INTERNATIONAL ADOPTION

KAZAKHSTAN

PLEASE NOTE: As of March 1, 2003 immigrant visas for Kazakhstan residents, including adoptive children, are administered at the U.S. Embassy in Almaty. As of August 1, 2003 immigrant visas for residents of the Kyrgyz Republic, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan, including adoptive children, are also processed at the U.S. Embassy in Almaty.

Kazakhstani law requires that orphans be registered with the Ministry of Education Committee of Guardianship and Care for at least three months before they are eligible for adoption. Note that starting in January 2003, it became considerably more difficult for foreigners to adopt two or more biologically unrelated children at the same time. Since this change resulted from a change in Ministry of Education procedures rather than a change in Kazakhstani law, it is still theoretically possible to adopt two or more non-siblings during the same trip. Prospective parents wishing to adopt two or more non-siblings on the same trip are urged to carefully question their adoption agencies prior to visiting the children to ascertain whether this is possible in the planned city of adoption.

PATTERNS OF IMMIGRATION OF ADOPTED ORPHANS TO THE U.S. : Recent U.S. immigrant visa statistics reflect the following pattern for visa issuance to orphans

FY-2003.... 825
FY-2002.... 819
FY-2001.... 757
FY-2000.... 398
FY-1999.... 113

ADOPTION AUTHORITY IN KAZAKHSTAN : Ministry of Education Committee on Guardianship and Care, 83 Kenesary St., Astana, Kazakhstan 473000

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR ADOPTIVE PARENTS: There is no age or marital status requirement stated in Kazakhstani regulations at this time, except that an unmarried prospective parent must be at least 16 years older than the child s/he intends to adopt.

RESIDENTIAL REQUIREMENTS: The parents must be with the child for a minimum of two weeks at the child's habitual place of residence in Kazakhstan prior to the adoption (“the Bonding Period”). The pre-adoption bonding period can NOT 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 has become an increasingly rare occurrence. The court decision, adoption certificate, post-adoption birth certificate and Kazakhstani passport cannot be obtained until the adoption has been finalized by the judge.

TIME FRAME: Prospective adoptive parents can expect to stay in Kazakhstan anywhere from 23 to 40 days, though sometimes longer, to complete Kazakhstani adoption requirements.

ADOPTION AGENCIES AND ATTORNEYS: Adoption agents are encouraged to contact the Ministry of Education to notify the Ministry of their intention to provide adoption services. However, under Kazakhstani law, adoptive parents may work with any agency they choose.

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 licensing office of the Department of Health and Family Services in the state where the agency is located. The U.S. Embassy in Almaty has a list of agencies known to work in Kazakhstan. Neither the U.S. Embassy nor the Department of State can vouch for the efficacy or professionalism of any agent or facilitator.

Please see Important Notice Regarding Adoption Agents and Facilitators.

ADOPTION FEES IN KAZAKHSTAN : According to surveys from U.S. citizen adopters, the total cost of an adoption in Kazakhstan, including fees to U.S.-based agencies, is approximately $18,000 to $25,000 per child. No data is available on which of these costs go to the Kazakhstani portion of the adoption services as opposed to the U.S. portion.

ADOPTION PROCEDURES IN KAZAKHSTAN :

PRIOR TO TRAVELING TO KAZAKHSTAN

U.S. citizens hoping to adopt a Kazakhstani child begin by applying to become adoptive parents in the U.S. See below as well as the USCIS website. Once prospective adoptive parents are cleared for adoption in their home state, and have completed processing with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (Form I-600A), the next step is to register with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) to indicate intention to adopt a Kazakhstani orphan. An adoption agent normally assists with this registration by submitting the file of documents (“the dossier”) to the Kazakhstani Embassy or Consulate in the U.S. The Kazakhstani Embassy then transfers the dossier to the MFA in Astana for processing, which sends it to the Ministry of Education in Astana for review, which forwards the file to the Guardianship Body in the town where the parents wish to adopt. The length of dossier processing is unpredictable.

Once the dossier has cleared each stage and the parents have cleared a final security check, the Guardianship Body 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, and after obtaining the visas the parents are free to travel to Kazakhstan to select their child and proceed with their petition for adoption.

