PRE-ADOPTION: process and paperwork

On this page you will find:

Agency Selection
US Citizenship and Immigration Services (formerly BCIS and INS)
US State Department
Dossier
For help in evaluating a referral, go to the Medical page.

Agency Selection

One of the first tasks once you have decided to adopt from Kazakhstan is to select an agency. It is a very daunting task. Unfortunately, you won't really know if you made a good selection until after you have adopted. That is why it is important to talk with someone who has adopted through that agency, from that country, and preferably from the same region you would be adopting in. Because of the passage of the Family Law in 1998 that allows for international adoption, there are more and more agencies starting programs in Kazakhstan.

You do not need to live near an adoption agency to use them, so don't restrict your search to only those that are local. With e-mail and telephones, you should be able to get ahold of any agency personnel quickly and easily.

Adoptive Families Magazine has an excellent article on how to select an agency; you can also search for an agency on this site. I recommend that you contact a number of agencies and ask for written information; this will give you a better idea of what to expect. Lousiana Eastern European Adoptive Families has hints on choosing an agency; they even have their own registry. Another list of suggestions for checking out an agency is on the Welcome Garden web site; they also have information on financing an adoption and a large list of adoption related links. Adoption agency checklist has a checklist in choosing an agency, a guide to evaluating web sites, photolistings and ethics, and an article on choosing an ethical adoption agent. A Child's Desire , Adoptive Families Magazine andComeunity have an adoption agency interview with questions to ask. Fleas Biting , a blog by a parent who was mislead by an adoption agency, this offers excellent suggestions on ways to avoid problems with an adoption. What to Do About Adoption Corruption has tips for avoiding unethical adoptions. Adoption Agency Ratings is a relatively new site, allows anonymous postings, which could be good or bad, as it allows agency personnel to post good reviews of their own agency.

Once you have narrowed down your list of possible agencies, the next step is to check references. If the agency you are looking at is non-profit, or is affiliated with a non-profit organization, check them out at Guidestar . Better Business Bureau (look under For Charities and Donors) "reports on nationally soliciting charitable organizations that are the subject of donor inquiries." American Institute of Philanthropy (Charity Watch) is a "nationally prominent charity watchdog service whose purpose is to help donors make informed giving decisions;" not as comprehensive as Guidestar or the BBB. Another source to check is the Child Welfare Information Gateway information on international adoption. The Better Business Bureau may have information; a listing with them would be a huge red flag, not being listed should be considered irrelevant.

Another obvious resource for asking questions about agencies are the numerous e-mail lists and discussion boards. I have links to these on the Groups page. When you post a question, or write to a reference that an agency has given you, do not ask "Can anyone recommend an agency?" or "Tell me about your experience." as you will likely not get many responses. Read the archives (when available), narrow your choice of agencies down, and ask specific questions about the agency or agencies: "Did you encounter any unexpected problems or delays?", "How did the agencies/facilitators deal with the problems?", "Would you use the agency again or recommend them to your best friend?" or any of the many other possible questions discussed by the websites in the above paragraphs. Do not assume that just because nobody says anything negative about a particular agency on the lists that the agency is perfect; some agencies have anti-defamation clauses in their contracts preventing clients from talking about them publicly. There is a Yahoo group called Adoption Agency Research : "formed to help prospective adoptive parents in their research and selection of an international adoption agency;" this group is very active, and does not allow adoption professionals; it is the only place that I have seen negative comments made about some agencies. The FRUA (Families for Russian and Ukranian Adoption) chat is very active, although messages aren't archived for long. Remember that the opinion of a parent that is already home with their child is preferred to one who has not traveled yet.

When initially talking with agencies find out how long they have been working in Kazakhstan, how long they have been working with their overseas facilitators, how many adoptions they have completed, and verify that they are registered with the government in Kazakhstan. Multiple agencies may work with the same overseas facilitator/agency so check them both out. Make sure that the references that the agency gives you used the same facilitator; I can't stress enough how important the overseas people are in how smoothly the adoption proceeds. You also want to talk with people who have adopted recently, as procedures change frequently. Being the first family to adopt in a new program is not a bad thing, you just need to be aware that there may be additional challenges as the process is worked out. I have created a list of questions to ask adoption agencies to help you.

