Question on Adoption Fees

[ChrisB]

I can guess that the fees for adoption will vary somewhat from state to state, but does anyone here have a good idea what the adoption process will cost?

I am speaking about adopting my step-son from Russia. The father has signed all the papers and we had them translated and notarized while still in Russia. So this should be a simple "step-parent adoption."

Simple my be a complicated word. Any experience from the list?

Thanks

Chris

[tfcrew]

... in response to Question on Adoption Fees, posted by ChrisB on Jul 6, 2002

..."adopting a step-son"  is not the same as a 'mail order baby'.
The thread went from signed papers in Russia to laws in Ukraine...?
I may suggest that this can be filed as a K-2 petition.

Chris...I got your email and will pass along contacts and info. Good luck to you....
Karl

[ChrisB]

... in response to Putting the brakes on this thread..., posted by tfcrew on Jul 7, 2002

Thanks Karl,

I too noticed how the whole topic changed, but patrick did say his reply was a little "off topic". ;-)

Chris

[Patrick]

... in response to Question on Adoption Fees, posted by ChrisB on Jul 6, 2002

For those trying to adopt a child from the FSU going through normal international adoption agencies, the fee runs around $30,000 (and up).

I know this isn't answering your question and is a bit off-topic, but I find it interesting that although "mail order brides" in the literal sense do not exist, there really is such a thing as a "mail order baby."  My wife and I are investigating international adoption.  You look through catalogs of infants, pick one you're interested in, travel there with a hotel room provided, a car with driver, and an interpreter (sound familiar?).  The differences between international adoption and marrying a foreign woman are that the child has no say in who he/she's adopted to, and the fees for cars, drivers, interpreters, etc. are a heck of a lot higher than those typically charged by MOB services.  Oh, one other difference, while it's highly un-PC to marry a woman from a foreign country, it's not only politically correct to adopt internationally, but you're helping save the child from a horrible life in the eyes of most people here. I certainly wouldn't argue against international adoptions being good both for the children and the adoptive parents, but I sure wish people would lighten up on the men who seek wives from the same countries!

[Dan]

... in response to Mail order babies, posted by Patrick on Jul 7, 2002

Patrick,

What you describe is an illegal practice in Ukraine - and is taken quite seriously by the authorities. The process in Ukraine allows no 'brokers' (I read your comment about "catalogs" as being from third-party sources) whatsoever. All transactions MUST be conducted through the central government-run adoption agency in Kyiv. Everyone seeking to adopt a child from Ukraine must *first* travel to Kyiv to visit the agency and review their listings of available children. Only after tentative selections are made does the couple know which city or region of Ukraine they will be traveling to visit with the children before making a final decision and initiating the extensive paperwork. There is nothing "mail-order" about it - and I am very surprised to hear that you understand differently. Quite a few couples come back from a visit to Ukraine without adopting children - and no-one adopts kids from Ukraine without traveling there and jumping through their bureaucratic hoops.

It is also worth noting that only children that have been in the adoption system for more than 3 years, or have been diagnosed with serious illnesses are available to foreigners for adoption.

Between one of my friends in Kyiv that has helped a few American couples circumnavigate the legal maze(s) of adoption in Ukraine, the people Olya and I met in Warsaw when we were at the US Embassy, and one couple here in the local area that I helped with logistics and travel for their adoption, I have a pretty firm understanding of how seriously Ukraine treats this adoption practice. It wasn't all that long ago the country was vilified for allowing corrupt adoption practices and the authorities came down quite hard on the corruption. Not to say it is impossible to just order up a baby (after all, it *is* Ukraine) - but I don't see it happening.

Best of luck to you and your wife.

- Dan

[Patrick]

... in response to Illegal Practice in Ukraine . . ., posted by Dan on Jul 7, 2002

The agency we were talking to doesn't operate in Ukraine, but they too go through the government for the adoption. I've forgotten the name of the country at the moment, but I know it was neither Russia, nor Ukraine.  The costs are spread across the US agency, the government in the country you're adopting from, immigration lawyer, the adoption agency in the country we'd go to, and the various service providers along the way.  Part goes to the orphanage itself to help care for the children still there (at least that's what it's suppose to do).

I think we'll probably end up going to Colombia instead of the FSU since we have a friend of the family involved in adoptions there.  One down side is that we can't adopt a baby there because we're too old (I'm 42, my wife's 40).  We would have to adopt a child at least three years old.  I hear there may be attachment disorders in the older children and raising them is more difficult.  At least in the FSU we could adopt a baby.  The costs are quite a bit higher though.  Probably around $20,000 more than it would cost us in Colombia.

[Michael B]

... in response to Re: Illegal Practice in Ukraine . . ., posted by Patrick on Jul 7, 2002

I've got some friends (a married couple) who adopted a 3yo from Bulgaria about 2 years ago....today you would not know him from any American kid the same age. It was not just "mail order", took them about 2 years and some intensive screening to do it. I could get info if you like.