There is no such thing as a “referral” in Kazakhstan. Even though the adoptive parents may wish to adopt a particular child, the Government of Kazakhstan does not match a child to the parents or in anyway "assign" a child to adoptive parents until the parents arrive in Kazakhstan, select a child in person, and apply to the court to adopt the child.

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, and resulting delays in dossier processing, have resulted in many such couples deciding not to adopt in Kazakhstan. Prospective adoptive parents in this situation should consult their adoption agency regarding dossier requirements.

AFTER TRAVELING TO KAZAKHSTAN

Kazakhstani law requires that prospective parents be present in Kazakhstan. International adoption in Kazakhstan requires on average a 19- to 40-day stay in Kazakhstan, with a 30-day average stay for American adoptive parents in the summer of 2003. Typically, the time is spent identifying the child, visiting the child for a minimum of 14 days, petitioning the court for adoption, waiting for a court hearing, waiting for the adoption to become final (usually 15 days after the court hearing), and completing post-adoption paperwork (new birth certificate, Kazakhstani passport, Kazakhstani exit visa, post-adoption MFA registration) at various government offices. In some cities, including Almaty, the average processing period has lengthened recently, partly due to a longer waiting period needed to get a court hearing appointment. Prospective parents should plan that the entire adoption and visa processing take at least 30 days, though the time required can vary significantly. Your adoption agency should know what is typical in the city where you intend to adopt.

Kazakhstani law requires that orphans be registered with the Ministry of Education Committee of Guardianship and Care for at least three months before they are eligible for adoption. Before formally submitting an adoption application, Kazakhstani law requires that prospective parents have a minimum 14 days of personal contact with the orphan whom they hope to adopt. This means that prospective parents must stay in the town where the orphan is living and visit the orphan on a regular basis during the two-week period. Nearly all jurisdictions require that in the case of married petitioners, both parents be present for the entire 14-day bonding period. Once all legal requirements are fulfilled, prospective adoptive parents may submit their adoption application to the civil court that will decide whether to grant the adoption.

After the court makes its decision there is a 15-day waiting period before the decision is final. In some cases a judge can waive this waiting period (appeal period). However, as of August 2003 very few judges are waiving the 15-day waiting period. Prospective adoptive parents should assume that the 15-day waiting period will not be waived, though it may be possible for one or both parents to leave and return for the child or have someone else complete processing and escort the child to the U.S. (see below for processing requirements). After the court's decision is finalized, parents may apply for the child's new Kazakhstani birth certificate and passport. In addition to the passport, the child will need a permanent exit visa from the local Office of Visas and Registration (OVIR) office where the child resides. As of June 16, 2003, the adopted child must be registered with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (“MFA”) in Astana prior to departing Kazakhstan. This replaces the system of registering the child at the Kazakhstani Embassy in the U.S. after returning to the U.S. The MFA will stamp the child's passport as proof of registration. Due to processing time for the birth certificate, passport, OVIR permanent exit stamp, and MFA registration (all of which must occur consecutively), parents should allocate at least 4-6 days after the adoption is final before applying for the U.S. immigrant visa with the U.S. Embassy in Almaty.

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR ADOPTION IN KAZAKHSTAN : The adoption application to the Kazakhstani court should include (but is not limited to):

1. A formal application to the guardianship entity where the child to be adopted currently resides. The application should contain the full name and address of the prospective parent(s) and indicate the child they intend to adopt;
2. Written commitment of the prospective parent(s) to register the child and allow visitation of the adopted child by Kazakhstani authorities post-adoption;
3. Copies of the parent(s)' passports or other identification documents;
4. Copy of the parent(s)' marriage certificate (if applicable);
5. Documents certifying financial means (annual tax returns, employer's statement showing the annual salary/income);
6. Prospective parent(s)' medical examination report issued by a doctor;
7. Home study report prepared by a competent authority of the prospective adoptive parents' country. Family
8. photographs must be attached to the report;
9. Approval from the adoptive parents' country of residence allowing the child to enter and permanently reside there (for the U.S. citizens this consists of proof of the approved I-600A).
10. If the adopted child is age 10 or older, the child should submit a signed statement to the court or OVIR stating that s/he agrees to the adoption.

