[Amysue1112]

Bumping Up For New Readers....

[Dobby]

Boy, it's been a long time since I've posted. While I wouldn't say Ekat. was the most adoption-friendly, we had no problems. In and out in 4 months (from referral to arrival home) and had the 10 days waived.

Of course, that was 2004.

[jeni-b]

We went to Khabarovsk, there are positives and negatives to the region. The facilities and staff are great, all the kids I know of have come home developmentally on track. The city is gorgeous and court was a breeze.
The wait between trips is long (19 wks for us), and there is occasionally the need for 3 trips, one being a seperate trip for the medical. The 10 days is never waived. The flight from Moscow is long.

If we didn't have a child we are leaving home we would be going back in spite of all of these things.

[papedge]

we adopted from samara been home 3 months LOVED it there. also adopted from St. Petersberg in 2003 LOVED it there but heard it has gotten harder there

Kimberley

[Abdulina]

Kimberly,

Which regions do they work in and a bunch of us on here could give you teh scoop. I have experience w/ Orenburg, Stavropol, and Murmansk. However, I also have much, much information through the years on other regions as well as I work closely w/ various organizations still involved w/ adoptions. Let us all know and we'll be able to help you out. There isn't really a "bad" region BUT your agency has to know their stuff to navigate the more difficult regions. Trust me on this one! Got to run. Kids gone crazy!

Take care,

[SingleMama2B]

Moscow Region here..... though my daughter was/is an older child (adoption), she was on the fringe of the Moscow Region. I stayed in Moscow, and though she was only 62 miles outside of Moscow (City), it took almost 4 hours by car (traffic getting out of the city and mostly the horrid road system). Anyway, Moscow did NOT waive the 10 days, and are also Paperwork intensive and particular. The Prosecutor there (who is representing the child in court (along with the Regional Inspector, and a Rep. from the orphanage) where very hard and fast with questions. I am a single adoptive mom, and they hammered me with financial and working questions. My answers garnered more questions. I was uncomfortable, but all worked out perfect.

I've heard that the Moscow Region has become even tougher. My old agency (which was great) chooses to work in Tver and Vladakavkaz (Northern Ossetia) where IA is alittle more friendly.

[cathvash]

Hi and welcome! You are very smart to ask these questions. A couple of points:

*Almost everyone loves the region they adopted from, since this is where their child is from. (And did you know that ALL the kids in that region are the most beautiful, healthiest, most intelligent IN THE WORLD??!) You may need to be specific in whatyou ask to get the most helpful responses.

*Ask people to respond who have RECENT experience in the region. As someone said, things change year to year. A "friendly" judge may retire and be replaced with a "troll" (said with nothing but affection

I have completed 2 adoptions in the very far east - Primorsky Krai region (Vladivostok). Pros: This region is very "independent minded", and is slow to implement some of the tough requirements in the areas closer to Moscow. (The Russians told me that Moscow doesn't care about what goes on in this area - Too far away to worry about!) For example, I was not required to do a Psych exam (excuse me while I get my gun), and the 8 doctor medical could be completed by your family doctor with a standard form letter from the State asserting their competence. I completed my most recent adoption start to end using a non-accredited agency... The other "pro" is that most agencies allow a "courrier option" for Trip 2, so you don't have to go to Moscow yourself - just wait it out in region. This means you can travel west via California or Seattle, instead of having to go via Europe.-Great option for folks in the western U.S. Vladivostok is modern, friendly, and not too expensive (with a nice Canadian hotel option).

Cons of Primorsky Krai: Travel to/from here is expensive, (I paid 2200 per tix). I did get to go via Seoul, the nicest airport in the world IMO. Many of the folks traveling recently, said they were originally matched with children who were sicker than what they requested. They declined the original referral, and subsequent referrals were healthier. In comparing notes, we wondered if this was systematic... Also, this is now a "blind" region, meaning you will receive very little if any information about your match until you travel. (FYI - Most regions are now blind...) This is an adoption friendly region, and many agencies are encouraging clients to go here. -Possibly this could slow referrals and court dates down a bit, but I'm not seeing this yet.

[k8c]

ST. P is difficult right now--very slow and very paperwork intense.

Perm seems to always be a difficult region, esp. with financial info.

[Sipper]

Both of my children are from Vladimir region. We had a failed adoption in Krasnoyarsk before that. We had a great experience both times in Vladimir. Time between trips was a month and the court system was great. That was 2 and 3 years ago respectively. My children are from two different baby homes. Alexandrov was shotty at best and we pretty much were not allowed to see any of the home aside from the little room we were with our daughter in - and that was for about 2 hours. Our son came from Murom and the staff was incredible, home was clean and the care givers actually seemed to - give care to the babies. Our son was 100 percent different than our daughter. Both were healthy but our daughter had some emotional issues to deal with. The region is a couple of hours from Moscow and the hotel in region is new, internet service and a great pizza place within walking distance.

[cathvash]

Where was the region where we had some folks "stuck" for a while... Was it Rostov on Don? There was a judge there who just decided she was not going to approve any more adoptions? Was that the right region?

[k8c]

cathvash--or was it byransk?

[kalina87]

I LOVED Khabarovsk. It's probably one of the furthest ones. However. the orphange we went to was GREAT! Not over crowded, very well taken care of, etc.. I would stay away from St. Petersburg and Moscow. At least from what I have heard. I can only imagine how over crowded they are. Just like any big city. The more overcrowded, the less care and money for the kids.

[Ktates]

I would have to respectfully disagree with the above poster on adopting from St. Petersburg. I think if anything they had more money/resources. The orphanage we adopted from had just renovated the entire second floor (where the children are)- new windows, paint, floors etc and the following summer they did the first floor.

My dd has done wonderfully as have the other children I have seen from the St. Petersburg orphanages (three different ones total). I really think that the orphanage did a great job all things considered...

[k8c]

From what I've seen and heard, Ktates is correct about funding. The bigger the city, the more funding that is available. St. P is also the city which many Russians travel to if they want to adopt. They consider the children there to be the healthiest and best cared-for.

I do think there is much more scrutiny in cities than in villages. And, keep in mind the local government. The mayor in St. P is vocal about being anti-ia.

[tiggerville]

We adopted from St. Petersburg in 2003 and loved the region. Though I have heard from this thread and other places that a lot has changed since then.