[cac_li]

I am ready to submit my dossier to my agency and I just received an update from them saying that the time between trips in Russia can be anywhere from 2-8 months depending on the region?? I am so upset about this that I am ready to switch agencies.

Has anyone had to wait that long between their first and second trips?? I would love to find average wait time between 1st and 2nd trip and region.

Also, if anyone has an agency that they are very happy with, please pm me. Thanks, Cindy

[votemom]

i wouldn't necessarily say you should switch agencies. you can have a wonderful agency and still get stuck with a long wait. it's very dependent on the region. russia controls things, not american agencies.

yes, i have heard of waits that long. and there are much shorter waits.

i would be more hesitant if my agency GUARANTEED me that i'd have a court date in 2 months. there are just no guarantees when it comes to int'l adoption.

do you have other issues with your agency? if not, and if they have a great reputation, i would stick with things.

from what i am reading on the forums and message boards, russia is a bit slower right now than last year.

i wish you joy in the journey - no matter how fast or slow it ends up going. hang in!!!

[Provost21]

We waited 4 months between trips- it really does depend on the agencies ability to get you a court date, sometimes it depends on the region and they are very full causing long wait times for a court date. I would agree that if you like your agency just make sure you request a region that normally does not take that long. You could request to be in a region with the quickest court dates possible. Our agency gave us a sheet that allowed you to rate what was most important thing to you; such as a short time betweeen trips, shortest time for referral, closest region to Moscow, etc. Maybe your agency has something like that or will at least allow you to make that request.
best of luck!

[Jessi_76]

Hello

We just came home and our wait time between our first and second trips was 8 weeks originally but then the orphanage went under quarantine for chicken pox which delayed us one week so it was 9 weeks.

If you are being told 8 months, I'd TOTALLY switch agencies!! A family we traveled with on our first trip who used a different agency is JUST back there NOW on their second trip -- that's 6 months later (and family from an agency we traveled with on our second and third trips waited about 5 mos). There was a family on our 1st trip who was on their 3rd and they only waited 6 weeks for a court date. SO...that said, it's clearly not an issue with our region - Krasnoyarsk - but an issue with certain agencies who are backlogged and bogged down. JMHO.

It totally all depends on the agency, their connections, how many families they have waiting before you, etc. Smaller agencies seem to move things quicker because there aren't as many families competing. Again, JMO since you asked.

I also pm'd you back in response to yours...good luck!

Good luck!
Jessi

[kretzklan]

I would stay with your agency - the fact that they are being honest seems to say volumes to me. Any agency that gives guarantees is not telling the truth as they don't have control over when you get invited back for court. Anything could happen - our wait was a little over 4 months in late 2005. Things have slowed a lot since then - we got there right after a major slowdown...when you compare the wait times for Russia with the wait times for other intl programs - you will, most likely, still be ahead in timing!

[cindyc]

We also waited 4 months. The Russian Duma changed their adoption laws right in the middle of our adoption, so we had to wait.

I suspect your agency is giving you something akin to a worst case scenario. Russian adoption can be a roller coaster ride; things can also go smooth as silk - you just don't know.

I would ask around and find our actual waits time with those who have adopted in your region and with your agency. That would probably be the best info you could get at this point.

Best wishes for a smooth ride!
Cindyc

[beckyww]

We waited three months. Three nail-biting, anxious months. Our agency told us two - six months. I'd rather be told the truth even if it wasn't what I wanted to hear.

Becky
The Woodworth Family in Beautiful San Antonio TX

[amyfk]

IVe been out of the adoption loop for two years, so I dont personally know what agencies are quoting now. Best. I can understand your frustrations.
Amy K, NJ

[waiter]

I'd ask your current agency the usual/typical wait time or an average. My guess is that they are giving the best/worst case for a certain period of time. As others have said things can change mid stream that is beyond their control. Ask what determines it- if they have one region in particular that is long or unpredictable - ask to not be assigned that region. There are so many variables that are beyond anyones control but there are also some choices along the way that may make it more or less difficult. Good luck.

[Max'sMommy]

We waited 2 months. This was in March - May 2008

[MominPA]

Our court date in 2006 was 7 weeks from our first trip.

I agree a lot has to depend on the agency and their Russian staff. Some coordinators in Russia are better then others. Some work in muliple regions, therefore they have to split their time up.

I sent you a PM.

[MamaChinch]

We waited four VERY long months between trips. It depends on SOOO many combinations of things mentioned above and the time of year. We got caught up in summer vacations, others in Christmas vacations, I travelled with someone who went on trip two 2 months later than me because one of her children's release letters was lost.....I agree that it's better your agency is being realistic, switching now could also make any waits longer.
I was totally happy with my agency, they had told me a much longer wait for referral and it was WAY shorter, but I had four months between trips and been told two while in cou ntry on trip one.
You will find that none of us here had the exact same scenarios. Good luck!!

[Jpride]

We waited 4 weeks exactly. Our agency told us that the average at the time of our adoption was 4-8 weeks.

I would ask them what most families are waiting right now and see if it is closer to the 2 months or 8 months and see if you can live with their answer. (I am not sure I could handle 8 months) Best Wishes!!

[dnrindal]

It depends on the region. The agency we used has one region that is very popular (for them) and very predictable--it is always four months between trips. Our region was 8 weeks. Some regions are more predictable. Our agency also gave us a list of priorities to rate, i.e., will you fly in country, do you want a short wait time for referral, do you want a short wait between trips? We were then assigned based on preference. Ask if that is possible. Good luck!

[ddahl]

we waited 3 agonizing months for court due to the region we were in. there was nothing the agency could do. it really is the luck of the draw on many levels. 8 weeks is pretty standard with a top agency but St. Petersburg is notoriously slow for court... Good luck!