[wsbill]

... in response to Re: Illegal Practice in Ukraine . . ., posted by Patrick on Jul 7, 2002

This lady isn't a agency and according to her website has recieve national recognition for what she is doing.

www.geocities.com/eewife

click on Ukrainianangels.
I think if your in any way associated with her, you'll probably get some pretty good treatment verse just showing up at their door. (I'm not recieving anything for endorsing her).  Just found her website very compelling.

[KenC]

... in response to Mail order babies, posted by Patrick on Jul 7, 2002

n/t

[MarkInTx]

... in response to Mail order babies, posted by Patrick on Jul 7, 2002

You are right, it is an interesting distinction!

I know a couple of people who have adopted children from the FSU.

The babies were living in horrible conditions! The one couple I know had an 18 month year old baby that had never even sat up before! (For those of you who have never had children... normal development has them WALKING at about one year. They sit up long before that.)

The reason is that the poor baby had been left in the crib constantly in the orphanage. There were just too many babies, and too few workers.

(When I kennel a dog, even it gets some "exerise time!" But the babies... nothing!)

The good news is that with love, and patience, today this child if fully healthy and normal.

Good luck to you and your wife Patrick!

It would be good if more people adopted... Lord knows the children need it!

[wsbill]

... in response to Re: Mail order babies, posted by MarkInTx on Jul 7, 2002

The Dishnetwork networks...  Saw a program where these brits drove 5 or 6 lories (big tractor trucks) to this orphanage in Romaina or Bulgaria or where'ever, they had these trucks packed with fresh produce, clothing, residential heaters, etc...

After having to bribe and give stuff away to the border guards the show up at a orphanage some of their team members had been to once and is supported by other church groups.

They arrive to find the kids lying in piss soaked beds, laying in their own waste.  Bed sores beyond belief.  Eating some sort of crumb stew.

Once they removed all the contents of their trucks into a storage shed the local Head Master said they had to inventory it all.  After several days of being accomplished by the locals staff.

The workers challenged the Head Master and again he refused to budge on his inventory stance. (what was happening was the staffers were stealing the goods).

So what you've got is these little kids eating fumes of some sort of a potato slop, you can actually seeing the kids licking the tables for any remaining juices from the slop.  Of course, these kids are like BONE thin.

In this video piece you'll see grown men cry.  It is definately dishearting to see anyone, anyone at all living in that kind of a hellish enviroment.

The brits get pissed at the locals and take all the worn out beds.. and I mean wore out big time and took them out into a field and burnt them.  They now had to get out the new contents of their stuff in the storage rooms...ie new beds and linen.

When they open the door, you can see all the lettuces, cabbages, vegtables going bad while they wait for the inventory.  Finally, they went to the Capital and talk to some high ranking people and they accompanied them to this orphanage.  Where they demand these food supplies be given to the children.  No doubt the kids that day have one heck of a feast...plenty to eat.  It's sad folks, I'm sure Ukraine has probably cleaned up their act.  But the poorer countries no doubt this is what goes on.  

[wsbill]

... in response to Re: You should watch the World Link TV c..., posted by wsbill on Jul 7, 2002

Nothing was being accomplished from the head master for the sake of a supposible inventorying.

All the while it was in the middle of the winter and the room temperatures were in the 40's.  (To me 40* outside is cold).

These kids just looked like hell.

The brits did manage to get their heating system replaced for a couple of rooms and renovate it somewhat.  But definately paled into any kind of a comparison of the kind of life we live.

This place wasn't located in any major city center, it was in a little bitty town.  Life in that area still was about 100 years behind the times. Or at least 50 years behind life in Moscow.
----------
It's like the feeling you get when you arrive home after traveling to Ukraine and you look around and wonder and think... Just how good we've got it.

[MarkInTx]

... in response to Question on Adoption Fees, posted by ChrisB on Jul 6, 2002

It does vary. My daughter's adoption cost about $2500. But there was a lot to it besides simply filing papers...

Are you saying that the father has signed paper's terminating all parentl rights? Because that will be needed.

What state are you in? If you are in Texas I know an excellent attorney...

[ChrisB]

... in response to Re: Question on Adoption Fees, posted by MarkInTx on Jul 7, 2002

I'm not exactly sure how it was worded. My wife read it to me last year. She went to the courts and got the lady (notary) to make the document and her ex came and signed off on it. It basicly says that he agrees to allow their boy to leave the country and gives his permission to allow me to adopt the boy. More than that and I will need to read the translation.

I live in North East Metro Atlanta, so a Texas attorney won't help.

Chris

[tfcrew]

... in response to Question on Adoption Fees, posted by ChrisB on Jul 6, 2002

Chris...we have some friends out your way there.
If you would like, email tfcrew@gte.net
You are welcome to review profile....
Karl