Mar 15, 2010

Travel to Kazakhstan

The preferred method of child selection is to travel to select and meet a child, to interact and have a bonding period with the child before deciding to adopt that child. Typically you will be shown one child at a time. This method of selection should be embraced by families who are somewhat flexible in their requests of age, gender, and ethnicity. This is a very wonderful way for parents to meet and interact with their future child before selecting. It is suggested that families must be open to meeting their child and selecting their child in country.

Both parents, or one if single, must travel once to Kazakhstan and on to the region where the child resides Visitation between the parents and child will be conducted for a two week period of time. One parent is required for the entire trip, and the second parent must be there until after the court date typically about 2-3 weeks after the bonding period starts. You will travel by air in Kazakhstan to the region where your child is. It may be necessary to drive or go by train to the region as well. The facilitation staff makes all in-country travel arrangements overseas. Travel will only occur after your dossier reaches Kazakhstan and has been approved by the United States and Kazakhstan Embassy officials, The Ministry of Justice in Kazakhstan and the Ministry of Education in Kazakhstan. You will stay in an apartment or hotel in Almaty. Lodging in a hotel or apartment is dependent on availability in your child's city, and you will return to Almaty where you will file papers for your child's Visa at the American Embassy and then travel home with your Little Miracle! The agency tries always if possible to have at least 2 families travel together for their adoption journeys.

Travel time varies significantly from family to family, region to region and judge to judge. Waiver of the court appeal period (15 days after court) is rarely being done now in most regions. This makes the legal process of your trip 4-6 weeks if the judge does not waive the appeal period. Paperwork typically takes another 1-2 weeks after this. For a total of around 8 weeks on average if you stay for the entire period of time. Some families are choosing to take two trips instead of one long trip. If this is the case, both parents will be needed until after court, and only one parent needs to return to bring the child home after the court appeal period is over. Families should prepare for an 8 week travel or two trips if the court period isn't waived.

An escort option for the second trip is now available. There would be about 4 weeks between trips if taking two trips or using the escort option.

Travel Scenarios:

1 trip of around 8+ weeks (this rarely occurs).
1 trip of around 8+ weeks; one parent returns home after court (this rarely occurs).
2 trips: the first being up to a month in duration, the second trip only one parent has to return and will be for less than a week.
2 trips: the first being up to a month in duration, the second trip both parents must return and will be for less than a week.
2 trips: the first being 3 weeks and return for a month and a half and then both parents travel back.
2 trips: the first being around a month in duration, the child then will be escorted home.
3 trips: the first being two weeks, both parents return home for about a month, and both parents return for the court, and stay on another 4 or so weeks.
3 trips: the first being 3 weeks both parents return home for about a month, and both return for the court, return home again and have the child escorted.

As you can see the travel depending on judge and region can be very confusing and vastly different from adoption to adoption scenario. Quite frequently these travel scenarios change and families must be willing to accept any travel scenario presented to them before or even after the travel has commenced. Families considering Kazakhstan adoption must be flexible to any travel scenario and region, as well as flexible to travel changes at the last possible moment and even after they have arrived in country. Families must be open to any and all travel options which they may be presented.