Travel to Russia

Since January 1, 2002, Russian Federation law requires that all new adoptive families must travel two times to complete the adoption process. An approximately 10 hour flight will take you from the US to Russia. At the airport in Moscow you will be met by a Children’s Hope interpreter and driver. If your referral is not in Moscow, you will be placed on a flight, or train or car, depending on the region your child is in, usually after staying one night in Moscow.

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First Trip

Although Children’s Hope recommends both parents (if married) to go to Russia for their first trip, at least one parent is required to travel to the region to receive their referral (in other words, to meet the child that Russia has matched with the family) in-country. For singles, it is always recommended to take a companion with you. The first trip will be approximately for 1 week.

Second Trip

Both parents will return approximately two to three months later to attend court to complete the adoption. The judge has the option of enforcing a 10-day waiting period after the court hearing. This means that the adoption decision is made the day of the court hearing, but the court papers will not be given to the families for 10 days. At least one of the adoptive parents must stay in the region to await the court documents before flying back to Moscow to process the child’s visa. The first trip has no impact on whether the 10 days is waived on the second trip. The second trip can be approximately two to three weeks long depending on the 10 days waiting period.