One of the most frequent questions I get is "How much does it cost?". Although it is very important to most families, it is difficult to get an answer from agencies. You can find out what their basic fees are, but that is only part of the picture. Not all agencies include the same services in their fees. Travel expenses are especially difficult to estimate; it depends upon when you travel (international airfares are more in summer than in winter), where the orphanage is located in Kazakhstan (if it is not in Almaty, you need to add incountry travel; on the other hand, accommodations are more expensive in Almaty), etc. You can generally expect an adoption to cost from $25,000 to $40,000; this should include all expenses from homestudy to dossier to travel and back home. It certainly can be done for less, so don't be discouraged if this sounds like too much. For sources of financial assistance, go to the adoption resources page. I have put together a fees checklist that you might find helpful in evaluating agencies and fees; let me know if you encounter any expenses that I don't have listed. The PAKK list also has a file with a few families expenses documented; you have to be a member of this group to access the file.

It has recently been reported that some agencies are asking parents to avoid posting on e-mail lists. If the support that the e-mail lists offer is important to you, be sure to ask the agency if they have any policies concerning internet lists.

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US Citizenship and Immigration Services

Previously known as Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) and Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (BCIS).

Go to the USCIS web site for forms and fees information. Send it only by registered mail (FEDEX, registered US Postal Service, etc.). Mark on the outside of the envelope "Orphan Officer", so that it will go directly there instead of staying indefinitely in the mailroom; keep in mind, however, that not all USCIS offices have a separate orphan officer. All of the following forms can be downloaded in PDF format, but be aware that some USCIS offices require that they be printed on the correct color of paper. It takes approximately two weeks if requesting to have the forms mailed; it is easier if you order all the forms at once.. USCIS Field Offices lists jurisdiction, location, contact information, etc., for every state.

I-600 Adopt an Orphan. Includes I-600A : Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition and the I-600 : Petition to Classify Orphan as an Immediate Relative which is filed in Almaty at the US Embassy; the I-600A approves you as parents to adopt, and the I-600 approves a specific child. You must file an I-600 within 18 months of the approval of the I-600A. I used to advise people to send in the I-600A as soon as you decided to adopt internationally whether you had selected an agency or not; now, with the entire adoption process taking longer, I recommend that you wait until the homestudy is done and you have selected an agency. Also, USCIS is enforcing expiration dates for the fingerprint checks, which is fifteen (15) months; so it is possible that you would need to redo your fingerprint check if you will be filing the I-600 within 30 days of the fingerprint expiration.
If you want to fill out some of the questions in Block II on the back, here are the answers (which apply to most everyone) if adopting from Kazakhstan. Question 10: "Name and address of organization or individual..." Fill in the adoption agency information. Question 11: "Do you intend to travel abroad to locate or adopt a child?" YES. Question 12: "Does your spouse plan to travel...?" YES. Kazakhstan, with very few exceptions, requires both parents to meet the child before adoption. If you are single, write that in. Question 13: "Date and destination..." Do not fill out unless advised by your agency, although you should be safe in putting Almaty as the destination, as you definitely have to go there. Question 14: "Will the child come to the US for adoption...?" NO. Question 15: "...will the child be adopted abroad after having been seen personally by you? YES. Kazakhstan adoptions are finalized there. Question 16: "Where do you wish to file your orphan petition?" Almaty, Kazakhstan. Question 17: "Do you intend to adopt more than 1 child?" YES. The general advise is to put down one more child than you intend to adopt, although you can no longer adopt unrelated children any more. You do not need to submit original documents, copies are fine. Include the following statement: "Copies of documents submitted are exact photocopies of unaltered original documents and I understand that I may be required to submit original documents to an Immigration or Consular official at a later date." Some USCIS offices will refuse to process the I-600A until they have received your home study. You will be notified of your appointment to have fingerprints taken. These are processed by the FBI; call the FBI Liasion office if the fingerprints have not cleared within one month; the phone numbers that I have seen posted are (all with area code 304): 625-5590, 625-5577, and 625-2000 option3. If they are having problems getting good fingerprints from you, try using cornhuskers lotion several times a day for a few weeks before your appointment, wear gloves when you hands might get wet doing dishes or housework, and make sure that you have been drinking plenty of fluids.

