Russia

July 27, 2010

Russia and U.S. Continue with Progress

A U.S. interagency team met with its Russian counterpart in Moscow from July 21-23, 2010 for the fourth round of discussions about an adoption agreement. This most recent round of negotiations were positive and productive and reflected the continuing commitment of both sides to the common goal of increasing safeguards for adoption between Russia and the United States. The U.S. delegation was led by the Managing Director of the State Department Office of Overseas Citizen Services, and also included representatives from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the State Department Office of the Legal Adviser, and the Bureaus of the Consular and European Affairs. The Russian side was led by the Ministry of Education and Science’s Director of Government and Children’s Welfare. Additional information is available from http://moscow.usembassy.gov/st_adopt072610.html

There has been no official change in the status of on-going intercountry adoptions originating from Russia, but prospective adoptive parents should be aware that in some parts of Russia, adoptions may continue to be slowed down or delayed.

May 13, 2010

Russia and U.S. Talks Move Forward

Earlier today, Russia and the U.S. issued a joint statement on the progress of their talks related to intercountry adoption. In addition, the U.S. Department of State has published a separate statement on intercountry adoption in Russia. Both statements can be found in full below.

Both statements indicate that significant progress has been made and agreement on basic principles of an acord has been reached. From ongoing dialogue with key stakeholders, it is Joint Council’s assessment that a future agreement will most likely include the specific responsibilities of each government, protocols for direct communication between each country’s primary adoption authority, increased post-adoption reports and responsibilities and the utilization of only those U.S. based adoption service providers accredited by the U.S. government (Hague accreditation).

Joint Council fully supports a bilateral agreement and the inclusion of the above noted improvements to the intercountry adoption process. It is our understanding that while agreement has been reached on these and other broad principals, a completed bilateral accord will require additional talks between the two governments and sufficient time to bring clarity and definition to the general agreements.

May 13, 2010

Joint Statement Issued by Russia and U.S.

The U.S. Embassy in Moscow, Russia issued the following joint U.S.-Russian statement today, May 13, 2010.

On May 12-13, U.S.-Russian consultation on adoption were held in Moscow.

‘Generally, we very positively assess the atmosphere of the talks. In the course of a substantial dialogue we’ve managed to move forward on a wide range of complicated issues,’ says Alina Levitskaya, Director, Department of State Policy on Upbringing, Supplementary Education and Social Protection of Children, Russian Ministry of Education and Science.

‘Both teams are committed to reach an agreement to increase safeguards for intercountry adoption between Russian and the U.S.’ adds Mary Ellen Hickey, the head of American delegation, Managing Director, Office of Children’s Issues, U.S. State Department.

The participants of the meeting shared their views on existing difficulties in intercountry adoption and the way to resolve them. The discussions were detailed and concerned specific issues including domestic laws and international obligations of both countries.

In particular, the delegations acknowledged that any agreement being discussed would be legally binding. Each country will define its competent bodies responsible for coordinating bilateral cooperation in adoption.

Among other things, we discussed the role of authorized adoption agencies, and the possibility of further regulating their activities.

During the talks the participants reached broad understanding on overall goals and principles and discussed how to proceed toward those goals.

The delegations also agreed to exchange their revised drafts as soon as possible.

Due to the significant number of issues under discussion and the mutual commitment to resolve them as soon as possible, the consultations will continue on May 14.

Further, the U.S Dept of State, Office of Children’s Issues issued the following announcement today, May 13:

A U.S. interagency team held meetings to discuss an adoption agreement with their Russian counterparts on May 12. The meetings are ongoing and will continue on May 13. The initial talks were positive, productive and conducted in a spirit of cooperation. Both sides are interested in taking steps to increase the safeguards for adopted children. The discussions were technical in nature because they involve domestic laws of two countries. There is still important work to be done and this continues to be a high priority for both governments.

It is our understanding that there has been no change in the status of on-going inter-country adoptions originating from Russia. Many thousands of Russian children, who were not adopted by Russian families, have found loving, safe and permanent homes in the United States through inter-country adoption. We are pleased to be discussing with the Russian government a future approach to ensure intercountry adoptions continue.

Prospective adoptive parents should be aware that in some parts of Russia, adoptions continue to be slowed down or delayed.

If you have completed an adoption in Russia and have an immigrant visa appointment at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow:
The U.S. Embassy in Moscow is continuing to schedule and issue immigrant visas for adopted children using normal processing procedures. Contact the Embassy at MoscowConsularR@state.gov to schedule an appointment. Please also stay in close touch with your adoption service provider.

If you have a court appointment to finalize your child’s adoption in Russia:
Many adoption cases are continuing to move forward in the courts. We have heard of cases in which a court appointment has been postponed. If your court appointment is postponed by the court, please provide this information to us by email at RussiaAdoption@state.gov and MoscowConsularR@state.gov. Neither the Department of State nor the U.S. Embassy have the authority to intervene with the Russian courts on any individual case and cannot provide a letter for use in the courts. Adoption service providers and/or legal representatives in Russia may be able to make inquiries about your case on your behalf with Russian courts.

