|
January 2, 2013
|
| The United State Department of State issued the following statement on December 31:
Alert: Legislation to Ban Intercountry Adoption by U.S. Families Signed into Law On December 28, President Vladimir Putin signed into law Russian Federal Law No. 186614-6, which prohibits the adoption of Russian children by U.S. citizens. This law will go into effect on January 1, 2013. In keeping with the spirit of the current U.S.-Russia adoption agreement, which went into effect on November 1, 2012, the U.S. government continues to urge the Russian government to allow U.S. families in the process of adopting a child from Russia to complete their adoptions so that these children may join permanent, loving families. At this time the Russian government has provided no details on how the law will be implemented. The Department of State has no information on whether the Russian government intends to permit the completion of any pending adoptions. In observance of national holidays, most Russian government offices will be closed through January 8, 2013. Prior to traveling to Russia, we strongly encourage families, in cooperation with their adoption service providers, to confirm that Russian authorities will process their adoptions to conclusion and provide all required documents. It remains unclear whether Russian immigration authorities will allow adoptees to depart the country and whether families in this situation will encounter legal complications with local authorities starting on January 1, 2013. The U.S. Embassy in Moscow will continue to process Forms I-600, Petition to Classify Orphan as an Immediate Relative, and immigrant visa applications for children whose families have obtained all required documents as part of the adoption process. U.S. citizen adoptive parents who have completed an adoption, received a Russian passport for their child, and have filed or are ready to file Form I-600 with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and then apply for the immigrant visa at the consular section of the U.S. Embassy in Moscow should call +7-495-728-5000 or email the USCIS office at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow at [email protected] to request assistance. _________________________________________________________________________ |
|
December 28, 2012
|
| Below is a statement issued this afternoon by the Department of State. We encourage all EAC families to email their adoption status to [email protected] (if you have already submitted your information to [email protected], you do not need to resend). The Department of State will keep you posted on the status of Russia adoptions as new information becomes available.
Russian President Vladimir Putin Signs Legislation to December 28, 2012 On December 28, President Vladimir Putin signed Federal Law No. 186614-6 which prohibits the adoption of Russian children by U.S. families. This law will go into effect on January 1, 2013. The Department of State remains actively engaged with the Russian government to determine how this will impact the resolution of adoptions by U.S. families in various stages of the adoption process. In keeping with the spirit of the current U.S.-Russia adoption agreement, we have urged the Russian government to ensure that U.S. families in the process of adopting a child from Russia will be able to complete their adoptions so that these children may join permanent loving families. The Department continues to encourage U.S. families in the process of adopting a child from Russia to provide information regarding where they are in the adoption process to the Office of Children’s Issues using the subject line “Intercountry adoption in Russia – family update.” An email address has been set up for this correspondence: [email protected]. Those families that have already provided information to [email protected] do not need to resend their information. As more information is obtained we will reach out directly to families that have provided their contact information. Further information regarding intercountry adoption from Russia will also be posted on adoption.state.gov. _________________________________________________________________________ |
|
December 28, 2012
|
| Putin Signs Adoption Ban EAC has been made aware of the tragic news President Putin has signed the Adoption Ban law. The details of the implementation have not been made as of yet. When the details are made available, EAC will be able to provide direction for each of our families. To reiterate – we do not, at this point, know how this ruling will affect in-process cases. We are continuing to contact each of our families to provide as updates as we learn them. Here are statements released by DOS, NCFA and JCICS: Department of State Patrick Ventrell
Acting Deputy Spokesperson, Office of the Spokesperson Washington, DC
December 28, 2012
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. NCFA Russia Bans Intercountry Adoption with the United States December 28, 2012 – Alexandria, VA – Russian President Vladimir Putin signed into law the controversial ban on intercountry adoption with the United States on Friday, December 28, 2012. “Russia’s decision to ban intercountry adoption with the United States and deny children an opportunity of a loving family is most certainly a great tragedy, but it is just one example of a greater tragedy lived out daily by millions upon millions of orphans worldwide who are victims of war, famine, disease, and political systems that deny them a voice” says Chuck Johnson, President and CEO of National Council For Adoption. Orphans want and need families. National Council For Adoption and orphan advocates from around the world will renew our efforts and continue to be their voice until their right to be loved, protected, and secure in a family is realized.JCICS In what we can only describe as a tragedy, earlier today President Putin signed the ban on intercountry adoption. The law goes into effect on January 1, 2013 and while some details remain unclear, it is being reported that the law supersedes the bi-lateral adoption agreement between the US and Russia. The status of the adoptions currently in-process is not assured at this time. The closure of Russia to intercountry adoption follows what is now an all too familiar strain of tragedies. Children in Vietnam, Nepal, Romania and too many other countries suffer the life-long effects of institutionalization due to the elimination of intercountry adoption as a viable option. However unlike other closures which were generally based on child protection issues, the Russian ban is particularly stinging in that it is an act of politics, pure and simple. As a professional advocate for children and the father of two Russian born children, this ban by the Russian government is a loss for my head and my heart….but most of all a loss for the children of Russia. Best Wishes, Tom DiFilipo Joint Council reminds those families who are in the process of adopting from Russia of the U.S. Dept. of State’s requests that families currently in the process of adopting a child from Russia email the Department of State at [email protected]. Families should state the stage and status of their adoption and use “Intercountry Adoption in Russia – Family Update” in the subject line of the email Joint Council will continue to engage in collaborative efforts with and through US and Russian government officials, the Department of State, Congressional offices, Joint Council Partners, NGOs and advocates in both countries. We will provide updates on this situation as they become available. To receive Joint Council updates regarding Russia, individuals are urged to sign up for our Russia email alerts, which can be done by clicking here (Select “Country and Issue Specific Information” and then select “Russia”). _________________________________________________________________________ |
|
December 26, 2012
|
| Update from the US Department of State Website 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 [email protected] 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 onadoption.state.gov. _________________________________________________________________________ |
|
December 21, 2012
|
| Russian Duma passes the third reading of the Dima Yakovlev Law The Russian Duma passed the third reading of the Dima Yakovlev Law, sending it to a Senate vote next week. Upon the Senate vote, Putin will then decide whether or not to sign the law into effect. The Russian Supreme Court has recommended all adoption court cases be postponed until a resolution has been reached. (this does not mean the law has gone into effect and adoptions are closed). We owe it to the orphaned children in Russia that we remain hopeful. We also recognize this can be an extremely difficult task for adopting parents, but we need them to be prepared in the case adoptions are able to move forward. |
They knew how much we wanted to talk to her and I am so glad that they were trying to help us be able to do that.
