I am looking for input from people about other countries to adopt from. I am having some second thoughts about going back to Russia and I'd love to hear from other people about different countries that are International Adoption friendly.
Care to share your story with me?
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Since August 2007
Randy and Susan
After seven years of trying to start a family, we journeyed to Moscow Russia to bring our son Artem home. He has blessed our family more than we thought possible and now we are returning to Russia again to make Artem a big brother.
Artem...Our First Russian Blessing
Andrik...Our Second Russian Blessing
Cheerios In My Shorts
You can read about what we've been up to since Artem came home from Russia if you click here: Cheerios In My Shorts.
Adoptive Families I follow...
- Corey and Amy
- Brad, Jen, and Bek
- Life With Colin
- To Find a Daughter
- Amy and Norah
- Kim, Lance, Jack, Cooper, and Carter
- Chuck,Tracey, and Matt
- Justin, Lisa, and Nickolas
- Quest to Russia
- Steve, Carolynn, and Karina
- Joy, Gerard, and Anna
- Stayce, Andy, and Alina
- Renae, Joe, and Olivia
- Scott, Allison, Jasi, and Sasha
- Abraham Family
- Angie, Curt, Josh, and Vika
- Jane, Jim, Cooper and Kara
- Graeme, Rebecca, and Sam
- Allison, Stu and the crew
- Nicole, Brett and Ava
- David, Jodi, Andrei and Alex
- Becky, Keith, and Andrew
- Brian, Ondrea, the boys and Meg
- Heather, Jason, and Zachary
- Tiger, Kar and Ilya
- Scott, Carrie, Sophie and Sam
- Shane, Marie and Bryson
- Debbie, Dave and Isabel
- Troy, Rachel and Daniel
- Carrie, Michael and S
- Beth, Nick, Luca and Jaxon
- Carey, Norman and kids
- Mark, Sinziana and Diego
- Scott, Dana, and Cade
- Jane, Caroline, and Chase
- Rob, Dede, and Liam
- Chris, Danica, Alexa, and Anneliese
- Adrienne, Jim, and Owen
- Nathan, Melissa and Iliya
Helpful or Interesting Links
Important First Adoption Dates
- May 17, 2008 Certificate of Citizenship Arrived
- Apr 19, 2008 Home!!
- Apr 12, 2008 Gotcha Day!
- Mar 31, 2008 Court, We Are Approved!
- Mar 30, 2008 Visit With Artem
- Mar 24, 2008 171H Apostilled, Fed Ex'd to Moscow
- Mar 21, 2008 171H Received
- Mar 14, 2008 171H Approved!
- Mar 13, 2008 Petition Sent to Senator to Expedite 171H
- Mar 3, 2008 FBI Fingerprint Clearances Arrive
- Mar 3, 2008 FedEx'd Addendum to USCIS
- Feb 21, 2008 Court Date Assigned
- Feb 16, 2008 Letter From USCIS Stating Incomplete Info on Home Study
- Feb 13, 2008 FedEx'd FBI Fingerprint Clearance
- Feb 4, 2008 Met Our Son Artem Alexander
- Feb 2, 2008 Leave for 1st Trip
- Jan 25, 2008 Invite to Travel
- Jan 25, 2008 Fingerprint Appt, San Antonio
- Jan 15, 2008 Tentative Travel Plans for Feb 2nd
- Jan 12, 2008 Second Dossier Mailed to Agency
- Jan 9, 2008 I-797C Received, Invitation for Fingerpring Appt.
- Jan 4, 2008 DHL Loses our Dossier
- Jan 2, 2008 Decision Made By Us To Register Our Dossier in Late February
- Dec 14, 2007 Home Study Mailed to CIS (I600A)
- Dec 14, 2007 Dossier Mailed to Agency
- Dec 14, 2007 Dossier Apostilled
- Dec 12, 2007 Received Final Home Study
- Dec 3, 2007 Randy Dossier Physical
- Nov 28, 2007 Susan Dossier Physical
- Nov 27, 2007 Requested copies of medical license
- Nov 23, 2007 Receipt Received from Immigration Services
- Nov 16, 2007 Electronic Fingerprint Appt for Home Study
- Nov 12, 2007 Mailed I600A
- Nov 8, 2007 HIV, TB, STD, HEP B&C bloodwork complete
- Nov 7, 2007 Fire Marshall Inspection complete
- Oct 30, 2007 Approved with new agency, CSS
- Oct 24, 2007 Last meetings with home study agency
- Oct 17, 2007 First home study meeting with local agency
- Oct 12, 2007 Cancelled our home study with CHI
- Oct 11, 2007 Cancelled with CHI
- Sept 20, 2007 Home Study social worker assigned to us.