If you do not yet have a court date to finalize an adoption in Russia, but are in the process of adopting from Russia:
Please stay in close contact with your adoption service provider, and check the adoption.state.gov website regularly for current information about intercountry adoption from Russia.

The Department of State’s Office of Children’s Issues has established a special e-mail box for inquiries or comments about adoptions from Russia. Prospective adoptive parents and others with concerns about adoptions from Russia may send their questions to RussiaAdoption@state.gov. Prospective adoptive parents may also provide complete contact information for themselves, including full address, phone number, and e-mail information, the name of their adoption service provider (if available) and details about the child they are planning to adopt.

This announcement can also be viewed on their website at http://adoption.state.gov/news/russia.html.

April 29, 2010

The U.S. Dept of State, Office of Children’s Issues has issued the following announcement regarding adoptions from Russia. Joint Council commends the collaborative efforts of the two governments, as well as the efforts of adoptive families, prospective adoptive families, and NGO’s in Russia and the United States in ensuring that intercountry adoptions between Russia and the United States continues. This announcement can also be viewed on The Office of Children’s Issues website at http://adoption.state.gov/news/russia.html.

There has been no official suspension in adoptions of Russian orphans by American parents. However, in some parts of Russia, we are aware that adoptions are being slowed down or delayed. The United States and Russia held their first round of talks on adoption issues in Moscow on April 29. The discussions focused on the U.S. and Russian concerns regarding protecting the welfare and rights of children being adopted internationally. The talks were productive and an expert-level working group will travel to Moscow for further discussions on an adoption agreement on May 12, 2010.

If you have completed an adoption in Russia and have an immigrant visa appointment at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow:

The U.S. Embassy in Moscow is continuing to schedule and issue immigrant visas for adopted children using normal processing procedures. Contact the Embassy at MoscowConsularR@state.gov to schedule an appointment. Please also stay in close touch with your adoption service provider.

If you have a court appointment to finalize your child’s adoption in Russia:

If you do not yet have a court date to finalize an adoption in Russia, but are in the process of adopting from Russia:

Please stay in close contact with your adoption service provider, and check the adoption.state.gov website regularly for current information about intercountry adoption from Russia.

The Department of State’s Office of Children’s Issues has established a special

e-mail box for inquiries or comments about adoptions from Russia. Prospective adoptive parents and others with concerns about adoptions from Russia may send their questions to RussiaAdoption@state.gov. Prospective adoptive parents may also provide complete contact information for themselves, including full address, phone number, and e-mail information, the name of their adoption service provider (if available) and details about the child they are planning to adopt.

April 27, 2010

The U.S. government, represented by seven officials from the Department of State and Department of Homeland Security, will meet with Russian officials in Moscow on Thursday, April 29, 2010. The substance of the meetings will focus on an agreement between the two countries related to intercountry adoption.

The Russian government has called for the signing of an agreement for the past few years and again in the wake of the recent tragedy. According to Russian officials, the continuation of intercountry adoption between the U.S. and Russia is contingent upon an agreement which formalizes the adoption process between the two countries and increases the protections offered to children and families.

Joint Council fully supports an agreement between Russia and the United States and continues to offer input on those elements of an agreement which would realistically increase child protection measures. While it is not expected that an agreement will be signed on Thursday, we continue to advocate for timely negotiations and the continuation of intercountry adoption during the negotiation period.

April 26, 2010

The Department of State has updated their statements on intercountry adoption with Russia. The text of the statement follows.

We have received no official notification that adoptions of Russian orphans by Americans have been suspended, but it is clear the recent controversy has slowed down adoptions in some parts of the country.

The United States is sending a delegation to hold talks with Russian officials, now scheduled to take place on April 29 in Moscow. The United States plans to emphasize the importance of intercountry adoptions between our two countries, and will discuss our mutual concerns about how to better protect the welfare and rights of children and all parties involved in the intercountry adoption processs. On April 25, Secretary of State Clinton spoke by telephone with Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov. The issue of adoptions was raised. They discussed our shared commitment to the common goal of protecting the welfare and rights of children and all parties involved in intercountry adoptions.

Many thousands of Russian children have found loving, safe and permanent homes in the United States through intercountry adoption. Families in the United States have adopted more than 50,000 children from Russia.

If you have completed an adoption in Russia and have an immigrant visa appointment at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow:

If you have a court appointment to finalize your child’s adoption in Russia:

If you do not yet have a court date to finalize an adoption in Russia, but are in the process of adopting from Russia: Please stay in close contact with your adoption service provider, and check the adoption.state.gov website regularly for current information about intercountry adoption from Russia.

April 19, 2010 - 19,000 Send Letter To President Medvedev and President Obama

As part of Joint Council's We Are The Truth Campaign, an invitation to all who are concerned about families and children to sign a letter to Presidents Medvedev and Obama. The letter, asking for the uninterrupted continuation of intercountry adoption and the aggressive prosecution of anyone involved in the neglect or abuse of children, was signed by over 19,000 caring individuals. The letters were delivered to both Presidents last week.

As of Monday, April 19, 2010, close to 25,000 have signed. The invitation to add signatures to the letter continues to be open and anyone who has not yet signed is encouraged to do so. As the number of signatures continues to grow, Joint Council will update the governments of Russia and the United States each week. To sign the letter, click here.