Some USCIS offices can take 4-6 months to process your application; Case Status Service Online : select District Office Processing Dates to see how long it is taking to complete I-600A's. If you have an application receipt number, you can also check the status of you application online and create an account to receive updates. If you are having problems getting a response, contacting your US Representative's office may help; they usually have a liaison officer that deals with constituent problems. You may also be able to make an appointment through InfoPass to see the immigration officer. Each field office also has an e-mail address specifically for adoption services, although it might not be the most effecient method of communication; some agencies tell their clients that e-mailing USCIS may actually slow down their application.

Because the Hague Convention has come into force in the US, there is a new form for orphan petitions: I-800A. This form is not used for adoptions from Kazakhstan as they have not signed the Hague Convention.
I-864 Affidavit of Support with supplemental forms that you might need. This form can be notarized before you travel and is filed at the Embassy in Almaty. You will also need complete copies of tax returns for the last three years. Although the I-864 is no longer needed by most adoptive parents, you still may be asked to show the supporting documents (tax returns and proof of employment). You need to meet the minimum requirement of 125% of the Poverty Guidelines for your size of household including the adopted children. If you need a copy of previous year tax returns, you need to file IRS Form 4506 (this is a PDF on the IRS website) or call 1-800-829-1040. You might want to take the Form to your local IRS office and explain why you need it quickly; they will forward it to a processing center.
N-600 Application for Certificate of Citizenship. The N-643 Application for Certificate of Citizenship in Behalf of an Adopted Child has been eliminated. Form N-600K Application for Citizenship and Issuance of Certificate under Section 322 is for US citizen parents who are not residing in the US (expats). For details on applying for your child's citizenship, and current news, go to the Post-adoption page. The Child Citizenship Act does not affect the immigration procedure in Almaty, as the child has to become a legal resident and set foot on US soil in order to become a citizen. As of January 20, 2004, any child entering the US on an IR-3 will automatically receive the COC within 45 days; if you arrived before that date, you will still need to apply.
I-824 Application for Action on an Approved Application or Petition. Use this form if your original I-600A was filled out for another country and want to request that the approval notice be sent to the Embassy in Almaty. New: Instead of filing the change form, you can change countries one (1) time for free; you will need to send in a cover letter requesting the change and an updated homestudy with the new country listed.
I-171H Notice of Favorable Determination Concerning Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition is the form you receive from the USCIS once they have approved your I-600A. Check it to make sure all information on it is correct, including which Embassy receives a copy of the notice.

Also on the USCIS web site is a page on Inter-Country Adoptions which includes links to forms, information sheets on the Intercountry Adoption Act and the Child Citizenship Act and an online and PDF version of the handbook titled The Immigration of Adopted and Prospective Adoptive Children.

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US State Department

General Information on International Adoption , including updates, country flyers, statistics, and laws.

International Adoptions from Kazakhstan , this has everything you need to know about the process, from filing the I-600A through the adoption trip. A version of this page is also on the US Embassy's web site listed below.

US Embassy in Astana, Kazakhstan : The American Citizen Services has contact information, hours, etc., and a page for adoptions . You can e-mail the adoptions unit or the general address . Contact them before you travel to verify that they have been cabled your approval to adopt; contact information is found at US Embassy - Contact US . Even though the Embassy has officially moved to Astana, adoption visas are still issued in Almaty.

Dossier

Procedures and dossier requirements vary from region to region and agency to agency. You need to verify with the adoption agency exactly what you need. Below is a list of what is generally required. The agency should provide you with applicable forms. Some agencies will take care of the apostille process for you; I personally liked doing it myself because it was done as quickly as I needed it done.

