Adopt from Kazakhstan
(Last updated 12/19/05)

The Children
Due to Kazakhstan's unique history and location in Central Asia, children can be Caucasian, Asian or a mixture of the two. Because most children have lived in an orphanage since infancy, prospective parents should expect some developmental delays as a result of institutionalization. The children awaiting adoption from Kazakhstan are typically 8 months or older at placement. Older children and sibling groups are also available. Children 0-4 years old live in "baby homes." Children older than 5 reside in orphanages that also serve part-time as schools.

Parent Requirements
Married couples and single women may adopt children from Kazakhstan. The prospective parents may not be more than 45 years older than the adopted child. Parents up to the age of 52 may adopt an older child. If divorced, the judge will want to have an understanding of the reason behind the divorce before allowing prospective parents to proceed. Kazakhstan also requires that adoptive parents be in good health and be not more than 30% overweight. Kazakhstan will not allow the adoption of a child by a gay or lesbian person.

The Process
The time from submission of a dossier to Kazakhstan until placement typically takes 4-8 months. Families typically receive some basic information about a child being referred to them before they travel to complete the adoption process. The timeline from submission of dossier to referral can vary from 1-8 months depending on child request. Families typically travel 8 weeks after the acceptance of their child referral.

Upon arrival back to the United States, children must be registered with the Kazakh Embassy within 30 days. Kazakhstan also requires several post-placement reports, accompanied by photos, to document the continued well-being of the child. The length of time these are required depends on the judge and may be needed until the child turns 18. Your home study counselor at The Cradle will assist your family in complying with these requirements as part of post-placement services.

Travel and Costs
Both parents are required to travel and should expect to spend 5 to 6 weeks in Kazakhstan. One parent must stay the entire time and the other may return home after the court date. During this time parents must travel to the U.S. Embassy in Almaty for the child's U.S. visa.

Quick Reference Guide

All fees subject to change without notice.

* Other expenses include: air transportation to and from Russia, US CIS��� fee, hotel stay, meals, parents' and child's visa, and medical exam.