Joint Council extends its thanks to everyone who participated in the We Are The Truth Campaign, especially those who demonstrated their commitment to families and children by signing the letters.

April 19, 2010 - Bilateral Meeting Postponed

The meeting between a U.S. government delegation and their Russian counterparts, originally scheduled for April 20th in Moscow, has been postponed due to travel difficulties resulting from the volcanic ash cloud over Iceland and much of Europe. The U.S. Department of State is attempting to reschedule the meeting which was to address the Russian government's request for a bilateral agreement on intercountry adoption.

April 19, 2010 - Adoption Visas Continue

The U.S. Department of State issued 6 visas for children adopted in Russia on Monday, April 19, 2010.

April 19, 2010 - Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

A statement on the website of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicated that intercountry adoption between the U.S. and Russia is not currently suspended, but will be suspended if the U.S. government does not begin discussions on the formation of a bilateral agreement related to intercountry adoption.

April 16, 2010

The Department of State has received no information to confirm a suspension of adoptions from Russia to the United States. Our Embassy in Moscow and other Department of State officials are talking with Russian officials to clarify this issue.

The Department of State is sending a high-level inter-agency team to Russia this weekend to meet with senior Russian officials, including officials from the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of Justice. The U.S. delegation will emphasize the importance of this issue to the United States, and will discuss our mutual concerns about how to better protect the welfare and rights of children and all parties involved in intercountry adoptions.

If you have completed an adoption in Russia and have an immigrant visa appointment at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow:

The U.S. Embassy in Moscow is continuing to schedule and issue immigrant visas for adopted children using normal processing procedures. Contact the Embassy at MoscowConsularR@state.gov to schedule an appointment. Please also stay in close touch with your adoption service provider.

If you have a court appointment to finalize your child’s adoption in Russia:

Many adoption cases are continuing to move forward in the courts. We have heard of cases in which a court appointment has been postponed. If your court appointment is postponed by the court, please provide this information to us by email at
RussiaAdoption@state.gov and MoscowConsularR@state.gov. We will work with the Russian authorities to try to resolve any problems.

If you do not have a court date yet to finalize an adoption in Russia, but are in the process of adopting from Russia:
Please stay in close contact with your adoption service provider, and check the adoption.state.gov website regularly for current information about intercountry adoption from Russia.

The Department of State’s Office of Children’s Issues has established a special e-mail box for inquiries or comments about adoptions from Russia. Prospective adoptive parents with concerns about adoptions from Russia may send their questions to RussiaAdoption@state.gov.

April 15, 2010

Suspension Announced But Not Confirmed

During a press conference today, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei Nesterenko stated that intercountry adoptions with the United States have been suspended until a bilateral agreement with the United States is signed.

At this time, the Ministry of Education (the ministry responsible for intercountry adoption) has not confirmed the suspension nor issued a statement.

U.S. Government Delegation

We can confirm that a delegation from the U.S. Department of State, lead by Ambassador Michael Kirby, will travel to Moscow and conduct meetings with Russian officials on April 20, 2010.

Joint Council is working to achieve a clear understanding of the situation and will publish appropriate and confirmed information as it is available.

April 13, 2010: Please click here to visit our blog for the most continuously updated information on Joint Council's activities concerning Russia and adoptions from Russia.

April 12, 2010

We Are The Truth

A Campaign and Call to Action

The outrageous treatment of Artyem by his adoptive family has rightfully resulted in outrage by the Governments of Russia and the United States and all who care about children. The tragedy has cast a light on intercountry adoption that says it is not safe, the system failed and adopted children cause insurmountable problems. The heartbreak of Artyem Saviliev’s abandonment has once again elevated a singular incident to a level which may result in the suspension of intercountry adoption. Suspending adoption, even temporarily, will only cause thousands of children to suffer the debilitating effects of life in an orphanage.

You, the community of adoptees, adoptive parents, adoptive grandparents, child welfare professionals and child advocates know that the outrageous and indefensible actions of one parent are not indicative of how children are treated by adoptive families. You know that families who encounter difficulties do not simply abandon their child. You know that help is available, that solutions are found and that families can thrive. And you know that suspending adoption does not protect children but only subjects them to the depravity of an institution…and an entire life without a family.

You, the adoption community know the truth. You live the truth. You are the truth.

Join our campaign to bring the truth to light and help children in need find a permanent and safe family.

What You Can Do

1) Sign the letter to President Medvedev and President Obama: The letter asks both Presidents to ensure that intercountry adoption continues uninterrupted and to aggressively investigate and prosecute anyone involved in the abuse of children. You can sign anytime, but doing so before Tuesday night would help us get the letters to both Presidents before President Medvedev leaves the U.S. Click here to sign the letter.

2) We Are The Truth – an adoption blogger day: To ensure the world knows about every successful adoption, on Thursday, April 15, 2010 blog about your adoption or the adoption of someone you know. It doesn’t matter if your adoption is with Russia, domestic or otherwise international. Let the world know your truth!

