Belarus adoption

From Adoption Information

Growing Your Family Through Belarus Adoption

Belarus is a former state of the Soviet Union, fully independent since 1991. It lies east of Poland and north of Ukraine. Belarus adoption is a recent addition to international adoption, but it has been growing at a modest yet steady rate. In 2000, 46 immigrant visas were issued to children from Belarus; by 2004, the number had grown to 202.

Both married couples and single parents may undertake a Belarus adoption. Parents must be at least 16 years older than the child they wish to adopt. Single parents may adopt a child of either sex.

Children available for Belarus adoption include boys and girls, ages 6 months to 16 years, both healthy and those with special needs. These children live in orphanages. Belarusian legislation requires that children offered for international adoptions be formally considered "unadoptable" by Belarusian families. "Unadoptable" means children with various forms of special physical or mental needs (including Chernobyl-related health problems), or children who have not been placed with prospective adoptive Belarusian families. Children must hold dual US - Belarusian citizenship until age 18. Post-placement reports are required.

Any international Belarus adoption must go through the Belarusian National Adoption Center. If the adoption is sought by a married couple, both must travel to Belarus for one ten-day (approximately) stay. U.S. immigrant visas are not issued in Belarus, but at the U.S. Embassy in Warsaw, Poland. Thus, all U.S. citizens who adopt a child from Belarus must also travel to Poland to obtain their child’s entry visa into the U.S.

The process for a Belarus adoption generally takes approximately 18 months, start to finish, and costs between $18,000 and $25,000. American citizens interested in adopting from this area must find an American adoption agency or provider that has representatives or facilitators in Belarus. Parents should not travel to Belarus until a suitable child has been selected for them.

Note that as of March 2005, international adoptions from Belarus have been suspended while new legislation is being considered in Belarus. Prospective parents interested in Belarus adoption should check with their adoption agency or at http://www.travel.state.gov for the most up-to-date information on the status of this program.