[Jessi_76]

Good morning, everyone

Just wondering if there was anyone coming home in 2008 that had their 10-day wait waived? And, if so, what "strategy" did you use?

We are submitting a notarized letter by our IA Dr. and we're going to make our best case, although it seems unlikely, to have the wait waived. I HATE that I'm getting my hopes up when it's pretty much an impossibility.

Thanks guys!!

ps) ONLY 8 MORE DAYS TIL WE LEAVE!!! WOO HOO!!!

[Provost21]

We had our 2nd trip in Kras back in April 2006. Our son had a heart condition and we had letters from our pediatrician, IA doctor, even the orphanage director. The social worker from our orphanage was there stating that he needed to leave and it was not waived. There was one person who had court that day that did get her 10 days waived and the passport agency there refused to give them his passport until the 10 day waiting was up even though it was court ordered.
Dont get your hopes up in Kras- it is next to impossible!
Have a great, safe trip! It is a very nice region. Did you go to the German restaurant across the street from the Kras hotel? It is very good (English on the menu as well)- also, Mama Roma's is very good and can be walked to from the Kras hotel. They have pictures on their menu so you can just point!
Best wishes!

[Jessi_76]

Thank you SO much for your advice, Amy!! I really appreciate it. The only place we ate last time was Rossos - the pizza place over the ped. bridge across from the river. We're hoping to venture out a bit more this time.

Thanks again!!

[Bcelli]

I just started a thread on this and other issues. All you can do is ask and the worst they can say is no. I will add, however, that we took full advantage of the time to get to know the boys' birthplace and we soaked up as many details as we could. If they say no to the waiver, then ask to have the kids with you during the wait so you can begin the bonding process where the kids are familiar with the foods, the smells, the language, the culture and where there are people who can help you translate their needs for you. It will give them a sense of security with you that might enhance your VERY LONG plane ride home. Assuming, of course, that isn't already the planned course of action. The worst they can say there, too, is no. I know you are ecstatic about now. It helped me immensely at this point to make lists. Though I didn't, at the time, make all the right lists, at least the ones I did make - and revised a million times - helped put my mind somewhere other than the anticipation of leaving. God's blessings on your trip and your beautiful new family.

[Jessi_76]

Thank you SO much, Becky!!! We are SO excited; you are right!!!! And, I have been making and revising lists a zillion times -- I just used your post that you just referred to to make yet another list. FUN!!! I'm an organizing freak so I love this list-thing. hee hee... We are coming home during the ten day wait so if it's not waived then we'll lose out on the potential of having them with us. If we thought that was an option we would have stayed. Our orphanage is VERY far outside of the city (6 hours each way) so we wouldn't even have been able to see them thus our decision to come home.

Thanks again for your support!! HUGS.

[Provost21]

Our orphanage was 2 hours away. There are several right in Kras so many adoptive parents will be gone in the afternoons visiting and it makes it hard because if you cannot have your children with you-the days get LONG! We could not have Nate with us and they only took us there twice during the 10 day wait to visit. We met over 10 couples in the Kras hotel from the US and it was very fun. We'd swap movies and books and go out to eat. Try to connect with other adoptive parents there- you'll really be surprised how many there will be there! The day of court you'll see others waiting in the "waiting" area- talk to them to hopefully have some couples to go out to eat with. You may have already tried this but the breakfast in the hotel is gross- it is not included with your room rate and sometimes you will be told it is, it was not with us and our rate went way down after we took that off. They do have pizza delivery! Ask you interpreter to order it and they'll deliver it right to your room. Its nice when you have your children then you dont have to venture out in the evenings. Let me know if you have any other questions... have fun!!

[Jessi_76]

Thanks Amy!! Our orphanage is actually SIX hours each way from the Kras Hotel so it's impossible really to go visit during the 10 days which is one of the MAJOR reasons we chose to come home. Pizza delivery...that's GREAT!!! Thanks for the advice. On our first trip, we met two other US families adopting that were staying at the hotel. We were unable to connect with any of them though other than in APs and plane rides. We did not try the breakfast and told them we didn't want it as they were chekcing us in so I don't think they charged us for it, but there's really no way of knowing. hee hee... We stayed in the lousy dorm-style room our first trip and it was $183/nt. (will stay in that on 2nd trip also; third trip will have a nice big one for when the kids are with us). Too funny for such a cruddo room. Oh well!!

Thanks again!!
xoxo

[momofMikhail]

We did not get our 10 days waived, and just brought our son home in April 08. But we were told that if our son had a medical problem that needs to be seen by our dr. right away that they would waive it with a letter from our dr. We were not allowed to take our son out of his baby home, but visited him twice a day for the 10 days. Also, if there is a college in your region ask your interp. if they know of any english majors to give you a tour. They usually do it for free. Ours wouldn't accept any money, so we took them out for a really nice dinner on our last night in region. Good luck!

[Shark01]

Its really region dependant. We know couples in Vologda and Kemerovo this year who got waivers but our judge specifically said unless the child was in DIRE need of specialized medical care, they would not waive (and they didn't). They wouldn't accept a notarized statement from a US Doctor that had never treated the child......

[Jessi_76]

Thank you all!!

MomofMikhail ~ Great idea...there are actually 12 colleges in the city where we're staying; I'll see about that.

Shark ~ BEST OF LUCK on Saturday's trip!!! Exciting.

[hg808]

We came home with our daughter in June and our 10-day wait was waived (Magadan region). This region routinely used to waive 10-day wait, although I am not sure how they will now handle the procedure with new biometric passports. During the court, I showed everyone the photos of our son adopted in 2007, before and after, so they could see the difference. I also spoke at length about everything our PAPs are doing for the kids (treatments, therapy, sports, etc.). In the end, I am not sure what helped most.

[Jessi_76]

Congratulations hg808!!!! How exciting to finally be home! Best to your new family...and thank you for the advice about talking about what PAPs are doing to give the children good lives.

Have a great day!

[verukasalt]

I realize you've already taken off and congrats! I hope all goes very well for you.

We adopted from St. Petersburg last March 08 and our 10 day wait along with a few others who adopted the same week were all waived. We didn't even have to fight for it or bring in any kind of documentation. In our case, our son was abandoned at birth but in other cases where they even had relatives still living we saw 10 day waits waived in St. Pete.

We were very fortunate to only have the 2 trips. It definitely kept our costs as low as they could be for a Russian adoption.

Best Wishes!

[ophelia72]

Jess you know I love you sorry I missed your going away! I Pray that it is a quick trip and and even shorter 10 days so they come home! Please post pics when you get home! You are my hope and prayer Because I am right behind you. I hope! Some craziness is happening right now! so I am trying to get my fix by seeing all of you hopeful people!
XOXOOXOXOOX