[happyhome]

Just heard from my agency. I've been trying to take the rumors with a grain of salt and I've been successful at not panicking and throwing things, but it's all true.

The agency said there will be a 1-3 month delay in reaccredidation. They can't get reaccredited though, until they register with the MOJ, and they can't do that because there is no procedure yet. So basically, we are waiting to wait to wait.
The agency can work until their accredidation expires on June 9th. This affects all Russian adoptions. Hopefully most of you are with agencies who were accredited later last year, so the delay might not be so bad.
They did say that because our dossier is registered in region that our adoption can continue as an "independent" adoption. What this means, they are unsure.
I'm heart broken and upset. I'm sooo tired of waiting. I truly believed when I started this that I would not be one of the marathon waiters, but it turns out that is my fate.
How can this happen two years in a row? This is insane. I am really frustrated.
How long was the reaccredidation delay last year for the agencies who first got reaccredited? Has this happened every year since 2004?
How did those of you who went through it survive?
I'm not normally a downer, and I don't like to overreact, but this situation seems to call for it. Sorry if I'm a whiner.

[amyfk]

(((((((((((HUG))))))))))))

Sorry I dont know anything about this Emily. This is my first time hearing about this.

Amy K, NJ

[toria]

I'm so sorry you are having delays.

However, for others, when we were going thru the process, I was reading all the troubles that some were having on this board and reporting them to my agency, worried of course! My agency actually told me to stop reading everything on the internet, that it was not always across the board! They told me to just listen to what they were saying! (hard to do, you want to get all the info you can at your fingertips) But they were right and honest, we did not have all the problems that I anticipated by reading internet info. Please do not think that all problems are across the board! You do have to trust your agency and the timelines, etc.that they are telling you. If you don't trust them, find another agency.

For those of you having difficulties, I'm so sorry! It surely is a roller coaster ride! Please know that in the end....it is soooooooo worth all of your trouble , stress and sadness.

Best wishes

[ATwinkleofHope]

In 2004 we went through the same thing. Our Agency lost their accreditation in Oct and didn't get it until I think June. However, after 6 months of waiting after the first trip they decided the let us go independent adoption. The region wouldn't allow it at first but once they agreed we had a court date within a few weeks and nothing changed with our procedures. Basically it was just extra paperwork (and what it that after we already did about 600 pieces,, LOL) and when we went to court our agency rep was not allowed to come in because it was suppose to look like we were not using an agency. However, our translator was still with us. Everything went smoothly. I hope this helps alittle to ease your fears.
-Jo

[cherrin]

Toria is correct these issues do not affect every adoption in Russia. From what I understand there is not one blanket process that covers all of Russia, all agencies, and all adoptions right now.

There are variables can affect each adoption differently. Some of the ones I can think of are:

1) There are agencies that are still processing families since their accreditation is not at it's renew date yet.
2) The regional court may interrupt the laws differently and allow travel if the family is between trips or even registered thus some people are still traveling
3) Some people are still traveling ‘blind’ through independent adoptions
4) Some people are adopting children that are in need of serious medical intervention that they will only receive from placement with an adoptive family

With these above and others, I cannot think of right now I think that we cannot assume that every person’s experience will be the same.

What I do know is that each of us needs to communicate with our agencies and seek what information they have and stay in contact with them. If you feel that you are not getting the answers you expect from them – let them know. I am sure there maybe a few disreputable agencies out there but really most of them are concerned with the well being of children first and foremost.

We need to share our frustrations with our support systems and not take it out on our agencies – they want to place children as bad as we want to provide them loving homes. We need to keep the faith that there are children that need homes/love and we have homes/love to give.
-------------------
Signed with 1st agency 2/04
Home study complete 7/04
CIS approval 10/04
Registered in Russia 10/04
Waiting...waiting...waiting.....
Agency began waiting for re-accreditation 105
More waiting....waiting...waiting.....
Agency suggested we move to another agency 2/06
Signed with 2nd agency 3/06
4th update of homestudy 3/06
2nd CIS approval 4/06
Registered in Russia again 4/06
Accepted a potential referral 5/06
Again Waiting....waiting...waiting

[Jim_in_PA]

The current word coming from several agencies is that re-accreditation will take place after the agencies are properly registered as NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations) under the new laws that were passed in April, but are just now starting to be interpreted and implemented. Those agencies (as reported by PAPs who received communication from their agencies) indicated that it is expected that they anticipate two months to complete and submit the new paperwork for the NGO registration and hopefully gain approval. (There seems to be little guidance from the Russian government on how to fill out said paperwork successfully...)

After that approval is gained, the MOE can deal with the re-accreditation. In the mean time, the PAPs posting about this indicated that they were told that adoptions already in progress (various definitions of that) would be allowed to proceed as long as the region in question is comfortable with it.

Please note that the time frame could be different, but given several agencies seem to be consistent in their communication to PAPs, the general procedure appears to be the way it will be. You are all best served by talking with your specific agency to gain an understanding of their situation and thoughts on this situation as well as what their in-region staff feel about regarding adoptions already in progress. (Between trips, etc.)

