Every eligible foreign adoptive parent will have to go through psychological exam to determine if adoptive parents are fit to raise adoptive child. The Ministry of Education and Science has already prepared a document proposing this change that will go into effect in the near future. Every adoptive parent will have to present personal data info to the representative of the regional and federal operator of the state national data bank where eligible adoptive child is registered. This information will be submitted strictly through an accredited and licensed nongovernmental adoption agency recognized by the Ministry of Education and Science.

For more thorough determination of adoptive parents’ candidacy eligible adoptive parents will be required to go through psychological exam and pass special training program. Tragic recent death case of Nikolai Emelyantcev who was adopted last February by Feodor and Kimberly Emelyantcev has reminded about the necessity of incorporating changes to the current rules and procedures for international adoption by foreign families. These changes will assure the guarantee for following the rules and procedures of post-placements and meet the interests of children who are adopted by foreign families and live abroad.

The government has stated that Nikolai was adopted through independent adoption; thus, there was no accredited recognized licensed agency representing the interests of the family. Independent adoption has middle man person who is not responsible or legally hold accountable for mistakes being made; thus, such form of adoption does not follow the rules and procedures for international adoption in the Russian Federation.

The Ministry of Education and Science has sent the document for the federal approval to make changes in the state family constitution of the Russian Federation.

Article hosted by “The Daily Telegraph” http://gzt.ru/society/2008/03/21/194353.html%20Posted%20on%20March%2021, 2008

USCIS Strengthens Intercountry Adoption ProcessRollout of New Forms and Centralized Review Under Hague Adoption Convention

WASHINGTON ─ Children, birthparents and prospective adoptive parent(s) will have greater protections under the Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (Hague Adoption Convention), effective April 1, 2008. New safeguards administered by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) under the Hague include the creation of new forms and improved, centralized examination processes for intercountry adoption applications and petitions under the Hague Adoption Convention.

The Hague Adoption Convention is an international treaty between Convention member countries (www.travel.state.gov). The agreement provides a framework of rules and procedures for the countries to work jointly to ensure certain intercountry adoption protections. These include providing adoptees with permanent and loving homes and looking after children’s best interests throughout the adoption process, thus preventing the abduction, sale or illegal traffic of children.

“These new protective and streamlining measures underscore our commitment to children, parents and prospective adoptive parents”, said Michael Valverde, acting Deputy Chief, USCIS Office of International Operations.

The new forms being introduced are an Application for Determination of Suitability to Adopt a Child from a Convention Country (I-800A), and the Petition to Classify a Convention Adoptee as an Immediate Relative (I-800). The purpose of the I-800A is to review the suitability and eligibility of prospective adoptive parent(s), while the I-800 determines a child’s Convention classification eligibility.

Additionally, USCIS established a special unit to process all Hague intercountry adoption applications and petitions at its USCIS National Benefits Center. The special unit will also provide customer service support to prospective adoptive parents who have filed Form I-800A or Form I-800.

Prospective adoptive parents are encouraged to visit and download the forms and filing instructions and Hague Adoption Convention Fact Sheet, available on the Internet at www.uscis.gov.