[amyfk]

HI Sandstone,

I hope you are well. I didnt download your questions because my harddrive is messy from all of our dossier documents. I will try to recall a few of the questions I posed: my lists of questions are now in a box in my basement somewhere...

Find out if you and your wife(I assume youre married) fit the basic age, health requirements to adopt from Russia.

If youre looking for a baby, what is the minimum age of child permitted. If your looking for siblings, does the agency permit you to adopt sibling group together.

I would try to call each agency once or twice. See if they personally answer the phone. If not, and there's a message machine, see how fast they get back to you. If they dont within 24-48hr. maybe Id reconsider them.

What kind of dossier preparation assistance do you get? Is there a dossier person on staff?

What is the policy for referrals? Are you penalized if you turn down one or two referrals? Do you still stay at the top of the list?

Does your agency give you referral medical information, or do you do blind referrals(you have to go with your comfort zone on that).

How many regions in Russia does your agency work in? ( I'm assuming the more, the better). Is your dossier then logged into one specific region, how does that work?

** Is your agency accredited by the Russian govt.? If it's one of the agencies that's up for accreditation again in May, are they working on getting their documents in for reaccreditation?

What is the payment scale like? Do you pay most money upfront? Do you pay a deposit, or in installments? Do you wait until you accept a referral until you pay the second installment for your agency?

What is payment like in Russia? Do you carry a lump sum of money on you? Do you have money wired before you go to Russia?( you will have to do what's comfortable for you there-some folks have differing comfort levels on this issue)

What is the incountry service like? Do you have a translator, driver with you? Are they with you at all times? Do you travel with other families(In China they do, I dont know about Russia)

If you get to Russia and travel blind, or find out you cannot accept your referral for whatever reason, will you be referred another child on the trip?

Are you allowed to hire your own independent doctor in Moscow to visit the child in the orphanage if you choose to do so?

What kind of preplacement readings, seminars do you provide? What kind of post placement support do you provide(besides just sending in post placement reports)?

How long have you been in Business? How long have you been conducting adoptions from Russia?

How many children were adopted through your agency from Russia last year?

Can I have three or four references of families whove adopted through your agency in the last year whom I can speak with?

If, for any reason, there is a slowdown, or problems with the Russia program(and you so wish to change) do you have other adoption programs where I can easily switch to?


Best of luck,
Amy K, NJ