[Waiting4Skip]

We have waited a really long time, but finally we have a court date. Now we're told we need an adoption visa, specifically. We're adopting independently this time, and nobody can tell us how/where we get it...

ANYONE, please!

[momraine]

I was able to get one through a travel agency that specialized in adoption travel. I don't remember the name, since it has been over 8 years since I went to Russia, but maybe it's a place to start searching?

[votemom]

OH MY GOSH - WHAT INCREDIBLE NEWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i am so thrilled to know that you have a court date - this is nothing short of a miracle!! is this in irkutsk???

i don't know anything about adoption visas - so sorry - but i will be praying for you and that your family will be all together soon.

SO THANKFUL!

[kretzklan]

Try Federal Travel (can't remember where they are located...always have ads in Adoptive FAmily...I can find them if you don't find them easily) - they specialize in adoption travel and got us our visas and we used Passports Plus in Houston for a MAJOR expedited visa for our son to travel - literally 16 hours...and they work with adoptive families a lot as well!

[GCS]

OMG!!! That is such wonderful news! You've been waiting so very long!!

We used a Russian firm that worked out of VA and had our visas in 24 hours. I have to go look them up out of our paperwork. This was in 2004, so it may not be current. But I will find the info and PM it to you!

[cmmandjam]

We adopted independently and didn't need adoption Visas. BUT we went through a company on-line. It is called gotorussia.com. We had very short notice and they ended up coming through for us. We did have to stop at a Fed Ex center on the way to the airport for our second trip because they didn't get it to us on time. For the most part we really found them to be good.

As I write this, my perfect boy is saying, "I was adopted" (because I asked my husband where we got our visas for the adoption) and he's dancing around the living room.

Hope your ending is as happy as ours!

[Ktates]

We used american passport - they are online and located in NH and were very helpful (although we didn't get an adoption visa - I thought you could only do tourist or business!) you also might want to check out Galaxy Travel - I believe they are located in Boston - they did a lot of arrangements for other parents from our agency. We didn't use them but I heard great things about them and I think one of the owners is Russian.

I am so happy you got a court date - I can't believe the amount of time it took you to adopt the first time never mind the second!! What a great example of strength and perserverance you are to your children!

[Waiting4Skip]

Thanks for all the suggestions, we think we have it figured out! Seems the old adoption visa doesn't exist anymore since it came from an Agency in Russia that no longer exists. One more hurdled!

[Bcelli]

Glad you have it figured out since I have no advice, but a) Can't believe Skip is 5.5...? Where does the time go? and b) Also can't believe you finally have a court date for Harry. I hope these boys come to realize just how very blessed they are. Congratulations and blessings for a quick and uneventful - as far as surprises go - trip.

[Waiting4Skip]

Update: This visa thing is driving me crazy. We waited years for a court date, now it seems the visa is a stickly point. Three problems: 1. we MAY need to be in country more than 30 days - ruling out tourist visa, and 2. gettting an invite letter from Center for Adoption can take a month (we leave two weeks from today) 3. NOBODY can tell us how to get an adoption visa, yet they tell us biz or tourist will cause problems when we try to leave with him! ANYBODY ELSE HAVE THIS PROBLEM???

[Bcelli]

we adopted on a business visa in 04 and had only one hang-up at the adoption center when we went to pick up paperwork so we could leave for Moscow. The director got her nose outta joint saying we should have been on a tourist visa and started getting huffy. When DH said fine, we'll go home and leave him with you, she settled down and gave us our paperwork. I would recommend the travel agency we used for ours, but I think they were involved in a recent scam thing. Probably not a good source. Keep swimming - you'll find the shore.

[cmmandjam]

We had a tourist visa. Again, we adopted independently as well and have only been home for a year. We were able to talk to the people from gotorussia.com on the phone and they walked us through everything we needed. If being in the country for more than 30 consecutive days is an issue, is leaving for Europe for a day or two a possibility? Not sure if that would help or not.

Good Luck!

[GCS]

we adopted on a tourist visa as well. It was over 30 days and we did not get new visas for trip two. In and out on the one set of visas for both trips and they were a month apart so over 30 days.

We were told not to do business visas for adoption as they frown upon that.

I called on the company we used and the number isn't valid. I double checked with my agency who recommended gotorussia.com for quick results.

You may want to post this at FRUA - maybe someone there has additional info? Lots of people have just traveled there and I know most people are waiting out the 10 days so the 30 day thing must have been addressed.

Sorry I cant be more help!