360-1523

On June 27, 2007 Accreditation of US Adoption Agencies resumed in Russia. As of December 28th, 2007, the Russian Ministry of Education and Science , has since announced the accreditation of the  US based adoption agencies. 
Scroll to the bottom of this page for a complete listing.  

Highlights of Dossier Preparation
for Russian Adoption 
Once you select an International Adoption Agency, and are ready to begin working on your homestudy and dossier. The average Russian and Kazakhstan adoption dossier takes most families approximately 40 hours of work.

We recommend that you contact Adobaby either before you start gathering documents for your homestudy or simultaneously when you begin working with your homestudy agency. (But if you get part-way through and say AHHHH!!! I need help, that’s okay to.) Part of the documents needed for the homestudy are duplications of what is needed for your dossier and they may be required before a home visit is scheduled.

If you are working with an out of state adoption agency and your adoption agency has not recommended a homestudy agency for you, we can help you locate a qualified homestudy professional. Russia requires that the homestudy to be completed by licensed professionals. Copies of both the agent and agencies licenses are a required part of the dossier.

The number one difference that sets the Russian dossier apart from other countries is the sheer magnitude of the documents required. The average Russian and Kazakhstan Dossier consists of approximately 30-60 original documents that have to be notarized and apostilled.

Having adopted from Russia, I often describe the Russian dossier as a “work in progress” as it can frequently change and additional documents may be required. This may be due to the region of Russia your child has been located in, new document requirements, someone ask for clarification or additional documentation,  because blue ink is used instead of black-or black instead of blue, or simply because it is Tuesday or one of hundred’s of other reasons.  Potato Juice anyone?

But seriously, from experience we have grown accustomed to these ‘mini crisis’s and at Adobaby we strive to take the labor out of your “adoption labor pains.” Once we receive your agency dossier requirement and homestudy requirements, we quickly develop a plan of action to accomplish this task.

Required documents include birth certificates, marriage license, tax returns, employment letter, pet vaccinations, medicals, and more. Any documents that we can prepare for you are filled out and made ready for your signature. Vital statistics are ordered, notarized and apostilled. Documents are completed in sequence, based on time sensitivity. For Russia some documents expire in 3 months, others 6 months.  It is essential to time these accordingly. We provide instructions for the completion of any documents that can not be obtained by Adobaby. We can not obtain the medical report as a medial examination is required and some families prefer obtaining documents themselves that may require confidential account information such as banking records. 

If you have ever been arrested, this must be disclosed to Adobaby, your adoption and home study agencies.  This information will appear on the criminal background checks/ fingerprinting.  Depending on when an arrest occurred and type of arrest, there may or may not be an issue but must be addressed beforehand and will need to be addressed properly in the homestudy.

Adobaby does not review homestudies for content as we believe that this is the role/ responsibility of your adoption agency who must approve you the prospective adoptive parent.   

Almost all of your documents for Russia will need to be notarized and apostilled.  At Adobaby, we review notary requirements with you prior to having documents notarized. Upon receipt, we thoroughly screen wording and expiration dates of notary’s commissions before sending document to be apostilled.

When documents are mailed, Adobaby reserves the right to choose what we believe to be the safest, most efficient means of transportation based on the information that you make available to us and the urgency that is required. Most often, we use Fed Ex, Super Saver Express so that we can obtain an easily traceable tracking number. Exceptions are time sensitive documents, low priority items, or if you wish to use your own express carrier account. 

It is important to make copies of each of your documents. Because completed original apostilled documents can not be unstapled, re-sealed, re-strung etc, they must be hand turned and copied, one page at a time. Making copies, sorting and stapling them together takes us approximately 1-2 hours to complete. You will need at the very minimum, one set of original documents and at least 2 sets of copies: one for your records and one for your adoption agency. 

Everyone thinks that once the dossier is completed the hard part is over.  That is an adoption myth. Now all you have to do is to wait for a referral/travel date. Not to worry, we are here for you during that part to.

Click here for more details about Adobaby’s Dossier Preparation Services

US Adoption Agencies accredited by Russia

Adopt A Child                       
Adoption Associates
Adoptions Together, Inc.       
Alliance for Children
Beacon House Adoption Services, Inc.
Catholic Social Services of the Diocese of Charlotte
Children of the World Adoption Agency
Children's Home Society & Family Services
Children's Hope International 
Christian World Adoptions 
Cradle of Hope Adoption Center
Cradle Society
Creative Adoptions, Inc. 
European Adoption Consultants
Family & Children's Agency
Florence Crittenton League of Lowell
Frank Adoption Center
Gift of Life
Gladney Center for Adoption
Happy Families International Center
International Assistance Group
Life Adoption Services, Inc
Maine Adoption Placement Services
Small World Adoption Foundation of Missouri, Inc.
Wide Horizons for Children
World Association for Children and Parents
Wyoming Children's Services 

    
    Pre-adoption educational requirements may vary from state and agency. Parenting, child care, or international adoption classes should be required.  While there are many good programs available on-line, webinars, etc, we believe that this can not compare to live classes with live instructors.  We encourage families to take advantage of these opportunities when available. They can be found through local hospitals, support organizations and local adoption and homestudy agencies.