Please read this document carefully, and take this with you when you travel to Kazakhstan.  It will serve you well in your preparations and travels. 

Revised December 2006

Adopting from Kazakhstan/Traveling to Kazakhstan

Many adoptions have been successfully completed from the Country of Kazakhstan.  The process changes a lot, and flexibility with changing requirements will serve you well.  To adopt a child, your process includes:

·         Obtaining an approved home study with a licensed agency

·         Applying/receiving approval

·         Obtaining/completing the documents required for your dossier

Once your dossier has been sent to us in full and is complete, your documents will be sent through an authentication process (“apostilling”) which is required by the Kazakhstani government.  You take care of the apostilling of your documents.  Next step, the documents go to a translator, who must be, and is on the “approved” list of translators designated by the Consulate of Kazakhstan.  The final step of the process “on this side of the ocean” ends with the documents being processed/approved by the Consulate of Kazakhstan here in the country.  The Consulate’s timeline is two months (60 days).  Then the dossier is immediately sent via international courier to our Kazakhstani coordinator -- Marina.  She submits the dossier to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Astana, Kazakhstan.  (Astana is an all-day trip by car from Karaganda.)  The dossier will be approved by both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Education.  Typically, these offices should take 3-8 weeks per office to process (but in reality most of the cases were much longer).  Once these approvals have been obtained, the dossier will be brought back from Astana by Marina’s staff.  Then you will start discussing the referral you may receive.  If you do not like the child she will refer to you, you may wait for another child.  The only thing you need to remember that the orphanage is not the shop of the healthy babies, but the place where orphans (abandoned kids) live and the abandoned kids will have the premature story and the underweight and famous Russian diagnose “Prenatal encelopathy”.  You need to contact the Russian doctor living in your area and your agency to discus the diagnose of the child.  Remember that this diagnose doesn’t coincide with any European or American diagnosis. 

The usual cases when the diagnose is put to the child:

1.       Prematurely born.

2.       Mother is younger than 18.

3.       Mother is older than 30.

4.       The small weight (less than 2 kg) and the big weight (more than 4 kg)

5.       The child did not cry at once.

6.       The child was born at home.

7.       Mother did not go to the doctor during the pregnancy.

After you accept the child, Marina will be able to obtain a letter of invitation FROM LOCAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT for you to travel to Kazakhstan, which is usually about a 2-week process. 

Here is Marina’s address:

Kazakhstan,

Karaganda 470071

STEPNOY 1-40-54

Turapina M.

(Tel: 3212-75-03-80) 

The Visa Process

You will need a Kazakh adoption visa for the trip.  NOTE:  You will need to do this after your dossier has gone to Kazakhstan.

The visa process begins after your dossier is released from the Ministry of Education.  Marina then obtains the letter of invitation, and confirmation number from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Astana.  The process of obtaining the letter of invitation is totally out of our hands – we cannot control how long it takes.  When Marina gets the invitation letter, it will be emailed to you.  While waiting for your invitation letter, it’s advisable to go ahead and download the Kazakhstan adoption visa application, complete it as much as you can, along with a return Fed Ex or UPS label for her to send it back to you with your visa; just keep in mind that it cannot be issued until you submit the invitation letter with confirmation number.  When the Ministry gives Marina a copy of the invitation letter, a telex copy should be simultaneously cabled to the Embassy of Kazakhstan .The letter comes first, then usually 7 working days later, a confirmation number comes.  The Embassy must have both items before they will issue your visa.  This is an “Adoption Invitation”.  Tourist invitations cannot be used by adopting parents for your first trip to Kazakhstan.  Friends or relatives accompanying you can travel on a tourist visa.  Length of tourist visas varies, and they are not extendable in-country.  Adoption visas are extendable within Kazakhstan.  If your child travels with you, he or she should be included in your adoption travel visa, so please notify us of your intentions with advance notice, so the proper adoption invitation can be secured by Marina.  We will need a copy of your child’s passport.      

Traveling

You will enter Kazakhstan via the city of Almaty or directly to Karaganda (Airastana Company).  At that time, you’ll purchase tickets for your flight to Karaganda.  You need to be aware that some times during the winter months, planes to Karaganda are grounded due to inclement weather.  If inclement weather grounds the flight, you will need to travel via train.  The plane ticket is around150 $.  The sleeping bed train ticket between 40$ and 100 $(depends on the type of the train).  Our Driver in Almaty will help you with your plane or train ticket purchases.  The return ticket from Karaganda to Almaty should only be purchased in Karaganda.  It is much easier to purchase the ticket in Karaganda when you know the exact date of departure, than it is to change the date on an existing ticket. 

Our Driver will pick you up at the airport (he holds a sign that says “ Marina”), help you buy your tickets to Almaty, get you settled in an apartment or hotel (if you’re overnighting), take you sightseeing if there’s time, and in general, take care of you while you’re in Almaty.  The name “ Marina” is used to protect your identity from independent or unlicensed drivers.  If anyone approaches you, asking if your name is “ Marina”, ignore them.  Marina will meet you at the airport or train station in Karaganda.  

If you are an experienced traveler, you can stay overnight  in the airport hotel(5 minutes of walking to the left from the airport entrance) and change the money yourself and buy the ticket for the flight to Karaganda yourselves without the help of the driver.

The driver service in Almaty is meeting in the airport 4200 tenge plus seeing off 4200 tenge.  Any extra driving around the city will be 1500 tenge per hour.  The trip to the mountains will be at different price and it is better to ask the driver before your trip how much it will be.

