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#1
11-03-2004, 05:05 PM
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Hello! New to Russian Adoption
Hello! I just wanted to introduce myself. My husband and I have decided to adopt from Russia. We have been dealing with infertility for 4 yrs. I have been doing research on China Adoption since last Novermber, and was planning to adopt from China, but I just cannot wait any longer (must be 30 yrs old to adopt from China.) Also, I have spoken with a few family members and co-workers who know people who have adopted from Russia, and were very pleased with the process. I just started my research and reading on Russia only a couple of weeks ago, so I am very new to this process. Please forvige my ignorance, if I ask some silly questions. I have been reading this forum for about two weeks, and everyone seems so friendly, and willing to share their information. I can say the same thing about the China forum. Everyone was very nice. I have PM a few people about the adoption agency they are using. Can anyone give me any advice on getting started. All I have done so far is send off for our certified copies of our birth certificates. I am still trying to get information on which agency to use. We have been looking at Lutheran Social Services of the South. If anyone would like to PM with any information I would be greatful. Once again thanks for all of the information on this forum and for all of the beautiful baby pictures. Hope to hear from yall soon. Oh yea, I am from Texas. Pardon the "yall".
Steffanie 
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Steffanie 30 Brent 32 11/10/04: Applied to Agency 11/16/04: I-600A form sent 11/06/05: First apt. with Social Worker 01/10/05: Last apt. with Social Worker 02/09/05: Home Study complete 02/23/05: Dossier in Russia 3/15/05: Dossier in Kaliningrad 3/20/05: Received I-171 05/10/05: Agency lost accred. 1/27/06: Decided to switch to China 03/21/06: Paperwork finished for China 05/10/06: We are DTC!!!  5/19/06: LID - we are on our way http://www.youbelong.net/thedefrateses   
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Russia Adoption Information
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#2
11-03-2004, 05:59 PM
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Just wanted to welcome you and wish you luck. I know how hard it is to get off the infertility roller coaster and jump on to the adoption one. Once you choose an agency, your next step is to send in I-600A form from BCIS (formally INS) you can download the form from their website and then you get to start on your paperwork. We've successfully adopted once. We have a beautiful daughter Natalya. She was 12 mos. old when she came home and now she's 3 and is the light of our world. I know she was choosen to be my daughter and I know all the struggles to get her were more than worth it. We've just started the process again--this time we hope to adopt a boy. Good luck; it's a roller coaster, but it's worth it!
Liz
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#3
11-03-2004, 06:57 PM
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Welcome to the roller coaster ride that is adoption!! Congratulations on making your decision. Be prepared for a lot of "hurry up and wait" things.
While you are in the stage you're in now, just continue to gather documents as rapidly as you can. Once you find out specifically what and how many of each you need, you can really get the ball rolling. Find a notary, and make sure you are on a friendly basis with them!  You will be notarizing a TON of stuff. When choosing an agency, make sure that you have a good fit between you and them. Ask them questions (you said you did your research), and if you aren't satisfied with their response, move on. Adopting from Russia isn't as bound geographically as it would seem. What I mean by that is that you can pretty much use an agency in the same town of across the country, and you're going to get the same basic formula. The benefit of using a closer agency is for the support network after the adoption is over with. Enjoy it, and use this and other forums to gather information. Welcome aboard!
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Michael Proverbs 3:5-6: "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths." 04/02/2004 - Found agency 04/27/2004 - State background check returned 05/09/2004 - Final application turned in 05/10/2004 - I600-A form sent off 05/25/2004 - First homestudy visit 06/01/2004 - Received INS fingerprint appointment 06/02/2004 - Second homestudy visit 06/09/2004 - Turned in Russia dossier 06/16/2004 - Officially on the waiting list 06/19/2004 - Fingerprinted at INS office in Birmingham, AL 07/19/2004 - Received 1st referral 07/21/2004 - 171H Received 07/30/2004 - Received 2nd referral 10/11/2004 - ACCEPTED referral on a precious baby girl!
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#4
11-03-2004, 07:02 PM
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Welcome!
don't worry about "silly" questions... we all started at some point! Gosh, I look back at my first posts and laugh at how ignorant I was Asking is the only way to learn!Welcome to the Russian roller coaster!
