Russian Adoption: Important Information for Families in Process

The US Department of State, Office of Children's Issues and the USCIS are requesting that families in process of adopting from Russia use the following contacts for issues surrounding the adoption ban.


1. For families currently in Russia who have all documents needed for filing the I600 (birth certificate, adoption decree, Russian passport for child), or who will be able to obtain all documents by the close of business on Saturday, December 29, please contact the US Embassy in Moscow immediately. A task force has been set up to process your child's I600 and visa within one day. Email: moscow.dhs@dhs.gov

2. For families in process of adopting at any stage of the adoption, please register your information with DOS Office of Children's Issues by using the following email address: russiaadoption@state.gov. Please place "Intercountry Adoption Russia - Family Update" in the Subject line. Please discontinue using the ASKCI@state.gov address for family registration. Please do not use the russiaadoption@state.gov address if you are not a family in process.

PEAR strongly encourages families to reach out to the DOS/OCI and the US Embassy in Moscow for direct communication and advocacy of your cases. There is little need at this time to register your information with other organizations. DOS will have the information needed before any other entity and will be sure to provide consistent and vigilant advocacy on behalf of waiting families. PEAR will closely monitor developments and may suggest other courses of action in the coming days.

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Ethics, Transparency, Support
~ What All Adoptions Deserve.
http://www.pear-now.org/

President Putin Signs Legislation Banning Adoption to US Citizens

US DOS Press Release: http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2012/12/202401.htm

Statement on Russia's Yakovlev Act

Press Statement

Patrick Ventrell
Acting Deputy Spokesperson, Office of the Spokesperson

Washington, DC

December 28, 2012

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We deeply regret Russia’s passage of a law ending inter-country adoptions between the United States and Russia and restricting Russian civil society organizations that work with American partners. American families have adopted over 60,000 Russian children over the past 20 years, and the vast majority of these children are now thriving thanks to their parents’ loving support. The Russian government’s politically motivated decision will reduce adoption possibilities for children who are now under institutional care. We regret that the Russian government has taken this step rather than seek to implement the bilateral adoption agreement that entered into force in November. We are further concerned about statements that adoptions already underway may be stopped and hope that the Russian government would allow those children who have already met and bonded with their future parents to finish the necessary legal procedures so that they can join their families.
The limitations imposed by the Act on Russian civil society’s ability to work with American partners will also make it more difficult for Russian and American non-governmental organizations to cooperate in areas as diverse as human rights advocacy, open government, and electoral transparency. The United States remains committed to supporting the development of civil society and the democratic process around the world, including in Russia.

PRN: 2012/2019

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Ethics, Transparency, Support
~ What All Adoptions Deserve.
http://www.pear-now.org/

DOS Adoption Alert: Federation Council approves Legislation to Ban Intercountry Adoption by U.S. Families

Russia  

December 26, 2012

Adoption Alert: Federation Council approves Legislation to Ban Intercountry Adoption by U.S. Families

The Department of State continues to follow developments in Russia related to Federal Law No. 186614-6 and remains actively engaged in discussions with the Russian government regarding concerns that, if signed into law, this legislation will needlessly remove the opportunity for hundreds of Russian orphans to join loving families each year.  The Federation Council (the upper house of the Russian Parliament) approved the legislation in a unanimous vote on December 26 and it will now go to President Vladimir Putin for signature or veto.  The Department of State has not received any notice that adoptions to the United States are suspended, and both the Department of State and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services continue to work closely with Russian authorities on intercountry adoption issues as set forth in the U.S.-Russia adoption agreement.