3) Tell Your Truth with Video - make sure the world sees, hears and feels the thousands of successful adoptions from Russia by:

a. Send Joint Council your successful Russian adoption video via email to alexa.m@jcics.org.

i. Video should be a maximum of 3 minutes.

ii. A release must be sent to Joint Council or we cannot accept your video. For a copy of the release, click here.

b. Joint Council will translate the video into Russian and post it on our YouTube Channel.

4) Tell Your Truth with Words and Photos

a. Send Joint Council your successful Russian adoption story via email to alexa.m@jcics.org. Send us your stories through:

i. Photos (please do not send more than 10)

ii. Essays (maximum 500 words)

iii. A release must be sent to Joint Council or we cannot accept your story and/or pictures. For a copy of the release, click here.

b. Joint Council will then compile the stories and pictures, translate them into Russian and post them on our website and/or blog.

5) Share Your Truth

a. Joint Council will post, forward and share your stories via Facebook, Twitter, and blogs. Joint Council will be updating our YouTube Channel and Facebook page as the stories get compiled and translated, please subscribe to us on YouTube, Twitter and Fan us on Facebook.

b. You do the same by posting on your Facebook, Twitter, blog and website!

Want to help more?

Are you willing to speak to the media about your Russian adoption? If so, please email betheanswer@jcics.org with the following:
- Your name(s)
- City, State of residence
- Contact Phone Numbers
- Contact Email
- Short 4 sentence bio about your adoption
Do you speak Russian?
- We are in need of individual volunteers who can help our staff translate the videos and text quickly. If you are interested in helping, email Joint Council at intern@jcics.org.
Do you live in the Alexandria, VA area?
- Joint Council is in need of short term volunteers over the next two weeks, email rebeccah@jcics.org if you would like to volunteer.

April 9, 2010

Following several requests, Joint Council has prepared Background Information for those who are not familiar with Intercountry Adoption between the United States and Russia. To view this report, click here.

April 9, 2010

The Governments of Russia and the United States have reported that a seven-year old Russian child, adopted by a U.S. family, was flown to Russia and abandoned at the Ministry of Education in Moscow. The child, adopted approximately 6-months ago by a Tennessee family, is now under the protection of the Russian government.

As reported, this tragic turn of events is simply incomprehensible and indefensible. Joint Council forcefully advocates for the investigation, arrest and prosecution of all individuals involved in any type of child abuse. Failing to take aggressive action against the individuals involved in abuse only further compromises children’s rights. And when the reaction to abuse is the elimination of a particular service to children (intercountry adoption) instead of prosecuting the perpetrators, children are further victimized and their rights stripped away.

It should be recognized that this tragedy is an isolated incident of abuse and not representative of the more than 100,000 adoptions completed each year by American citizens. Further, we must also note that all children residing in the United States, regardless of their country of birth or adopted status are provided with the same protections and rights.

It is our understanding that these right and protections are being enforced by the appropriate elements of the United States and Russian governments, including the U.S. Dept of State, Tennessee Child Protection, and Law Enforcement. Joint Council fully supports the actions of the Russian and United States governments to ensure the safety of the child and that aggressive action against the individuals involved is taken.

Since news of the incident broke yesterday, Joint Council has been actively involved in the situation and will remain engaged with the Russian and U.S. governments, on the federal and local level, along with adoption professionals and NGO’s in both countries until a positive resolution is made. Further, Joint Council has reached out to our colleagues in Russia with information on the U.S. legal system, expressions of discontent of the actions of the adoptive family, and offers to continue collaborative efforts. Joint Council’s activity with both governments on the situation; investigation, arrest and prosecution of individuals involved; advocacy for the child and other vulnerable children in Russia is our highest priority at this time.

This tragedy demonstrates the need for all of us to work together to ensure that the rights of other children are not violated by the elimination of a particular service, including intercountry adoption, to children and those individuals who abuse children are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

November 6, 2009

America.gov has published a story on intercountry adoption and heritage, specific to Russia. The story highlights Alex Griffith, a CNN Hero and friend of Joint Council, as well as, Families for Russian and Ukrainian Adoption (FRUA). The story is available in both English and Russian at the following links.

http://www.america.gov/st/eur-russian/2009/November/20091102123622ZJsrednA0.9230615.html

http://www.america.gov/st/eur-english/2009/November/20091030165454ZJsrednA0.444607.

Given the opportunity that positive stories, such as this, provide we respectfully request that members distribute this information widely.

June 1, 2009

Joint Council participated in a live video conference with a U.S. based panel of child welfare experts and a corresponding panel based in Moscow along with members of the U.S. and Russian media. Additionally, Joint Council was interviewed for an upcoming article on America.gov which will be distributed (in Russian) to Russian officials and public via the America.gov website and other distribution channels.

The topic of the conference was intercountry adoption and its role in finding families for Russian children. The dialogue was very productive in addressing the concerns of the Russian Federation including an agreement between the U.S. and Russian governments regarding intercountry adoption, post-placement reporting compliance and the child protection system in the U.S. Additional dialogue occurred around the subject of foster care and the detrimental effects of temporary care for children without parental care.