[happyhome]

Ok. I'm hearing you, and I'm trying to calm down. Thanks. I really hope that you're right and that this won't affect everyone. I read similar stories on previous threads and I did not believe it until I heard it from my agency. The letter I got from them did say that it affected all adoptions. I sincerely hope they are wrong.

It does make sense though, because if it were true that it affected everyone, we'd all be upset.
So, if your agency isn't up for reaccredidation in the next few months you'll probably be fine.
Also, who knows, maybe we will be able to travel in the region and just not officially adopt until the accredidation goes through.
I'm sure you're all right. Thanks for your comments.

What are the other agencies saying about this delay?

[kimber413]

My agency said what Jim's is saying. They have to register with the NGO before they can be reaccredited, and that is expected to take 1-2 months. Problem is that they paperwork hasn't been finalized by the government so they can start the process yet. They are hoping to apply in the next couple of weeks. Then once they register with the NGO, it will take about a month for reaccreditation to happen. Currently, they are in a wait and see mode for the agencies whose accreditation expired today.

[lovestruck]

I may have posted some of the following on another thread....sorry if I am repeating.

My agency did say that the new law has not even been signed in to law as of today......so they are waiting to see how it actually plays out. Our worker said that rumors are flying and that information is conflicting. But she said if the law is signed (as is expected) that there could be a month or so delay.

HOwever also in question is the part that states that adoptions can continue if the accreditation lapses. She says no one really knows what that means yet. Supposidly it will be left to the individual regions to interpret the law. Will they interpret it to mean those whose dossiers are registered? or those who have traveled on trip 1 or will they decide that no trips can take place until reaccreditation occurs.

It's doesn't necessarily affect all adoptions immediately because all agencies are not currently up for accreditation and supposidily agencies can continue to process adoptions until their accreditation expires. Some agencies just got reaccredited in March so they will have almost a year to process adoptions without delays (if the current information holds true).


So right now it's a waiting game. And that's what's the most difficult for me personally....the not knowing.

[Aphi86]

Think about this...Maybe YOUR child has just been born and is not free to IA yet. Maybe your child is waiting his/her time out on the databank and s/he will only be available after the accrediation mess is solved. Maybe a social worker is trying to track down family members to get the child signed off on..RIGHT NOW. If you think this is far fetched, it isn't it is what happened to us. We too were caught up in the Oct 2004 mess. But guess what? Our dd was born in Sept. they had to find out the ** was deceased, then find the next of kin to sign off on her. By the time they did that and she served the mandatory time on the databank, we got her as a referral one week after becoming available for IA. I just can't tell you how I feel about her. AND, if things had happened on MY time line and NOT God's, well then this cutie pie wouldn't be mine! Hang tight and keep the faith!

[lovestruck]

Aphi86......thank you!

[atltorussia]

Originally Posted by happyhome

Just heard from my agency. I've been trying to take the rumors with a grain of salt and I've been successful at not panicking and throwing things, but it's all true.

The agency said there will be a 1-3 month delay in reaccredidation. They can't get reaccredited though, until they register with the MOJ, and they can't do that because there is no procedure yet. So basically, we are waiting to wait to wait.
The agency can work until their accredidation expires on June 9th. This affects all Russian adoptions. Hopefully most of you are with agencies who were accredited later last year, so the delay might not be so bad.
They did say that because our dossier is registered in region that our adoption can continue as an "independent" adoption. What this means, they are unsure.
I'm heart broken and upset. I'm sooo tired of waiting. I truly believed when I started this that I would not be one of the marathon waiters, but it turns out that is my fate.
How can this happen two years in a row? This is insane. I am really frustrated.
How long was the reaccredidation delay last year for the agencies who first got reaccredited? Has this happened every year since 2004?
How did those of you who went through it survive?
I'm not normally a downer, and I don't like to overreact, but this situation seems to call for it. Sorry if I'm a whiner.

We were waiting for travel dates for trip one to see 2 little boys and basically just got the same information as above. So join us to the marathon waiters list. I am beyond words and in the middle of tears, but will just pray and keep waiting.

[cathvash]

I heard 2-4 months as a timeframe from my agency, who had a representative in attendance at this meeting with the MOE. However, my dossier is not yet registered, and that makes a difference. Different regions (and agencies themselves) will make the call about whether to issue referrals or allow trips (1 and/or 2) for those who have already received referrals. I think they are working VERY hard to avoid what happended last year, when parents were trapped between trips... That should not happen this time, and the slowdown should not last as long.

If they are saying 2-4 months, I am counting on the later end of that range. At that point we will likely face additional dalays because of the backlog this is creating in the court system. I am guessing that I may have to wait a much longer than usual time to be assigned a court date...

Yes, this sucks (my agency lost accreditation yesterday, and as one of the "bad-12" has a big target on their backs as well). However, I do not think it will be nearly as bad as last year. Another positive from this, is that they are now discussing multiple-year accreditations! Wouldn't that be nice?!!!

[mommyto4]

Prayers going out to all of you, may this transition go smoohtly and as quickly as possilble.

[CeltiaSkye]

I asked my agency about this last week. They were reaccredited in January of this year. They said that they do not have to deal with this until their accreditation expires next year. Everything is business as normal at this point.