AUTHENTICATING U.S. DOCUMENTS TO BE USED ABROAD: U.S. documents submitted to the Kazakhstani government/court must be authenticated. Kazakhstan is a party to the Hague Legalization Convention. Generally, U.S. civil records, such as birth, death, and marriage certificates, must bear the seal of the issuing office and an apostille must be affixed by the state's Secretary of State. An apostille is a special seal certifying that a document is a true copy of an original. Documents must be apostilled in the state where they are issued. Tax returns, medical reports and police clearances should likewise be authenticated. Prospective adoptive parents should contact the Secretary of State of the state where documents originated from for instructions and fees for authenticating documents.

Documents issued by a federal agency must be authenticated by the U.S. Department of State Authentications Office. Their address is Authentications Office, Department of State, 518 23rd St., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20520, (202) 647-5002 Fee: $6.00. For additional information, call the Federal Information Center : 1-800-688-9889, and choose option 6 after you press 1 for touch tone phones. Walk-in service is available from the Authentications Office from 8 a.m. to 12 noon Monday-Friday, except holidays. Walk-in service is limited to 15 documents per person per day (documents can be multiple pages). Processing time for authentication requests sent by mail is 5 working days or less.

All English language documents must be submitted to the Kazakhstani government/court accompanied by a certified Russian translation.

Please visit our Web site at travel.state.gov for additional information about authentication procedures.

KAZAKHSTAN EMBASSY AND CONSULATE IN THE UNITED STATES:
Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan
1401 16th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel: 202-232-5488
Fax: 202-232-5845
http://www.Kazakhembus.com
Kazakh.consul@verizon.net

Consulate of the Republic of Kazakhstan in New York

866 UN Plaza, Suite 586 A
New York, NY 10017  
Tel: 212-888-3024 
Fax: 212-888-3025
http://www.kazconsulny.org/English/index.htm
kzconsulny@un.int

U.S. IMMIGRATION REQUIREMENTS

Prospective adopting parents are strongly encouraged to consult U.S. CIS publication M-249, The Immigration of Adopted and Prospective Adopting Children, as well as the Department of State publication, International Adoptions. The U.S. CIS publication is available at the U.S. CIS Web site. The Department of State publication International Adoptions can be found on the Bureau of Consular Affairs Web site, http://travel.state.gov, under “International Adoptions.”

A Kazakhstani child adopted by a U.S. citizen must obtain an immigrant visa before he or she can enter the U.S. as a lawful permanent resident. The child must be an orphan, as defined by U.S. immigration regulations. Children who do not qualify under this definition, however, may not immigrate to the U.S. as an orphan even if legally adopted by a U.S. Citizen. The Department of State encourages U.S. citizens to verify that a particular child is an orphan according to U.S. immigration law and regulations before proceeding with an adoption. A detailed description of the orphan definition used by the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services is described below and can also be found on the USCIS website.

If an adopted child has not resided with the adoptive parent for two years (or if the child has not yet even been adopted) the child must qualify under section 101(b)(1)(F) of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act in order to apply for an immigrant visa. This section requires that the child be:

1. Under the age of sixteen at the time a petition is filed on his behalf OR under the age of eighteen at the time the petition is filed, provided that child is the natural sibling of an orphan under the age sixteen who is being or was adopted by the same petitioner(s); and
2. An orphan
   • because of the death or disappearance of, abandonment or desertion by, or separation or loss from, both parents or
   • for whom the sole or surviving parent is incapable of providing the proper care and has in writing irrevocably released the child for emigration and adoption. Note: According to Kazakhstani Law, to become available for adoption by foreign citizens, the child must have been registered in the Ministry of Education database for children left without parental care for not less than three months.
3. And who either
   • has been adopted abroad by a US citizen and spouse jointly, or by an unmarried US citizen at least 25 years old, who personally saw and observed the child prior to or during the adoption proceedings (Visa Category IR3), or
   • is coming to the US for adoption by a US citizen and spouse jointly, or by an unmarried US citizen at least 25 years old, who have or has complied with the pre-adoption requirements, if any, of the child's proposed residence (Visa Category IR4). Note: Most judges interpret Kazakhstani law to require that both parents if the adoptive parents are a married couple, or one parent if the adoption is by a single parent, must travel to Kazakhstan to personally select the child and petition for adoption. In November 2002, a prime minister decree also clarified that the parent(s) must travel to Kazakhstan even if the child has previously spent time with the parents in the United States. Therefore since the parent(s) have seen the child prior to the completion of the Kazakhstani adoption, most immigrant visas for adopted children from Kazakhstan are category IR3 immigrant visas.