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3/04 sign agreement 5 - Passprts,Backgrnd Ck & homestudy 7- Submit dossier, lost referral  8- decd: blnd referral 9- chngd Krasnodar to Volgograd;more paperwk 9/30 THE CALL!!!!! ETD: 10/20 10/8 Delayed  no trip 'till.... ?11 -more pprwk, more probms & communication abysses. 12-ominous silence... 1/2005: Found out pregnant  1/24 readysetgo...two weeks to MOE appt! 2/9 met referral. cancelled adoption due to timing of pregnancy vs. court dates~plan to re-try in a year http://www.angelfire.com/folk/russiatrip 9/8/05 John-Luke Jarvis born Jan '06: agency closed for fraud... finally. May'06 records sent to police for agency investigation
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#5
11-03-2004, 07:03 PM
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Welcome!! We are on the home stretch - waiting for the final court date to bring our baby girl home. But this forum had really helped a lot in understanding process, venting fears and frustrations, and sharing joy!
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#6
11-04-2004, 07:13 AM
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Welcome to the forum. No questions are silly, we were all new to the process at one time. This is a great source of information and support. Feel free to ask as many questions as you like.
Welcome aboard, Vicki
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Mother of Alexander adopted from Stavropol region November 2003 visit my blog Life with Alexander the Great Russian Adoption International Adoption  
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#7
11-04-2004, 11:13 AM
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Welcome, Welcome!!
Buy the Russian Adoption Handbook!!! I just cant recommend this enough. It is the one tool you will use over and over. I actually pulled out pages regarding questions to ask at the orphanage and developmental milestones and took them with me trip one. It's a great resource. (I honestly should be getting commissions on this book by now! I've recommended it often enough!  )Christina
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Christina Big Boy (b. 9/1/01 a. 11/16/04) Buttercup (b. 6/8/04 a. 11/16/04) Vladivostok, Russia Every life event presents an opportunity, a gift. You just need to look closely to find it.
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#8
11-04-2004, 11:42 AM
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Lutheran Social Services
Steffanie,
My husband and I are using Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin and they are wonderful. If you choose to meet with them they will give you a packet of paperwork that you have to fill out and that will tell you what you need to get for information from the county, etc. Once you have all of that done they will come in and do a Home Study. After that is done and back to you there is more paperwork that you will need to send in to the state for finger printing etc. We are at that point right now. Good luck with everything! 
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#9
11-04-2004, 11:59 AM
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Hello,
Please PM me regarding your potential agency. I know that people cannot give out too many specifics. Pam
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#10
11-04-2004, 01:01 PM
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THANK YOU ALL! Everyone has been great. I will go out and get the book, or order it off line. I am sure I will be on here at least 10 times a day from now on. ha! ha! I wish everyone a wonderful journey. I will talk to everyone soon. Thanks again for the many warm welcomes and all of the avice I have already bugged everyone for.
Steffanie
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Steffanie 30 Brent 32 11/10/04: Applied to Agency 11/16/04: I-600A form sent 11/06/05: First apt. with Social Worker 01/10/05: Last apt. with Social Worker 02/09/05: Home Study complete 02/23/05: Dossier in Russia 3/15/05: Dossier in Kaliningrad 3/20/05: Received I-171 05/10/05: Agency lost accred. 1/27/06: Decided to switch to China 03/21/06: Paperwork finished for China 05/10/06: We are DTC!!! 5/19/06: LID - we are on our way http://www.youbelong.net/thedefrateses
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#11
11-04-2004, 03:18 PM
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Hi and Welcome! Sounds like you're off to a good start! You should definitely buy the Russian Adoption Handbook. It's very helpful. I will also PM you about the agency you're considering.
Good luck and best wishes, Mike
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Mike and Debbie Proud parents of... Joshua (Born 03/12/02) Jacob (Born 06/20/03) Adopted from Volgograd, Russia in Dec. 2004
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#12
11-04-2004, 04:45 PM
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Hi, Stephanie and welcome. Don't worry about "stupid" questions with us--there are no stupid questions!! You've joined a great group and it won't take you long to fit right in. I've unofficially adopted Michael (AlabamaDad) was worried about him during the hurricanes, and I've fallen head over heels with so many (or maybe all) of our kids.
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Cherie Proud Grandma of Hayden & Helena 9/21/04 Cody 1991,Riley 2001, Drew 2005
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#13
11-04-2004, 06:26 PM
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Welcome Steffanie! This is a great place to get questions answered and for support - don't know how I would have survived without it! For any of the agencies you are considering I would check with people who have recently returned and ask them how their experience was and how their support staff was in Russia. If the agency works in different regions then I would contact parents who adopted from different regions as the support staff could be different.
Also find out if you have any control over the region you are assigned to - some regions take a lot longer than others or have different rules than others. Best of luck- Karen
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3/25/04 -sent in application to agency (adopting from St. Petersburg, Russia) 1/31/05 - We welcome a 14 mo. girl to our family!!!
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