Adoption
Adoption Procedures
RESIDENCE REQUIREMENTS: Prospective adoptive parents must reside with the child for a minimum of 14 days at the child's habitual place of residence in Kazakhstan prior to the adoption ("the Bonding Period"). This pre-adoption bonding period cannot be waived. Kazakhstani law also provides for a 15-day waiting period ("the Appeal Period") after the court hearing, before the adoption becomes final. A judge can waive this period at his or her discretion but this is a rare occurrence. The court decision, adoption certificate, post-adoption birth certificate and child's Kazakhstani passport cannot be obtained until the judge finalizes the adoption.
TIME FRAME: Prospective adoptive parents should expect to stay in Kazakhstan a minimum of 60 days (sometimes longer) to complete Kazakhstani adoption requirements. This period includes those listed under the "Residence Requirements" section above as well as the completion of all post-adoption and U.S. immigration paperwork.
ADOPTION AGENCIES AND ATTORNEYS: Kazakhstani law does not recognize the role of adoption agencies or assume that an intermediary represents adoptive parents. However, the regulations allow foreign adoptive parents to have assistants, such as interpreters or lawyers, to help them through the process. The result is that adoptive parents may work with any agency or individual they choose, but should be aware that there is no formal registration or oversight process for adoption intermediaries working in Kazakhstan.
Prospective adoptive parents are advised to fully research any adoption agency or facilitator they plan to use for adoption services. For U.S.-based agencies, it is suggested that prospective adoptive parents contact the Better Business Bureau and/or the licensing office of the appropriate state government agency in the U.S. state where the agency is located or licensed.
Please also see the Important Notice Regarding Adoption Agents and Facilitators on the Bureau of Consular Affairs web site at www.travel.state.gov.
ADOPTION FEES IN KAZAKHSTAN: U.S. citizen parents who have completed adoptions in Kazakhstan report that the total cost, including fees for services charged by U.S.-based agencies, averages approximately $18,000 to $25,000 per child. The amount includes the following official fees: application to court $4; new birth certificate $17; adoption certificate $17; exit stamp from Migration Police of Kazakhstan $8; registration of the child with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan $84. Expedited passport issuance is optional but available for $80. Regular passport issuance takes one month.
KAZAKHSTANI ADOPTION PROCEDURES:
Prior to Traveling to Kazakhstan:
- 1. Once prospective adoptive parents are cleared for adoption in their home state and have completed the initial processing requirements of the U. S. Citizenship and Immigration Services [see below for further details], the next step is to register with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) to indicate an intention to adopt a Kazakhstani orphan. A U.S. adoption agency normally assists with this registration by submitting the file of documents ("the dossier") to the Embassy of Kazakhstan or Consulate of Kazakhstan in the United States. Married couples in which one person is not a U.S. citizen should read very carefully the special information below.
Special Note for Mixed-Citizenship Couples: When a married couple hopes to adopt in Kazakhstan and the couple is of mixed citizenship (i.e., one parent is a U.S. citizen and the other parent is a non-U.S. citizen even if s/he holds U.S. residency), the Kazakhstani government requires additional documentation from the non-U.S. citizen parent in the dossier. Such documentation may consist of approval from the non-U.S. citizen's country of citizenship, similar to the I-600A from the U.S., but precise information is not available. These additional dossier requirements for mixed citizenship couples have resulted in delays in dossier processing and ultimately many such couples decide not to adopt in Kazakhstan. Prospective adoptive parents in this situation should consult their U. S. adoption agency regarding dossier requirements.
- 2. All prospective adoptive parents should also visit the Embassy of Kazakhstan web site for more information on preparing a dossier to adopt from Kazakhstan.
Kazakhstani consular officers are required to review dossiers for completeness and translation accuracy. Dossiers that are missing documents or have other errors will be returned to the adoption agency to be corrected. - 3. The Kazakhstani Embassy or Consulate then transfers the dossier to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Astana for processing, which in turn sends it to the Ministry of Education for review.
- 4. Next, the dossier is forwarded to the Committee on the Protection of Children's Rights in the town from where the prospective adoptive parents wish to adopt. The length of time of dossier-processing is unpredictable.
- 5. Once the dossier has cleared this stage, the Committee on the Protection of Children's Rights will then issue a letter inviting the parents to travel to Kazakhstan to apply for adoption. This letter is necessary for the parents to obtain a Kazakhstani visa. Some cities, such as Almaty and Pavlodar, delay issuance of the invitation letters for indefinite periods.
After obtaining Kazakhstani visas, prospective adoptive parents are free to travel to Kazakhstan to select their child and proceed with their petition for adoption. Visitors to Kazakhstan should be sure to get a migration card (usually a small white form) at passport control when they enter the country. Visitors who do not obtain a registration card at the border must report to the local Migration Police office within five calendar days of arrival. Please see Kazakhstani Registration Requirements on the U.S. Embassy website for additional information