This video conference is part of a larger proactive initiative to elevate the positive role of intercountry adoption in securing permanency for children. The initiative is a collaborative effort with the U.S. Department of State, the National Council for Adoption, the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute and other key stakeholders. Elements of this initiative include;

Two DOS sponsored International Visitors Programs for Russian officials,
The Joint Council sponsored media outreach to Russian officials and media,
Inclusion of Russian venues on the upcoming DOS sponsored International Speakers Bureau (specific to intercountry adoption and child protection),
The recent effort by DOS and the Hague Permanent Bureau in resolving apostille issues,
The America.gov article on intercountry adoption (noted above),
The video conference (noted above).

This ‘real-time’ video conference was facilitated by ROI Novositi and the National Council for Adoption on Thursday, May 27, 2009. Participants on the U.S. panel included U.S. Department of State Deputy Secretary Michele Bond, Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute Executive Director Kathleen Strottman, Council on Accreditation President Richard Klarberg, National Council for Adoption Vice President Chuck Johnson and International Assistance Group Director of Family Services Mary Graber.

Joint Council looks forward to future collaboration with our colleagues with a goal of protecting the right of every child to a family.

March 19, 2009

The US Embassy in Moscow has released an update on the list recently published by the Russian MOE. The following links to DOS’s announcement regarding the list: http://moscow.usembassy.gov/adopt-minednotice.html.

February 27, 2009

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has announced that beginning March 30th it will adjudicate all I-600 petitions for intercountry adoptions from Russia. USCIS has also released related FAQs to further clarify the process. Please read this most recent release, along with the FAQs, for further information.

December 23, 2008

Joint Council wishes to express our sympathy regarding the tragic death of Chase Harrison (Dmitri Yakovlev). Nothing can be done to change that tragedy and we continue to extend our sympathies to everyone who cared for and loved Chase.

Some in both American and Russian societies have expressed considerable concerns regarding the acquittal of Mr. Harrison. While it is clear that the acquittal is not in any way related to the fact that Chase Harrison (Dmitri Yakovlev) was the Russian born adopted son of Mr. Harrison, Joint Council takes such concerns seriously and remains actively engaged with the Russian and American governments along with adoption professionals in both countries.

Since Thursday, December 18^th, Joint Council has participated in three meetings with the U.S Dept of State (DOS) regarding these matters. During the meetings, Joint Council provided information on the case and requested the immediate involvement of DOS in addressing the concerns of the Russian government. The U.S. Department of State is well aware of the situation and has been responsive both in Washington D.C. and Moscow, Russia. As part of the U.S. Government response, John Beyrle, the U.S. Ambassador to Russia, released a statement on this tragedy which saddens us all. In addition, Joint Council has reached out to our colleagues in Russia with expression of sympathy, information on the U.S. legal system and offers for continued dialogue.

Joint Council also remains actively involved with its Member Organizations and other NGOs in seeking solutions that express the serious nature of this tragedy and allow the continuation of intercountry adoption in Russia.

Joint Council will continue to be engaged with all key stakeholders and publish updates as we continue to serve the children of Russia.

Traditionally when adoptive parents file their I-600 at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, the I-604 review was conducted by a Department of State (DOS) Consular Officer. This procedure is in the process of changing. These changes may affect both the outcome and timing of visa issuance.

The legal authority and responsibility for I-604 reviews resides with U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS). Until now USCIS has delegated the duties of I-604 reviews to the DOS Consular Officers in Moscow. Beginning sometime early in 2009 USCIS in Moscow will conduct all I-604 reviews. The transition has begun with USCIS currently conducting the review for only a few adoption cases.

Joint Council encourages all adoption service providers (ASPs) and adoptive families to work in a collaborative spirit with USCIS during this transition period. It is our understanding that USCICS does not intend on delaying or disrupting the intercountry adoption process in Russia, but rather to fulfill their duties as prescribed by U.S. law.

ASPs and adoptive families should be prepared for the possibility that the I-600 filing and visa issuance may take longer than the current 2-days. Please note that this could extend the travel time in Russia. While it is not known if a specific adoption case will be reviewed by USCIS or DOS during the transition, again, adoptive families should be prepared for possible delays.

November 26, 2007

Joint Council has been invited to speak at the Russian Ministry of Education and Science's International Conference on the Protection of Rights for Orphans and Children Without Parents. The conference, scheduled for December 9, 10, and 11, 2007 in Moscow, will focus on the identification and prevention of violence in domestic and intercountry adoption. The U.S. delegation includes Tom DiFilipo, President & CEO, Joint Council Board Member Jody Sciortino as well as Dr. David Morris and Judith Thompson of Morris & McDaniel Consulting.

Joint Council, in cooperation with members of Congress, is requesting immediate action on the part of the U.S. Department of Justice regarding the issuance of clearances for agencies attempting to obtain Russian accreditation. Joint Council has also been in direct contact with Interpol on this issue, however Interpol has been unresponsive to date.

Please click here for the most updated list of Joint Council members currently accredited in Russia.

Adoptions are now taking place in several locations where they have been largely stalled for over a year, including the Yevreiskaya Autonomous Republic, the Bryansk Region, and the municipalities of Tomsk and Novosibirsk.

The following message regarding transit visas was posted by the Immigrant Visa Unit of the U.S. Embassy in Moscow.

