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I have many questions. I have just recently began doing research on adoption and at this time we are looking at adopting from Russia.
I am hoping someone can assist with the answers.
#1 - Do you name the child that you adopt?
#2 - Please PM me if you have an agency that you worked with that was excellent
#3 - Has anyone set up an adoption loan? How did it work? It is secured through your house? What bank did you go through?
#4 - How is the money paid? Is it all paid at once. My guess is over time but I would like to know an example of a time line.
Thanks for all of your answers. I live in Iowa and my husband and I have infertility problems. We do not have any children yet but hope that we will soon.
LeAnne
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#1 - Do you name the child that you adopt? Yes you can name your child its a personal choice if you keep there russian name or change it all together
#2 - Please PM me if you have an agency that you worked with that was excellent. I would choose an agencey that holds there own accrediation..
#3 - Has anyone set up an adoption loan? How did it work? It is secured through your house? What bank did you go through? We did not sorry cant be any help there
#4 - How is the money paid? Is it all paid at once. My guess is over time but I would like to know an example of a time line. that is depented on your agency some you pay up front others you pay out just depends.
Good luck and remember Russian adoption sometimes have bumpy roads but well worth it in the end...
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We named our son as he was an infant and had no language. Although he answered to his Russian name, we wnted a name of our ownwe used an acredited agency as well and would use the same one againwe used a home equity loanour agency did not want the money up front and in fact did not collect the final mnies until we already had our son up to the hotel room in Russia. It was all very professional. Trip one we carried a large sum of cash as well as the final monies on trip twoWe paid in stages for everything, sign up, dossier, Apostille, US gov. fees, translation of documents, hotel and travel, gifts, 1/2 of referral fee on trip one, visas, trip two and then the final payment, US embassy fees, passport fees etc. All very organized with no surprises if you do not count the fact the we had to re-do some documents that we messed up ourselves.Good luck! You will be a mommy! I know with fertility troubles its hard to keep on dreaming but it will happen! It did for us!
banker0007
I have many questions. I have just recently began doing research on adoption and at this time we are looking at adopting from Russia. I am hoping someone can assist with the answers. #1 - Do you name the child that you adopt? [FONT=Comic Sans MS]Yes we named the kids but for DD we knew she was named by her first mom, so we kept that name as her middle name (although I wish I had fought DH harder on leaving that as her first name.) For DS, we did change it to Alexander...and coincidentally that was his first grandfather's name. [/FONT] #2 - Please PM me if you have an agency that you worked with that was excellent [FONT=Comic Sans MS]Our agency is longgggg gone. Thankfully....[/FONT][FONT=Comic Sans MS][/FONT] #3 - Has anyone set up an adoption loan? How did it work? It is secured through your house? What bank did you go through? [FONT=Comic Sans MS]First adoption we paid cash...second adoption was...Charge It!!...after the cash was gone and then we did a home equity through our local bank (DS's adoption went extremely fast, so we were unprepared cash wise.) [/FONT] #4 - How is the money paid? Is it all paid at once. My guess is over time but I would like to know an example of a time line. [FONT=Comic Sans MS]Our (defunct) agency required everything at referral. [/FONT] Thanks for all of your answers. I live in Iowa and my husband and I have infertility problems. We do not have any children yet but hope that we will soon. LeAnne
Yep you can re-name your child.
We did a home equity liine of credit (HELOC) and also went with an agency where the costs were broken up all through the process. that helped a lot. Also check with yours or your dh's job..we were surprised and pleased that my dh's company offered a 10k adoption bonus. Also, there is a tax credit that applies after completion..I think it is like 11,500 now. Some don't qualify (I think it depends on how much money you make) but I think most families do meet the criteria.
We were very happy with our agency..I wll PM you. Also, if you do not already know, there is a major re-accreditation mess going on in Russia right now. There are no US agencies at this time that are re-accredited (and they have been waiting a LONNGG time for this to happen..soema year or more) and although some regions will allow you to adopt "independently" (sort of, with your agencies help but not their name on it) but many regions will NOT allow independent adoptions and therefore intl adoptions are at a standstill. This is soo sad really, b/c we know that we were one the last families to complete an adoption in our daugther's region Udmurtia Republic, and none have happned in almost a year. These poor kiddos...I hope they get this thing straightened out soon. I am telling you this so you are aware that things are very unstable in Russia right now, and very unpredictable. But it was with our adoption too and we made it home and couldn't be happier!
GOOD LUCK!
I have kept an itemized list of what I have spend so far.
I started in late Jan. 2007 and I just finished my dossier last month (4 months). Although I haven't gotten a referral yet, this should give you a clue of what it can run and want agencies don't always share with you without some probing Q's.
So far, I've spent ~$11,000. This includes:
1. HOME STUDY - this is not always included in agency estimates but required of any adoption; there are papers and finger prints that cost $$ to go with this.