U.S. families currently in the process of adopting a child from Russia are encouraged to reach out to the Department of State at AskCI@state.gov to provide information regarding where they are in the adoption process.  We encourage families to use the subject line “Intercountry adoption in Russia – family update.”  We will seek to provide information directly to families that contact our office through email as it becomes available.  Information regarding the passage of any legislation that affects U.S. citizens who are in the process of adopting a child from Russia will also be posted on adoption.state.gov.

http://adoption.state.gov/country_information/country_specific_alerts_notices.php?alert_notice_type=alerts&alert_notice_file=russia_5

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Ethics, Transparency, Support
~ What All Adoptions Deserve.
http://www.pear-now.org/

PEAR’s Statement on Russia’s Potential Ban of Intercountry Adoption by United States Citizens

PEAR’s Statement on Russia’s Potential Ban of Intercountry Adoption by United States Citizens

On December 21, 2012, Russia’s legislature overwhelming supported the proposed Federal Law No 186614-6, also known as the Dima Yakovlev Law, which includes dissolving the current Bi-lateral Agreement on Adoption and bans the adoption of Russian children by US Citizens. The proposed Russian law contains other provisions that bar travel and the running of NGOs by US citizens. Dima Yakovlev Law was written in retaliatory response to the U.S. passage of the Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act, which imposes sanctions against Russian officials perceived by the U.S. to be guilty of human rights violations in Russia.

We at PEAR are deeply concerned with the manipulation of children’s issues as a retaliatory weapon and wish to express our opposition to such practices. We understand the Russian government’s concern with the past death and abuse cases by American adoptive parents, and agree that much more should be done to vet adoption agencies, adoptive parents, and post-placement issues. However, the U.S. and Russian governments, with the assistance of numerous children’s rights and adoption advocacy organizations, spent years carefully crafting a bi-lateral agreement to expressly address those concerns and prevent further instances. This agreement was approved by both governments and came into force on November 1 of this year. The Dima Yakovlev Law is not a response to Russia’s concerns over the safety of its children--it is the misuse of a highly emotional children’s issue in attempt to manipulate the U.S. government.

At this point, the Dima Yakovlev Law will become the law of Russia upon the approval of the Federation Council and the signature of President Vladimir Putin. We call on both the Federal Council and President Putin to withhold approval and remove all adoption related provisions. Children should not be used as political pawns.

We suggest that U.S. citizens wishing to advocate for the continuation of adoption from Russia contact the Russian Embassy in Washington DC with your concerns as well your U.S. representatives and senators. In addition, you may wish to participate in a petition, authored by a U.S. citizen adopted from Russia, supporting the continuation of adoptions. That petition, entitled Voice of the Child, can be found here:  http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/voice-of-the-child.html.

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Ethics, Transparency, Support
~ What All Adoptions Deserve.
http://www.pear-now.org/

DOS Adoption Alert: Status of Russian Adoption Legislation

Russia  

December 21, 2012

Alert: Legislation to Ban Intercountry Adoption by U.S. Families Passes the Russian Duma and Moves to the Federation Council for Review 

The Department of State continues to follow developments in Russia’s legislature related to Federal Law No 186614-6 and remains actively engaged with the Russian government.  We are concerned by measures in the bill, approved by the Russian Duma with overwhelming support today, that ban the adoption of Russian children by U.S. families.  In order for this legislation to become law it requires approval by the Federation Council (the upper house of the Russian Parliament), and the signature of President Vladimir Putin.  The Department has expressed concern to the Russian government that, if signed into law, this legislation will needlessly remove the path to families for hundreds of Russian children each year.  To view the public statements by Ambassador Michael McFaul and the Department of State’s Spokesman on Federal Law No 186614-6, please visit the U.S. Embassy in Moscow’s website at: http://moscow.usembassy.gov/ and www.state.gov.

The Department of State has not received any notice that adoptions to the United States are suspended, and both the Department of State and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services continue to work closely with Russian authorities on intercountry adoption issues as set forth in the U.S.-Russia adoption agreement.  The United States is committed to upholding the provisions of the agreement negotiated between the U.S. and Russian governments, to strengthen procedural safeguards in the adoption process.

Information regarding the passage of any legislation that affects U.S. citizens who are in the process of adopting a child from Russia will be posted on www.adoption.state.gov as it becomes available.

http://adoption.state.gov/country_information/country_specific_alerts_notices.php?alert_notice_type=alerts&alert_notice_file=russia_4

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Ethics, Transparency, Support
~ What All Adoptions Deserve.
http://www.pear-now.org/