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I think the 3 trip scenario is happening in regions where you are required to do the Russian consular registration before you are issued a Russian passport for your child. I have only heard of this happening in Moscow, but maybe other regions are requiring it, too.
I think the consular registration takes something like a week, but you can't even start it until your 10-day wait is over, and you can't do the US Embassy formalities until you get the Russian passport. That has families waiting 3+ weeks after court, and unfortunately it makes economic sense to leave and come back rather than staying in country.
When we were in Moscow in November, we met a couple who got caught in this requirement. They stayed in country, though, at great expense, and were allowed to have custody of their baby during that time. It was great for bonding, but they were very happy when they finally got that passport and could head home.
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Mother to Anastasiya, age 10, and Alesya, age 6, from Tyumen. Hosted July 2005, home forever November 2005.
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