The U.S. Embassy respectfully requests that adoption facilitators and agencies alert their clients to the potential need for European transit visas when returning to the United States accompanied by children adopted from Russia. Some European countries (the Netherlands and Switzerland, for example) may require airport transit visas for Russian citizens even if only changing planes or switching airlines at an international airport. Please advise your clients to consider this matter before making return travel arrangements, so that they have time to obtain any necessary visas for their children."

July 6, 2007
Joint Council was recently informed that the Russian Ministry of Education has begun issuing accreditations for agencies to resume adoption services in the country. We are working to confirm the Member organizations that have received their official documentation and will update our list of accredited agencies accordingly.

May 18, 2007
The following notice was sent to Joint Council by the Consular Section in Moscow. The notice details an upcoming change in procedure to obtain visas for adopted children:

" The U.S. Embassy in Moscow wishes to alert you to an upcoming change in the procedure to obtain visas for adopted children. As of Monday, June 18, 2007, the Embassy’s standard processing time for adoption visas will be two business days.

As we adapt our procedures to more effectively incorporate the security screening steps required under the laws of the

United States

, we see this change as a key improvement in providing consistent, timely service to our customers.

In accordance with

U.S.

law, biometric data of visa applicants must be checked via a screening process. This process, while usually completed within a few hours, can occasionally take longer to complete. To ensure consistent service to customers, the Embassy must allow for a minimum of 24 hours between the time of document submission and visa issuance.

Application documents will continue to be accepted at the Embassy from 9:30 to 11:00 AM on regular business days. However, beginning on Monday, June 18, 2007, families will not be scheduled for interviews at 2:00 PM on the same day as documents are submitted. Instead, families will be scheduled for interview on the following business day at 2:00 PM. Ordinarily, families will be issued the visas and immigration documents following the interview. However, please convey to your clients that we cannot guarantee that visas will always be provided at the interview due to the occasional need for additional processing and/or screening.

As a result of this change in procedure, please note that those families whose visa application documents are submitted on Fridays or days prior to holidays will not be issued visas until the day following the weekend or holiday period. Please alert your clients to this circumstance.

In addition, all adopted children who are 14 years of age or older will need to accompany either their parents or the adoption agency representative to the Embassy at the time of document submission so that they can be fingerprinted. By collecting all necessary biometric data at this time, the Embassy can get underway with visa processing as early as possible. These applicants will also come to the Embassy on the following business day for the actual visa interview.

We appreciate your cooperation with the Embassy as we strive to improve our procedures and service, and we thank you for your efforts to assist adopting families with the process of visa application. "

April 30, 2007
The following announcement was made by the U.S. Department of State on Friday, April 27th:

Update on Adoption Agency Accreditation Delays -
No U.S.-based adoption service providers (adoption agencies) are currently accredited with the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation.

The Ministry of Education is currently reviewing adoption agencies' accreditation applications and has not announced a date by which it will complete this review. These applications for accreditation are also under review by four other Russian ministries: the Ministry of Health, Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Sometimes during the review process, one of these ministries requests additional documents or clarification on some matters. Recently, for example, the Ministry of Justice returned applications to adoption agencies with a request for more information. According to the recently-adopted law on re-accreditation, the Ministry of Education can only issue a license for accreditation if they have approval from the other four ministries.

The U.S. Government has been actively encouraging the Russian government to complete its reviews and proceed with appropriate accreditations or re-accreditations as expeditiously as possible. In addition, the Department of State recently provided to pending U.S. agencies, as well as to the Russian government directly, additional information that the Russian ministries had requested in the context of reviewing these applications. We also stand ready to assist however we appropriately can in answering additional questions that may arise.

We continue to monitor this situation and will update our web site (www.travel.state.gov) should new information become available. We recommend that American prospective adoptive parents in the process of adopting a Russian child(ren) stay in close contact with their adoption agency.

January 29, 2007
Joint Council staff and Board of Directors met with the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services last Monday in conjunction with our quarterly Board meeting. The following update was supplied to us by DOS:

The U.S. Embassy Moscow has reported that as of January 19^th, 56 U.S. adoption agencies have successfully registered with the Ministry of Justice as NGOs. There are currently 14 adoption agencies with both NGO licensing and Ministry of Education accreditation. On January 25^th, four of these 14 agencies will lose their licenses and will need to reapply. On January 29^th, the U.S. Department of State will be meeting with Russian Women Legislators as part of the Voluntary Visitor’s Program during which adoption issues will be discussed. Joint Council will also be meeting with this delegation in the coming week. We will be sure to update the caucus of new information as it is made available and will offer a report of the delegation’s visit in the near future.

September 26, 2006
As of September 15th, ten U.S. adoptive service providers have successfully completed the NGO registration process. DOS understands that the October 18th deadline, previously announced by the Ministry of Justice, still stands. Re-accreditation by the Ministry of Education is a separate process that must follow successful registration as an NGO, and thus many agencies may find themselves "up against the clock" if they fail to register as an NGO before their current Ministry of Education accreditations expire. If your agency becomes re-accredited or receives NGO registration, please contact JCICS at jcics@jcics.org. Please also fax a copy of your documents to JCICS for our records.