Apostilled Affidavit listing all documents
Letter of intent to adopt a child in the Republic of Kazakhstan. This letter should be addressed to the Embassy of Kazakhstan where you are submitting the dossier, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry.
Parents Commitment Letter to Kazakhstan Adoption Law
Homestudy, : Be sure that you use someone who is familiar with completing homestudies for international adoptions. Child Welfare Information Gateway: The Adoption Homestudy Process and Rainbow Kids: Homestudy are excellent articles on what to expect. The homestudy should also include a copy of the current agency license and social worker's license, these need to be valid for at least 1 year; post-placement report commitment letter from the social worker agreeing to do reports until the child is 18; and a letter of approval and certificate of recommendation from the homestudy agency. You need an extra copy of the homestudy in addition to the ones submitted with the dossier, so you need 3 copies.
Monitoring Commitment of Adoptive Family (allow visitation by Kazakhstani officials)
Post Adoption Reports Commitment
Consular Registration Commitment, agreeing to register the child with the MFA in Astana
Photocopy of passport information pages
Original, certified marriage license (NOT notarized)
Original, certified birth certificate, only for singles
Guardianship affidavit for single parents only
Divorce decree, if applicable (only 2 divorces are allowed)
FBI Background checks; must be less than 6 months old when the dossier is submitted to the Embassy/Consulate
Medical statement for each spouse; must be less than 3 months old when the dossier is submitted to the Embassy/Consulate; must be accompanied by a copy of the doctor's medical license valid for at least a year, notarized as a true and accurate copy
Employment verification letter for each working spouse, either done on the employer's letterhead, or, if self-employed, prepared by your accountant
Financial statement
Bank reference letter stating your accounts are in good standing
Certificate of residence
Copy of approval of orphan petition (I-171H)
Power of Attorney for representatives in Kazakhstan
Pictures of your home, child's room, etc. You must have at least 10 pictures, and they can be printed more than 1 to a page

I have samples of some of these forms/documents available for download on the Dossier page. I have included some documents and PDFs concerning the new requirements for the dossier from the fall of 2005. They are linked to on the Dossier page.

All documents that are not certified need to be notarized. Check with your state Secretary of State to see if the documents need to be authenticated at the county level; not all states require this. Documents then need to go to your state Secretary of State to be apostilled. As of May 2005 they are no longer allowing documents to be bundled for apostilling; each document must be apostilled separately. The dossier needs to be translated into Russian by translators approved by the Kazakhstan Embassy or Consulate (this is a new requirement in June, 2005; before that you could either use one of the translators or your dossier could be translated by someone in Kazakhstan). You must make two complete exact copies of the dossier to be submitted with it.

You will then send your dossier to the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Washington D.C. or the Consulate of Kazakhstan in New York City to obtain the registration letter. Your agency will provide you with specific guidelines on how to do all of this or they may handle it for you. Once the dossier is approved by the Embassy/Consulate, it is sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), Ministry of Education (MOE), and the Guardianship Board in the city where you are adopting. The MFA has a page on Adoption Procedure . If you are adopting independently (not through an adoption agency), then you can not use a courier service to deliver your dossier to the Kazakhstan Embassy, it must be hand-delivered by the family; however, you can use Legal-Eaze to deliver the dossier to the Kazakhstan Consulate in New York.

For an excellent overview of what the dossier is and how it needs to be handled, visit Kazakhstan Dossier on the web site of The Assistant Stork . You will find detailed information about the process, a listing of state "Secretary of State" offices, and a list of international adoption agencies. Laura no longer runs a courier service for Kazakhstan adoptions. However, Legal-Eaze has permission to deliver dossiers to the NYC Consulate regardless of where you live.

I recommend that you have at least one copy, preferably 2 or 3, of your dossier per child for yourself. The extra copy that I carried with me was authenticated (when I traveled dossiers were authenticated, not apostilled) through the state level, and I had a copy of the US State Department (no longer done) and Kazakhstan authentications. There have been cases of people who have had documents missing from their dossier, and they were glad that they could just pull the document from their set. Leave an extra copy at home with someone who can mail it to Kazakhstan if it is needed.

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Page last updated on 30 March 2008.