The adopting parent(s) must meet the following USCIS requirements in order to file the I-600 petition for the immigrant visa for an adopted child:

1. If the adoptive or prospective adoptive parent is married, his or her spouse must also be a party to the adoption.
2. If the adoptive or prospective adoptive parent is single, he or she must be at least 25 years of age.
3. The adoptive or prospective adoptive parent must be a U.S. citizen.

U.S. IMMIGRATION PROCEDURES FOR ORPHANS

The I-600 and I-600A Petitions

Adoptive and prospective adoptive parents must obtain approval of a Petition to Classify Orphan as an Immediate Relative ( Form I-600 ) from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) before they can apply for an immigrant visa on behalf of an orphan. The adjudication of such petitions can be very time-consuming and parents are encouraged to begin the process well in advance.

A prospective adoptive parent may file Form I-600A Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) office having jurisdiction over their place of residence in the United States. This form allows the most time-consuming part of the process to be completed in advance, even before the parent has located a child to adopt. In addition, a parent who has an approved I-600A may file an I-600 in person at the U.S. Embassy in Almaty. Please note that an I-600 must be filed within 18 months of the approval date of the I-600A and within 15 months of the date of the fingerprint clearance. Please also note that the U.S. Embassy in Almaty can NOT approve an I-600 if significant changes have occurred since the approval of the I-600A by USCIS. Significant changes include, but are not limited to, a change of address and change of marital status. In such cases, the USCIS must review the case and send updated notice of approval (i.e. a new Visas 37 with the change reflected) to the U.S. Embassy in Almaty.

Adoptive parents departing the U.S. after June 1, 2003, must have a valid fingerprint clearance in order for their adoptive child to receive a U.S. immigrant visa. Fingerprints are valid for 15 months from the date that they are checked against the U.S. criminal database. If your fingerprints are due to expire before you will complete the U.S. immigrant visa process, please resubmit your fingerprints to DHS/USCIS in the U.S. before departing for Kazakhstan. Please ask your USCIS office to cable or fax the updated fingerprint clearance to Embassy Almaty. The U.S. Embassy in Almaty cannot approve an I-600 when the current fingerprint clearance is more than 15 months old. For more information about fingerprint clearance, please see http://travel.state.gov/fingerprint_notice.html.

Documentary Requirements for the I-600A (must be filed and approved PRIOR to traveling to Kazakhstan )

1. Form I-600A (Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition),
2. Fingerprints of each prospective adoptive parent on Form FD-258,
3. Proof of the prospective petitioner's United States citizenship,
4. Proof of the marriage of the prospective petitioner and spouse, if applicable,
5. Proof of termination of any prior marriages of the prospective petitioner and spouse or unmarried prospective petitioner, if applicable,
6. A “home study” completed by the appropriate State organization with a favorable recommendation
7. Filing fee of U.S. $525.00

Detailed information about filing these forms can be found on the USCIS website. U.S. citizens who have adopted or hope to adopt a child from Kazakhstan should request, at the time they file these forms, that USCIS notify the U.S. Embassy in Almaty, Kazakhstan as soon as the I-600A or I-600 is approved. U.S. consular officers may not issue orphan immigrant visa until they have received formal notification of approval directly from a USCIS office.

THE IMMIGRANT VISA APPLICATION

Coordinators or parents must bring originals and one copy of the following documents and their English translations to the U.S. Embassy Almaty Consular Section by 4 p.m. at least one business day prior to the immigrant visa interview. Only cases that are in order by this time will be seen the following day at 4 p.m. for the immigrant visa interview.