Tom DiFilipo is traveling on a delegation to Russia this week as part of the JCICS International Relations Initiative. A copy of the report from the trip can also be found here.

July 6, 2006
In May, the Government of Russia passed an NGO law which affects the accreditation of U.S. based adoption service providers. As of today, July 6th, Embassy Moscow has not been able to gain clarification on the new requirements for how to register with the Ministry of the Interior. We will continue to post updates as they are received.

May 24, 2006
At this time, the accreditations of a number of US agencies working in Russia have lapsed. Russia has not yet issued reaccreditations for these agencies, and JCICS is not aware of the time-frame in which this will happen. If you are just beginning the adoption process, it is recommended that you seek out an agency for which accreditation is current. That list is available at the bottom of this page. Parents who are in the process should remain in contact with their agency and should check this website for updates on the reaccreditation process.

May 5, 2006
JCICS has learned the following from the U.S. Department of State. The Russian Ministry of Education has confirmed that foreign adoption service providers are subject to the new NGO law. (Previously it was thought that adoption agencies would be exempt but now we have learned that is not the case). This means the following:

If you are in the process of adopting from Russia we recommend that you stay in contact with your agency. In the report we received it was stressed that prospective families with adoptions in process could continue or complete their adoptions. If your agency will lose its accreditation before your adoption is complete you can continue the process independently.

JCICS will continue to follow this issue closely and will update our site as we learn of new developments.

May 3, 2006
JCICS wrote a letter to the Ministry of Education in Russia requesting the timely reaccreditation of adoption agencies up for renewal on May 17, 2006. Click here for a copy of the letter.

March 1, 2006
The Russian Ministry of Education has issued reaccreditation certificates to seven US agencies. See below for the complete list.

February 6, 2006
The Russian Ministry of Education has issued reaccreditation certificates to four agencies in the US. Two of these agencies are JCICS member agencies and are listed at the bottom of this page. The Ministry has also informed the US Embassy in Moscow that there are a number of additional agencies under consideration to be reaccredited in the Spring of 2006.

September 20, 2005 -
The Russian Ministry of Education issued reaccreditation certificates to four agencies. Two of these agencies are located in the US and are included in our current list of accredited agencies. Click the link above to see the complete list.

You Are Invited.....
JCICS is hosting a Reception for a visiting Russian Delegation on Thursday, September 15, 2005 and would like to invite families in the DC/ MD/ VA area. The event is a wonderful opportunity for the Delegation to witness first-hand how Russian adopted children are thriving in their families. Families, agencies and child welfare advocates are all welcome to attend.

Reception for Russian Delegation
Thursday, September 15, 2005
4:30 – 6:30 pm
Washington, DC

If you are interested in attending, please contact jcics@jcics.org as soon as possible for further details. For families, please make sure to include the number of people attending – including children and the children’s ages.

Ms. Yekaterina Sergeyevna BODNAR
Head of Guardianship Department, City Administration, Verkhnyaya Pyzhma

Mr. Igor Anatolyevich BOGACHEV
Counselor to the Deputy Minister of Education, Moscow

Mr. Ilya Valeryevich DOROGOYCHENKO
Program Coordinator, Inspiration (Vdokhnoveniye) Child Rehabilitation Center, Nikolskoye, Moscow Oblast

Ms. Oksana Vitalyevna MERZLYAKOVA
Director, Authorized Service for Guardianship, City Administration, Perm

Ms. Natalya Alekseyevna YAKOVLEVA
Chief, Department of Children's Rights, Office of the Plenipotentiary Representative on Human Rights in the Russian Federation, Moscow

Mr. Yuriy Aleksandrovich YEVDOKIMOV
Director, Municipal Orphanage, Nikolskoye, Leningrad Oblast

Ms. Marina Vladimirovna ZAYTSEVA
Senior Prosecutor, General Prosecutor's Office, Moscow

September 2005 - JCICS releases a press release after convening a coalition meeting to discuss guidelines and response to Russian tragedies.

August 29, 2005
The US Embassy in Moscow has released the following statement regarding documentation requirements for families traveling to Russia. More information on this and details on all documentary requirements can be found on the US Embassy in Moscow's Adoption Visa Information Page:

Please be advised that persons adopting orphans should take copies of their past three years' income tax forms, and other financial documentation with them when they travel overseas. The petitioner must show income equal to 125% of the poverty guidelines for a family the size of the sponsoring and sponsored families combined. Family size includes the petitioner and anyone related by birth, marriage, or adoption living in the household for at least 6 months; persons otherwise dependent on the petitioner if they are listed on the most recent Federal income tax return; and the number of orphans to be adopted:

If the petitioner cannot meet the 125% requirement on the basis of income, either:
(1) the petitioner may provide evidence of assets that are readily available and, combined with the petitioner's total household income, meet the income eligibility requirement. The value of the "assets" less any offsetting liabilities, must exceed by at least five times the difference between the federal poverty guideline established for the petitioner's household, and the petitioner's household income; or
(2) one or more additional (joint) sponsors may submit separate affidavits of support on behalf of the intending immigrant. Each joint sponsor must meet the full 125% income eligibility requirement for the beneficiary and all accompanying dependents based on evidence of income alone.

