[Tussen]

Has anyone heard from their agencyt concerning a new law regarding non biological children? we have been told that Kazakhstan will no longer allow the adoption of 2 children if they are not biologically related. We have also been told that this new law effects every region! IS THIS TRUE?

Does anyone know if there is a clause regarding older children (4+ years of age)?

We are waiting on our LOI to arrive and are seeking to adopt 2 older children. We are truely shocked by the above news. We are hoping that it is not true..

PLEASE HELP!

[2Bulgarianbeauties]

Yes, I heard of this a while ago. I know in Uralsk this is true. I cannot speak for the whole country. What is your agency telling you?

Kay

[Tussen]

They told me that it was inforced last week...

others have siad something to the effect that it was months ago. I have also been told that a family that recently adopted (10 Days Ago) were approved.

So I dont know what to believe. There is no posting on the embassy website nor is the Kaz consulate aware of any changes.

[stella1]

The agency I worked with stopped giving referrals for 2 non related children a couple of months ago. But I know of people on this board who had referrals of 2 non related children already and seemed to be going to get them soon.
So I'm not sure what the full rule is, but I guess it is effecting some adoptions.

[Tussen]

That is another concern...I am under the understanding that Kaz does not issue referals until you have the 2 week bonding period with the child or children...

[randloar]

We have been told of the "directive" in Kaz regarding the adoption of two unrelated kids at one time, but its not a "law". If you go to the embassy/JCICS/dept state pages they note the difficulty, but its not a formal law.... And this has happened before, where the country informally decides to do this, but that also means it will end at some point as well....

That being said, we have been told to prepare that it might not be possible, but have also been told that the reality of this depends on all the variables (agency relationship, region, judges mood, orphanage mood, etc). There have been several families that left for travel after this was issued in March and are coming home with two kids, but there have also been families that got there and were told they could only meet one, or worse, met two and were told to choose.

We were hoping for two (still a part of us that are holding out hope), but are preparing for one........sad but true....... One rumor we heard was that this was another way for the country to slow down the process and "catch up" due to the influx of families from Russia there are more families than kids, so they want to even it out.........who knows for sure!

And what do you mean about the no referrals until 2 week bonding? I don't understand.... Do you mean you can't apply for court until after bonding? That is technically correct, so could make court be about a week after bonding.

[2Bulgarianbeauties]

By law, there are no referrals in Kaz. Reality might be different.

Kay

[Tussen]

I agree with that statement as this is what is posted on the embassy web page..

"
There is no such thing as a “referral” in Kazakhstan. Even though the adoptive parents may wish to adopt a particular child, the Government of Kazakhstan does not match a child to the parents or in anyway “assign” a child to adoptive parents until the parents arrive in Kazakhstan, select a child in person, and apply to the court to adopt the child. "

So if you have a referal, be prepared if your child (ren) is/are no longer available

Good luck

[JuleQuin]

In July, 2005 our agency told us there was a law passed in the city of Almaty not to allow 2 unrelated kids together just in the city. We were on the fence about 1 or 2, but they said that they saw a trend coming that may or may not run into our times.

They officially announced it a few months ago, but my agency did not allow 2 since last summer based upon upcoming trends.

My son was adopted in Dec. 2005, and since we couldn't do two at a time, chances are we'll go back for another (once I catch my breath!!)

Julia
Mom to 2 Kaz babes