[marjo]

The time frame of tentative adopting Russian citizens permanently residing within the Russian Federation is thus prolonged from two months, as it is currently outlined in the Family Code, to six months
on the Federal level, which translates from three to seven months in the State Databank.

Our referral does not get off the databank until late January. Now I am worried that we will have to wait months more for her when this goes into effect. ACK, we started our adoption in September 2003, we should have been home with our child by now.

[lakimnafite]

We also started this process September 2003 - and also do not have child home. I sure feel for you and I am also worried about how all of these changes will effect our court date. The closer we get to when we were supposedly going to court, the worse I feel as we have yet to hear any confirmation! Good luck!

[JessnChuck]

On December 24, 2004 Russian Federation Council, (Parliament's upper
house) approved these amendments.

Today, on December 29, 2004 The President of the Russian Federation
Vladimir Putin signed this new legislation into law.

The next step is to publish this in an official source and then it
will go into force in 10 days.

The purpose of these changes is to create more of an opportunity for
Russian citizens to adopt. Here are the three amendments (translated
into English).

1. Foreign citizens cannot adopt unless there is no possibility to
place the child with families of citizens of the Russian Federation
permanently residing within the Russian Federation. A foreign
adoption is disallowed before six months elapse of time that the
information about the child appeared on the federal level of the
Databank.

The time frame of tentative adopting Russian citizens permanently
residing within the Russian Federation is thus prolonged from two
months, as it is currently outlined in the Family Code, to six months
on the Federal level, which translates from three to seven months in
the State Databank.

2. The amendments extend the circle of potential adopters. The Court
may now authorize an adoption even when the applicant's income is
below the subsistence level and/or his dwelling does not meet
sanitary and technical standards.

3. The Court may authorize the adopted child's birth date to be
changed to keep the adoption secret even after the child reaches
twelve months of age.

[ncdoppler]

Sorry..

But can someone tell me what this exactly means in "dummy" terms. I guess I'm feeling blonde today, Oh that's right I am blonde!

Does this mean that the children will have to be older before international adoption can take place?

Thanks!
Nichole

[Ktates]

Nichole - you are correct - they basically want the children on the database an extra 2 months in hopes that Russian citizens will adopt them.

Marjo - I know that you have waited so long and this is so unfair but you have a little cutie that is waiting there for you and needs you just as much as you need her. Hang in there - I can only hope they speed up things on the travel side for you!!!
Karen

[kdk545]

I really cant imagine that its going to change things all that much...its only extending the time by 2 months before children are released to the databank (i.e., available for foreign adoption) I think its way less "threatening" than we were/are making it out to be.

Not only are there 700,000 orphans, but 80% of Russia is also very, very poor. I forget where I recently read this, but someone who went to meet their son/daughter in the orphanage, and this son/daughter had been there for many months, in all that time only 2 Russian families came to adopt, and that was with 25-40 children in that one orphanage. (Most orphanages have up to 30 children in them.....thats A LOT of children!)

This is not to say I dont 100% support ANY loving Russian family adopting, Im just trying to put a little perspective in understanding the real impact, which doesnt seem like much if you figure the numbers. I think 8,000 children are adopted by foreigners, that leave THOUSANDS more left behind year after year.

Things will work out and get back to normal mid January. There are plenty of children out there who are destined to be our children. Even if it is a few more months, thats nothing compared to the rest of our lives to be their parents. So lets all hang in there!

[kdk545]

And oh yeah, one more thing..........this is a WAY better (and more predictable/sure) process than either domestic adoption, where you can wait year after year and end up with no children (or worse yet, the birthmother changes her mind) or in vitro, where again, time after time after time result in no children.

Russia is not closing foreign adoptions. Its still going to happen! They need us and we need them. Thankfully we dont have to worry about that!

[Littleruler3]

Our son is scheduled to be released from database at the end of this month, will this new lasw effect his release?




Mary

[Shay]

What about children who were off the databank at 4mths old? Does that mean they will have to go back on for 2 more mths?

Shay

[Javalita]

So many questions and circumstances, but I'll add mine too!

We recd a blind referral and in the shock of the situation (last minute changes - long story) we forgot to ask about registry info. Here are my questions:

1. Would we have been allowed to see the baby if he was not off the register?
2. Would we have been allowed/asked to sign docs (providing baby's new name) at the local ministry office? At the time, they told us that by signing the papers we were agreeing to adopt and once signed no one else could adopt him.

Any insight would be appreciated. We have a long weekend ahead with agencies closed and the mind will surely be running wild with every imaginable scenario! Thanks!

[ncdoppler]

Thank you for the encouraging words Kdk545!
You are right. This is much better than what we were all worried about. I did want a child as young as possible, but really in the big picture a 7-10 month old is just fine too!

You are abosolutely right about this being the better option verses invitro. I have been there and done that, it's horrible!

With adoption, it's a win, win situation!!

Does anyone think this will delay referrals? What about all the children that are already off the registry? Do they go back on now, or is this just for the children that are on now and will be put on in the future?

Nichole

[kdk545]

It is only my opinion, and of course Im no expert to say the least, but I cant imagine they could/would retroactively put children back on the database...can you imagine what a nightmare that would create? It would probably mean hundreds, if not thousands of children going back on. I have no idea how they could systematically do this. I think it more than likely means beginning with all the new children (going onto the database for the first time) at the time the law goes into effect.

My agency told me that this will not affect those of us waiting for referrals, or people going on their first trips, but it may create a back log for those waiting for court dates/second trips.

[JJROX]

What agency are you using? After reading the news tonight I have been crying on and off. My husband and I have been waiting 4 1/2 months since our first trip to adopt a 25 month old boy. He was adopted by a Russian family for a year, but they gave him back to the orphanage. I really don't know how long he has been on the databank, or if he is off of it, this is all very confusing to me. My heart hurts not knowing where we stand in the middle of this. I know he has been in the orphanage since March of 2004. I really hope your agency is right because I can't even imagine if he had to stay on longer. I will pray for us all that this doesn't affect those who already have referrals, accepted referrals, met their children, etc......Take Care.

[kimber413]

JJRox, if you've been on your first visit, then the child is already off of the registry. You can't make that first trip otherwise. Don't confuse this issue with the databank release slips needed for court. From what I understand, this change will not affect adoptions already in progress. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that you hear something about a court date soon.

[kryslm]

This change in adoption law shouldn't surprise us. We have all seen it coming for awhile. During our recent court hearing on Dec. 3, our very strict, conservative judge spent a full half-hour asking the MOE and orphanage reps if there was any possibility that either or both of our two boys could or would be adopted by Russian families. He was altogether obsessed with it! Fortunately, the MOE had everything in order. They had even posted notice in the newspapers and presented proof they had done so. Yes, that's right, it's like they "advertised" the availability of these two boys for adoption in the local papers!

I hope the changes in Russia's adoption laws doesn't cause any waiting families further difficulty.

Mike