August 8, 2005 - JCICS cautions against rash legislation limiting the options for Russian orphans but encourages strengthening and improving the intercountry adoption system

July 8, 2005 - JCICS releases the following response to today's news report that a Russian adopted child died as result of physical abuse by her adoptive mother. The mother is currently being held without bond and if convicted, she could face up to 40 years in prison.

June 14, 2005 - The Russian Ministry of Education has accredited a number of U.S. agencies in mid-May. Since that time, more agencies have been accredited. Click the link above to see the updated list of accredited agencies.

May 24, 2005
The US Department of State just released the following notice on the reaccreditation process in Russia:

This notice replaces the notice of March 22, 2005. The U.S. Embassy in Moscow informed the Department that on May 17, the Ministry of Education reaccredited 23 U.S. adoption agencies and is actively reviewing the remaining applications for reaccreditation. The Ministry of Education has also stated that, while compliance with the post-adoption reporting requirement is only one of several criteria considered in the reaccreditation process, even one missing post-placement report may result in a negative determination regarding reaccreditation. We will continue to urge balance in Ministry of Education decision-making regarding accreditation, but urge adoptive parents to provide post-adoption reports when they have agreed with Russian and other national adoption organizations to do so.

The U.S. Embassy in Moscow continues to monitor the status of agency reaccreditations and the release of data bank letters. To date, the embassy has seen a 95% return to the earlier volume of approved adoption cases.

May 18, 2005
Joint Council agencies have begun receiving certificates of accreditation from the Russian Ministry of Education. These agencies have been granted permission by the Russian government to resume their work "in accordance with the laws of the Russian Federation". Agencies that have been posted on the US Embassy in Moscow's website as accredited are listed at the bottom of this site.

December 7, 2004 - Accreditation of Agencies in Russia
According to the U.S. Department of State, the Ministry of Education recently ordered the creation of an accreditation commission by the end of December. The accreditation commission will include representatives from the Ministries of Education, Justice, Internal Affairs and Health and Social Development. Since the Ministries of Justice and Internal Affairs are undergoing their own reorganization, it hasn't yet been determined who will sit on the commission. They will determine which adoption agencies will be reaccredited. The commission is expected to meet at the earliest in mid-January after the Russian holidays. It is expected the agencies in good standing with a good reputation will be automatically re-accredited but no guidelines or specifics have been communicated. At this time, it is not clear which ministry or department will be issuing the accreditation letters. There has also been no indication of how many agencies will be accredited, if there will be a limit on the number, if new agencies will be accredited, or how many will be reviewed at one time. As we learn of new developments we will update this site.

December 2, 2004
Many families have contacted JCICS regarding the adoption process in Russia fearing that a shut down is forthcoming. This fear has been generated by frequent foreign press reports citing Russia’s desire for a bi-lateral agreement with the United States. While the idea of a bi-lateral agreement has been raised by Yekaterina Lyakhova, the Chairwoman of the Duma Committee on Women, Family and Young People, there have been no concrete steps towards implementing such a requirement.

On November 15, 2004 a group of individuals, including Yekaterina Lyakhova met for a round-table discussion on the laws of adoption within the Russian State Duma. There were discussions about various strategies that would seek to curtail the activity of unlicensed facilitators and ways in which national adoptions could be increased. However, there was no plan identified that would seek to shutdown international adoption.

Several agencies are also concerned about the re-accreditation process in Russia. Following the administrative restructuring of the Ministry of Education last year, no person or committee has been tasked with issuing formal re-accreditations. Some agencies were granted extensions however many regions are not recognizing those extensions; thus agencies have been forced to suspend their adoption programs until the re-accreditation process is once again up and running. JCICS has asked the Department of State to communicate directly with the Ministry of Education and Science on this issue. We hope that there will be a quick resolution.

November 4, 2004
For the past two days JCICS has been hearing reports from families and agencies that the Russian federal databank was closed and no longer issuing letters. We are not sure where this information was obtained but it is false.

It was confirmed today by the United States Department of State and Embassy Moscow that the databank is functioning normally. No suspension is imminent or planned for the future. Embassy Moscow has been in direct conversation with the Ministry of Education and Science and has been assured that all systems are functioning as normal.

The Consul General of the US Embassy has also been in direct contact with the Minister of Education and Science. He is favorable towards adoption and does not anticipate any problems or interruptions to the system.

JCICS will continue to monitor the situation in Russia and will update this website as we learn of additional information.

Please Note: Effective September 1, 2004 the Immigrant Visa Unit in Moscow will require three colored full frontal photos (50x50 mm) for adoption visas instead of three-quarter profile photos.

December 9, 2003
The Embassy of the United States in Moscow, Russia is pleased to announce that it will accept credit card payments for the collection of immigrant visa fees for adopted children: the I-600 petition fee and the Immigrant Visa issuance fee. The Embassy will accept cards with Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover logo. The actual dollar amount will be charged directly to the card - there will be no conversion to/from
Russian currency. For more information, please refer to their website at www.usembassy.ru.



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March 22, 2005

Please Note: Effective September 1, 2004 the Immigrant Visa Unit in Moscow will require three colored full frontal photos (50x50 mm) for adoption visas instead of three-quarter profile photos.

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