Documents Required at the U.S. Immigrant Visa Interview

1. The child's Kazakhstani passport. A photocopy may be submitted the day before the interview, but the original passport must be shown at the immigrant visa interview.
2. Three photos of the child, with the child's head turned slightly to the left, showing the right ear and both eyes.
3. Copies of the parents' U.S. passports. The originals should be brought to the interview.
4. The medical examination form in a sealed envelope from the Panel Physician. The panel physician will need an additional photograph to attach to the medical examination form. If all vaccination requirements are not met and the child is age 10 or under, an Affidavit Regarding Vaccinations of Adopted Child (Form DS-1981) signed by either parent and notarized by a U.S. notary must also be submitted.
5. Form I-600 (the "blue" form) completed and signed by the petitioner and, in the case of a married petitioner, the petitioner's spouse. The I-600 MUST BE SIGNED BY BOTH PARENTS in the case of a married couple. Under 8 CFR 204.3(g)(2)(ii) the I-600 petition must be filed overseas in person by the petitioner, so at least one U.S. citizen adoptive parent must attend the interview or otherwise file the I-600 in person at the Consular Section prior to departing Kazakhstan. The I-600 can NOT be filed by an escort via power of attorney. If one U.S. citizen parent can not file the I-600 in person at the Consular Section, the I-600 must be filed at the USCIS office having jurisdiction over the petitioner's place of residence, and after the Kazakhstani adoption is completed the USCIS office will forward the approved petition to the Consular Section. (Note: It is usually faster for the petitioner to file the I-600 in person at the Consular Section than to file it domestically in the U.S. ). There is no fee for the first child's I-600 if an I-600A has already been filed. However, if adopting two or more non-sibling orphans, there will be a $525.00 fee for each additional child.
6. Form DS-230 (the "white" form) - Application for Immigrant Visa. This form should be completed from the perspective of the adopted child, not the adoptive parents. One adoptive parent (or an escort holding a power of attorney) will sign the last page in front of the consular officer at the interview.
7. Form I-604 (investigation form) and Orphan Investigation supporting documents as described below. This investigation reviews information about the child before adoption, most specifically how the child came to be an orphan. Please provide the following documents for the I-604 investigation.

   To determine the age and identity of the child:

   1. The original or an official copy of the child's original birth certificate (showing biological parents). "Official" means a copy of the known authentic original birth certificate with a city official's seal certifying its authenticity. The local Office of Registration of Acts of Citizenship and Marriage (the Russian abbreviation is ZAGS) can execute the official copy.
   2. The original new Kazakhstani birth certificate for the child (showing adoptive parents).
   3. The child's Kazakhstani passport.

   To determine that that child has been legally adopted in Kazakhstan :

   4. The original adoption approval decree from a local or regional civil court. This court decision must bear original signatures and court seals.
   5. The original adoption certificate showing that the child was adopted by the American parents.

   To determine that the child is an orphan as defined by U.S. immigration law:

   6. The original certificate or letter signed by the sole or surviving biological parent irrevocably and unconditionally relinquishing all parental rights to the child. If the Court or the Ministry of Education holds the original certificate, the U.S. Embassy will accept a copy with the seal of the court or the Ministry of Education (whichever one holds the original).
   7. If the father's name appears on the birth certificate, but the child was registered by the mother only, you are required to provide the Certification (Spravka) from ZAGS saying that the father's name was written according to the mother's words.
   8. If no parental relinquishment letter exists (No. 6), an original written explanation from the maternity hospital or local police station describing how and when the child was abandoned and a certification from the police or the Address Bureau that the mother could not be located is required. If the hospital statement or other document provides an address for the mother, there must also be a statement from the adoption agency representative indicating that s/he has visited the address and the mother is not residing there.
   9. An original letter from the organization or person last having custody of the child granting permission for the adoption. This letter should also provide information as to whether the biological parents or relatives have ever tried to contact the child.
   10. If parental rights were taken away by means of court decree, the original or an official copy of that decree/certificate must be submitted.
   11. If either parent is deceased, the original or an official copy of the death certificate and a cause of death should be included.
   12. Original police report if the child is a foundling. The report should contain a statement showing that police attempted to find out who the parents were by questioning witnesses or by checking any information found with the child. If the police, the Guardianship Committee or hospital officials put the child's and parents' names on the birth certificate, then either a ZAGS spravka showing this chain of events or an address bureau statement, or a statement from hospital are necessary.