- Sept 19, 2007 Home study packet received at agency
- Sept 18, 2007 Home study packet is mailed to agency
- Sept 17, 2007 Home Study packet is complete!!
- Aug 7, 2007 Call from agency, no longer on hold, paperwork is being mailed to us.
- Aug 3, 2007 Approved from agency but on hold indefinetly from Russian govt.
- July 17, 2007 Mailed intial application to agency
Adoption Terminology
- 171H= Official permission to bring child/children into the country. NOTHING happens until this paper is in your hot little hand
- I 600A= Form requesting permission for us to bring a child/children into the country to adopt and become a citizen
- MOE = Ministry of Education (in Russia)
- Dossier = our packet of info (home study, financial statements, background checks) sent to Russia
- PAP= Potential Adoptive Parent
- IA= International Adoption
Friends Following Our Journey
Visitors
Credits:
*Photo of Randy and Susan taken by Melissa Bridges
*Check out the Shabbby Shoppe for great background papers
*Check out the Shabbby Shoppe for great background papers
8 comments:
Hi Susan!
Have you looked at China Special Needs? I KNOW the special needs part sounds soo soooo scary. But actually it is not really. China considers very minor things as a special need. The needs range from very minor to more severe, but in this program YOU get to choose what needs you think you can handle.
We went through an AMAZING agency who works tirelessly for their families and the children of China. If you look into the program you will probably see that there is a long wait for referral with most China agencies but I am certain that if you choose the right agency you will not wait long. Most agencies with a long wait are huge agencies who have had a lot of families switch from the non special needs to special needs program.
If you'd like more info, email me at jaclyn.mcelhaney @ gmail com
Oh some GREAT resources for more info on the SN program are..
http://www.nohandsbutours.com/ (clink on family stories)
http://www.chinaadopttalk.com
and you can also go to my blog which I sent you before and click on any of my links on the side to other families blogs or Project Chosen to read many stories.
Good LUCK with your decision :)
Susan,
I have to second the China special needs program! They have the most beautiful children waiting for families. I thought I had read that you guy's were thinking another boy . Well, I have seen some of the most beautiful boys waiting for families!
We were really on the fence about going back to Russia or going to China. My heart is really drawn to Russia after adopting Ava. But my heart has always been drawn to China too! Now we have the most precious little girl waiting on us in China!
Let me know if you have any questions. I would be happy to share info on agencies ,the program and anything else you might want to know!
Nicole
nmsettle@yahoo.com
Heya! Email me! I'm in the process of researching China SN and am really impressed with the program. I can give you some of the resources I've been using as well as some of the reasons we're thinking about heading that way. I'd love to hear your thoughts about not heading to Russia again - we've been debating back and forth!
One of my friends from college actually has gone to Guatemala twice for adoptions. If you are interested in her story, here is her blog.
http://guat-mama.blogspot.com/
I'm sure Ashley would gladly answer any questions that you have. :)
We decided to try the U.S. It is so different for me but that is where God is leading us. We are requesting a little girl (and are open to a sibling of either gender) age 0-2. I have heard good things about adopting from China special needs and I know many have adopted from Ethiopia. Not much else going on in the international scene lately. We considered Nepal but it has not been going well there lately so we are glad to have not signed up for that program.
heather
www.russianblessings.wordpress.com
Hi Susan. As you know, we went to China for our second adoption (third child). We just loved China and the special needs program. We used WACAP (wacap.org) as they have a wonderful waiting child program (Family Finders). They are wonderful in letting you review waiting children's files. Most agencies want to match you with your needs. WACAP allows you to make a list of your needs you'll consider, but they will also let you review files for children who might not meet the needs you initially selected. We loved the trip to China and would go back again tomorrow!!
We also considered Korea (CHSFS). They have a wonderful waiting child program too. Their needs seem to be more neurological or heart related, but they also have some children with minor special needs.
My heart is still in China, so we would definitely go back there again (possibly #4?).
Blessings,
Carey
Check out http://newdayfosterhome.blogspot.com/
Hey - I don't have any input but I just wanted to say how excited I am for you guys!!!
He or she will be so lucky to have you guys as parents - where ever they're from!
I can't wait to see where this road will lead...
I live in Moscow (expat) and found your blog from a link on a friend of friend's blog. Please do not give up on Russia. All of us who volunteer at a local orphanage and hospital are so afraid American parents are going to give up on Russia due to the recent circumstances.
Just a thought. Not matter what is your final decision, the child will be lucky to be loved.
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