2. POST PLACEMENT REPORTS -- even though we haven't adopted yet, we had to pay to deposit $1200 in advance (4 reports at $300 each). In years past, this wasn't required in advance; however, many didn't file post reports to Russia after adoption which is part of the reason Russia is scrutinizing American adoptions. Now some agencies want this in advance to ensure you will follow up with the reports.
3. BCIS APPROVAL -- this is not always included in agency estimates but is required for any International adoption; you will need more fingerprints.
4. AGENCY APPLICATION FEE -- varys per agency
5. DOSSIER; this is a plethora of paperwork that Russia wants (30 - 40 doc's). This is not always included in agency estimates but is required for any International adoption. Part of the cost will include getting the plethora of papers complete, notarized and appostiled. You may need a Dr. and Phych eval.; statement of assets from your CPA; 7 marriage certificates; clean sheriff report; another employment verifcation letter AND MORE. The bulk of the cost stems from appostilling the docs. Basically, your state has to verify all of your notary's signatures (pursuant to Hague law). I have spent over $1600 just in appostilling fees. Again, this is a fee my State charges ($20.00 per document). Your state, hopefully, is half of that. I assume each agency has people assemble most of the same info. for their Dossiers. However, if the agency works with a "low documentation" region, perhaps there aren't as many required dossier docs.
I was happy that I chose my agency to also do my home study. About 1/4 of the Dossier docs were provided to me by my agency.
6. Other misc. costs to expect include mailing documents w/ tracking, etc. County fees for grant deeds, marriage certs. etc.
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If I still can get two kids, I will have $51,000 remaining to pay. If I get one, I will have $33,000 remaining to pay
These upcoming costs will include
7. VISAS (entry/exit VISAs for my husband and I to go to Russia). All travelers must pay this. Due prior to trip #1.
8. Referral fees, adoption fees (varies per agency; child age and # of children will affect this.) This large bulk is due on 2nd trip for me. I assume it could vary w/ agency.
9. Fees in Russia (translator, children's passports, coordinator fee, court docs in russia, some medicals, transportation to regions from Moscow, etc.) Obviosuly these fees are somewhat variable too. And, some are fixed. But don't forget them from your equation. They can run $10,000 - $15,000.
10. Travel to Russia: airfare--two trips, hotels, food, etc.
11. Optional: Medical Doc. to look at your childs medicals, pics/videos, or measurements while you are there
Tip: Some of the $$$ spent in Russia may need to be in CASH with newer unmarked bills. Ask your agency about this if you are planning to charge everything.
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Good luck to you . You just need to call agencies and have them send you their estimates and ask questions regarding all the fees I mentioned.
Don't forget that you may qualify for a hefty tax credit, and taking out a 2nd or home equity line may have a tax advantages verses an adoption loan. Consult your tax man. You will eventually need to see him/her anyways to prepare a statement of assets.
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Right now, I don't feel comfortable recommending an agency even though I like mine and a girlfriend successfully adopted two kids this last year through them. So many agencies have different philosophies.
However, here are the important questions I asked that made me choose my agency
1) Can I adopt two at once (whether or not biological).
2) How many regions do you work with
3) are you accredited (mute question right now).
4) If for some miracle I get pregnant, will you still work with me in my adoption (some agencies will make you wait a long time).
5) If I get there and the child is not what I expect, what happens? a. can I get another referral in region b. do I lose money?
6) Are parenting classes required?
7) How do you primarily communication with your clients (email or telephone)
8) what hours are you open
9) how long have you been in business.
10) What other Countries do you work with?
And here is a Q I wish I would have asked: How much of the monies must be paid in Russia in CASH, newer unmarked bills?
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#1 - Do you name the child that you adopt?
We had always planned on keeping their given names as part of their name
For our first son, his given name was Aleksandr, we loved it and kept it
Second guy, his given name Kirill is his middle name, we gave him the first name of Maks (Max).
#2 - Please PM me if you have an agency that you worked with that was excellent
I will
#3 - Has anyone set up an adoption loan? How did it work? It is secured through your house? What bank did you go through?
First time we refinanced and took equity out then. (Our mortgage company at the time Washington Mutual).
Second time (new home), we just used a home equity line of credit. (PNC Bank)
#4 - How is the money paid? Is it all paid at once. My guess is over time but I would like to know an example of a time line.
Over time:(example)
1st thing: HS 900
USCIS fees: drawing a blank at the total
Upon acceptance with agency: 3500
he 3 above were around the same time for us.
Appostilling for dossier costs us in PA around 1500 around 3-4 weeks later
several months in between and then
Then no fees until 1st trip: 7500
Next fee was with us on trip 2: 9000
Of course there are lots of additionals like your trip (airfare and hotel) and for us coordinator daily fee in russia.
total costs: 31k in 2004 and 33k in 2006.
best wishes to you!