   To determine the health history of the child:

   13. A copy of the child's medical records from the orphanage or maternity hospital that cared for the child.


8. FOR IR4 CASES ONLY (i.e. if one of the parents did not see the child in person prior to the completion of the Kazakhstani adoption): I-864 - Affidavit of Support, photocopies of last 3 year's tax returns and proof of current employment. The tax returns do not have to be notarized, but you have to provide complete sets. If you are adopting more than one child and one parent did not see the child in person prior to adoption, you must submit a separate I-864 and set of financial documents for each child.
9. IF ONLY ONE MARRIED ADOPTIVE PARENT will attend the immigrant visa interview, that parent should present photographs of the other parent with the child in order to establish that the other parent personally saw the child prior to completion of the Kazakhstani adoption. The I-600 MUST be signed by both parents in the case of a married couple. If the other married parent never saw the child prior to the completion of the Kazakhstani adoption (a rare situation), the child will receive an IR4 category visa (see subparagraph H immediately above).
10. IF NO ADOPTIVE PARENT will attend the immigrant visa interview, please read item E carefully and consult the Consular Section early in the process if the requirements regarding I-600 filing are not clear. In addition in order to apply for the immigrant visa after the I-600 has been properly filed, the parents should provide a power of attorney (“POA”) notarized by a U.S. notary or consular officer to the person who will complete the immigrant visa processing and escort the child back to the U.S. The escort should present the POA and pictures of both parents will the child. If an I-600 has not been properly filed, an escort can NOT file an I-600 overseas on the petitioner's behalf. The petitioner must file the I-600 in person overseas or file it domestically with USCIS. The I-600 MUST be signed by both parents in the case of a married couple. Note: When selecting an escort, please bear in mind that a Kazakhstani citizen must hold a current U.S. visa and if he/she does not currently hold one there is no guarantee that he/she will qualify for one.
11. FEES: $335 per child for immigrant visa application. An additional $525.00 I-600 filing fee if more than one unrelated children are being processed under the same I-600A approval. The medical examination requires an additional fee of $75 to $100 per child, paid directly to the Panel Physician, and additional fees if vaccinations or additional laboratory tests are required. All adoption-related fees payable to the U.S. Embassy Almaty Consular Section must be paid in U.S. dollars cash or by credit card (Visa, Master Card, American Express, Novus/Discover, Diners, and “logoed” debit cards displaying the Visa or MasterCard logo).

Embassy Almaty is unable to begin processing your case until your file is complete. To ensure that we are able to issue the visa for your adopted child as quickly as possible, please be sure that your documents are well organized and that forms DS-230, I-604 and I-600 are completed prior to submitting them at the Embassy.

YOUR VISIT TO KAZAKHSTAN: In addition to a valid Kazakhstani visa (obtainable from the Kazakhstani Embassy in Washington, DC), travelers are required to register with the local Office of Visas and Registration (OVIR) in the city of their point of entry or the first city in which they are visiting if their stay in that city is three days or longer and each subsequent city if the stay is longer than three days. The fee for registration is nominal (currently 20 U.S. dollars but subject to change) and requires the traveler's passport. Visa registration is usually handled by the local facilitator of the adoption case. Travelers should also have written proof that they have passed an HIV test within one month prior to their arrival in Kazakhstan. The HIV test can be conducted locally, but it is advisable to have the test conducted prior to arriving in Kazakhstan.

Prospective parents should anticipate delays due to Kazakhstani bureaucratic and administrative processing. Flight delays are also a common problem.

NATURALIZATION: Under the Child Citizenship Act of 2000, which became effective on February 27, 2001, orphans adopted by U.S. citizens automatically become U.S. citizens themselves when all of the following requirements have been met:

at least one parent is a U.S. citizen;
the child is under 18 years of age;
there is a full and final adoption of the child; and,
the child is admitted to the United States as an immigrant.

A foreign–born orphan who enters the United States on an Immediate Relative (IR) –3 visa automatically becomes a U.S. citizen upon admission. A foreign-born child who enters the United States on an IR-4 visa and is later adopted in a U.S. court, will become a U.S. citizen when the adoption is finalized in the United States (the child will be a legal permanent resident until then). For further information, please consult with the consular section at the U.S. Embassy or the nearest office of the Immigration and Naturalization Service. Additional information is available at http://www.travel.state.gov/../family/childcitfaq.html.

