Adopt from Russia


Since 1993, WACAP has worked with Russian governmental authorities to place children from Russia in adoptive homes throughout the United States. WACAP is registered as an international non-governmental organizations (NGO) through the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation,required by Russian law, and is currently accredited by the Ministry of Education to process adoptions.

Russian children are matched with adoptive applicants by regional officals, and are placed directly from childcare institutions. Adoptive parents must travel to Russia to receive and accept their child referral, and then return to finalize their adoptions in the Russian courts.Before travel, adoptive parents will receive basic initial information about the child. WACAP staff who are caring experienced professionals will guide you throughout the process and be with you while you are in Russia.

Children in Need of Families
Many Russian infants and toddlers are in need of families, as are children over age 4, children with special needs and school-age sibling groups. Most children are Caucasian; however, a small number of Russian children are of Asian and other ethnic heritages. Children must be registered and available to Russian adoptive families a total of 9 months before they are eligible for adoption by a non-Russian family. Children who have been living in institutions often demonstrate developmental and growth delays.

When you are matched with a child, depending on the region, you will travel to Russia to meet and receive all available information about the child. You will be asked to carefully consider this information before deciding whether or not to accept this child for adoption.

Adoption Requirements
Eligibility requirements are flexible and vary by region, based on the needs and best interests of the child. Married couples, single women, and a maximum age difference of 48 years between mother and child are preferred by Russian authorities. You may apply to adopt siblings.

You need to have a homestudy performed by a licensed adoption agency. WACAP conducts homestudies in Washington, Oregon, New York, Connecticut and Alaska; in other states, we can give you the names of several licensed agencies.

Travel Requirements
Russian adoption regulations require that both parents travel to Russia to receive information about the child. The parents are expected to make a decision to accept or decline the child in Russia or soon after they return to the United States. After they have accepted the child, both parents travel to attend the adoption court hearing and complete their child’s adoption. The first trip is planned for one week, the second for 10–25 days (one parent may return home after the court hearing, about three to five days after their arrival).

WACAP strongly encourages all adoptive parents to register with the U.S. Embassy in Russia before they travel. Registration is free and simple; you can download the registration form in either PDF or Microsoft Word format and fax it the embassy.

Required Documents
  • Approved homestudy
  • Certified marriage certificate
  • Certified divorce decree (if applicable)
  • Certified birth certificate (single applicants only)
  • USCIS Immigration Approval Notice
  • Current passport for each parent (valid for at least 18 months from the time that the homestudy is approved)
  • Russia-specific medical report (the doctor who prepares the report should attach a copy of his or her medical license)
  • Russia-specific employment letter
  • Russia-specific residence letter
  • Russia-specific health insurance letter
  • Russia-specific State Patrol report
  • 10 photos (home and family)
Other documents may be required, depending on the region where your dossier is sent. Your Russia program coordinator will advise you of these requirements.

Waiting Time
The waiting time for Russian adoptions varies, depending on the type of child you request. Families seeking to adopt girls of any age will wait longer than those open to considering children of either gender.

Estimated Costs (effective Jan. 1, 2008)
Cost
Amount
Paid
Homestudy
Varies by agency. WACAP conducts homestudies in WA, OR and AK for $1,500, and in NY and CT for $1,800.
Prior to completion of homestudy
WACAP application fee
$250
With WACAP application
USCIS I-600A
$670 + $80 each adult for fingerprinting.
With I-600A application; paid to USCIS
WACAP initial adoption processing
$7,000, which includes dossier assistance, cost of verification, authentication, and mailing costs
At homestudy approval
WACAP second adoption processing
$7,050
6 months after homestudy approval or at child referral (whichever comes first)
WACAP final adoption processing
$7,950
At child acceptance
WACAP postplacement visit fee
(This fee applies if WACAP is doing your postplacement visits. Postplacement fee varies by agency.)
$1,200 (4 home visits required by Russia, at $300 per visit)
At child acceptance
WACAP postplacement deposit (refundable once all four completed postplacements are received in Russia)
$500
At child acceptance
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MID) Assistance Fee (refundable if paid in Russia)
$500
At child acceptance
Associated Costs
WACAP Second Child Fee (if applicable, for each set of siblings)
$3,700
At child acceptance
WACAP Additional Traveler’s Fee (if applicable)
(Not applicable for persons accompanying single parents or one traveling spouse)
$500 per person
At child acceptance
WACAP Courier Fee (optional for Vladivostok and Sakhalin only)
$2,000
At child acceptance
Russian entry visa
$155–450 per person
Prior to travel, paid to Red Star Travel Agency or Rainier World Travel, Inc.
Flight to/from Russia, and between cities if needed
Varies
Prior to travel, paid to travel agent
One-way airfare for child
$610+ per child
Prior to travel, paid to travel agent
Hotel and food
Varies, $50–200+ per person, per day
In Russia
Child’s U.S. visa medical exam
$95–150 (approx.)
In Moscow, per child
Child’s U.S. visa
$400 per child
In Russia to the U.S. Consulate
Other Adoption-Related Fees
Refinalization in United States
(Amount varies by state and attorney)
$500–1,500 or more
After returning to the United States; paid to attorney
Are finances a barrier to adoption? U.S. families may receive a tax credit of up to $11,650 when they adopt a child. Find out about this and other sources of financial assistance.

Family Finders
WACAP’s Family Finders program seeks parents for waiting children in Russia. For these children, the waiting period is often shorter, and you may be eligible for a fee reduction and loan.

Getting Started
Thinking about adopting a child from Russia? Hundreds of children there need loving adoptive parents. us for more information. Or download an application form. (You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to download the application. Please click the link below to download this free software from Adobe.)

Every adoption is different. During the adoption process, you may be asked to supply more documents, comply with new policies or meet other requirements. Our staff will always do their best to keep you informed. See our Russia adoption FAQ for further details.

Check our news page for the latest update on adoption from Russia.