WHAT SHOULD I BRING TO KAZAKHSTAN?

U.S. citizens intending to adopt are encouraged to bring all original paperwork regarding the adoption. Documents include: Originals and copies of both parents' U.S. passports, marriage certificate, divorce certificates (if applicable), and birth certificates. Parents should also consider bringing: Proof of the approved I-600A or I-600 petition that the USCIS forwards to the immigrant visa section of the U.S. Embassy in Almaty; proof of the date of the U.S. fingerprint clearance; health certificates; documentation supporting a completed home study, and copies of parents' last three income tax returns. The home study, particularly if translated into Russian, can help ease concerns of local officials. Some parents have brought photo albums (and maps) of their hometown, friends and neighbors to show to the children and/or orphanage directors to help reassure local officials about the children's new homes in America; these materials are helpful but not required. Russian translations of these documents may also be helpful.

Parents may also want to bring clothing, medicine (many children have mild skin rashes), toys, diapers and food for the adopted children. Since most orphaned children are not accustomed to riding in vehicles, parents may want to be prepared for dealing with motion sickness. Supplies of all these items are severely limited in local markets. On a lighter note, parents should bring plenty of reading material to help pass the time.

U.S. EMBASSY IN KAZAKHSTAN: As soon as prospective adopting parents arrive in Kazakhstan, they should contact the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in order to register their presence in Kazakhstan. The Consulate Section is located at:

U.S. Embassy in Almaty, Kazakhstan
ATTN: Consular Section, Adoptions
Embassy of the United States of America
97 Zholdasbekova, Samal - 2
Almaty, Kazakhstan 480099
Tel: 7-3272-50-48-02
Fax: 7-3272-50-48-84
http:// www.usembassy-Kazakhstan.freenet.kz
Adoption E-Mail: AdoptionsAlmaty@state.gov
General Consular E-mail: ConsularAlmaty@state.gov

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Specific questions about adoption in Kazakhstan may be addressed to the U.S. Embassy in Kazakhstan. General questions regarding international adoption may be addressed to the Office of Children's Issues, U.S. Department of State, CA/OCS/CI, SA-29, 4 th Floor, 2201 C Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20520-4818, toll-free Tel: 1-888-404-4747.

Useful information is also available from several other sources:

Telephone:

• Call Center -Toll Free Hotline : Overseas Citizens Services toll-free hotline in the Bureau of Consular Affairs is 1-888-407-4747. The OCS hotline can answer general inquiries regarding international adoption and forwards calls to the appropriate Country Officer. This number is available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays). Callers who are unable to use toll-free numbers, such as those calls from overseas, may obtain information and assistance during these hours by calling 1-317-472-2328.
• U.S. Department of State Visa Office - recorded information concerning immigrant visas for adopting children, (202) 663-1225.
• DHS Citizenship and Immigration Services - recorded information for requesting immigrant visa application forms, 1-800-870-FORM (3676).

Internet : http://travel.state.gov

• Adoption Information Flyers: the Consular Affairs web site, at: http://travel.state.gov/ contains international country adoption information flyers like this one and the International Adoptions brochure.
• Consular Information Sheets: The State Department has general information about hiring a foreign attorney and authenticating documents that may supplement the country-specific information provided in this flier. In addition, the State Department publishes Consular Information Sheets (CISes) for every country in the world, providing information such as location of the U.S. Embassy, health conditions, political situations, and crime reports. If the situation in a country poses a specific threat to the safety and security of American citizens that is not addressed in the CIS for that country, the State Department may issue a Public Announcement alerting U.S. citizens to local security situations. If conditions in a country are sufficiently serious, the State Department may issue a Travel Warning recommending that U.S. citizens avoid traveling to that country. These documents are available on the Internet at http://travel.state.gov or by calling the State Department's Office of Overseas Citizen Services at (202) 647-5225. The recordings are updated as new information becomes available, and are also accessible through the automated fax machine and the Internet web site, as above.
• CIS web site - http://uscis.gov/