The exchange office  and the  booking office are on the second floor of the airport. 

By the way, once you arrive in Karaganda, Marina will take your passport briefly, to register your presence in the city.  This is required.  Please don’t worry; she’ll return your passport in a day or two.  Your registration is covered by your adoption fee; if any friends or relatives travel with you, they will be responsible for the registration fee (about 3,300 tenge). 

Once you are settled in Karaganda, you will need to visit your child’s orphanage.  This is an important part of your visit in Kazakhstan.  You will see where your child has lived and spent their time, who their friends are, who their caregivers have been, where they have played, and so forth. 

Marina has asked us to explain to parents who travel that it is a tradition in Kazakhstan that, just as a guest usually brings a token gift to a host, the orphanage staff is well-pleased when they see parents come to the orphanage with a token gift for the children.  Toys, pampers...  It is also appropriate to bring a nice gift for the orphanage director, doctors and gifts for your children’s caregivers.  These are usually ladies, and Marina suggests make-up, gold jewelry (many times it is “70% off” at K-mart) or nice French perfume for the director to give to them during the farewell party, AFTER the court.  For the farewell party, (2-3 days before you leave for the embassy)  you will need to buy the cake and a bottle of wine or champagne to the caregivers in the group and the same to the doctors.  There are 6 caregivers in the group and 7 nurses and doctors in the orphanage.  It is usually customary to bring the flowers( maybe in pots) to the main doctor and to the doctor, who treated your child.

Also you will work with the lawyer (man ),social worker (lady).  There are several referrals to understand what will be appreciated here.  Usually, go to WALMART and ask them what yellow gold stuff they have on sale.  Sometimes on 20-30 $ you can buy nice pendant, earrings, bracelets, etc.

For the caregivers go to "dollar tree" or "99 cents" and buy the perfume, creams for face.  It is very important that it should be made in USA (Europe)-NOT IN CHINA!!!  In Walmart, they have very beautiful sets - body lotion, body mist and shower gel of the same aroma.  It is around 7-9 $ per set.

You may also be asked to go to various offices and government buildings in Kazakhstan.  Please remember that Kazakhstan is a rich and beautiful country, with deeply held values and traditions.  Sometimes the surroundings where these very important legal procedures are taking place may not seem very imposing.  Never forget that people of accomplishment and stature are working here, and should be treated with respect.  A quiet and respectful demeanor while in any government or official office is important.  While casual clothes are acceptable most all of the time, a nice shirt/tie/khakis or dockers for fathers and dress or pantsuit for mothers would be appropriate for court.  All of the apartments in Karaganda have washers.  Do not over pack.  Trust us when we say that you will wear the same outfit most of the time!  The luggage limit for the local flight (Almaty to Karaganda) is 20 kg per person (44 pounds), not per suitcase.  The overage fee is about $2,50 per kg.  (1 kg = 2.2 pounds).  You will want to check with your travel agent for overages for the international portion of your flight. 

You will exit the country via Almaty.  The reason is that you have to file the immigrant visa form at the Embassy on behalf of your child to obtain the visa for him/her.  Marina and her staff will help you with other documents that you will need to give to the Embassy.  Be sure to take copies of your passports with you.  The Embassy will request one, and it’s always a good idea when traveling overseas to have extra copies, just in case.

In the past, escorting has been allowed in Kazakhstan.  Now, however, parents need to plan to either stay (one parent) for the entire time in Karaganda, and bring your child home (about seven weeks).  Or, more frequently, one parent just plans for a quick trip back to Almaty to pick up your child at the end of the process.  Marina and her staff can complete the entire process for you, as long as you have made your visit to the  Embassy on the way out of Kazakhstan to file the  application.  Therefore, you can fly into Almaty, and meet the staff with your child, then leave right away.  We do recommend that you overnight in Almaty, because it’s such a long trip.    

The Bonding Period in Kazakhstan

According to Kazakhstani law, both parents must be present for the 2-week bonding period prior to the court hearing.  The bonding period begins the first working day after your arrival in Karaganda.  The decision regarding the new name of the child must be made prior to travel, as you will be asked at this time to give the new name. 

During the bonding period, the established custom is for the parents to visit in the orphanage every day.  The baby orphanage will require 2 visits every day.  Transportation to the orphanage will be organized by Marina, but the driving fee is not included into the adoption fee and may be around 15 $ (2000 tenge) per day.  Each family will be assigned a university student studying and well-versed in English, French or Spanish.  These students are a part of Marina’s organization and their help will be free of charge to you for all adoption-related work, and at a nominal hourly charge (405 tenge) for personal use.  They will be your primary contact for daily entertainment, shopping, and translation between you and your child.  Marina will be working hard, managing the entire program and the specific cases of the families who are in Kazakhstan.  She will spend as much time as possible with each family, but her time is much better spent doing those difficult and delicate tasks necessary to complete your adoption.  Your student will be a great resource for you.  Please feel free to take full advantage of her services. 

At the end of your bonding period, a standard court date will be issued  on 22-26 days  after your arrival. 

TRAVEL COSTS:  Following are costs you will incur while in Kazakhstan:

In Karaganda:

**You will owe 1 206 000 tenge per baby girl and 1 072 000 tenge  per baby boy for adoption fees for one child to Marina, our Coordinator in Kazakhstan.  The rate of the dollar is between 118- 134 tenge per dollar.  The rate of the dollar is constantly changing up and down, so we attached the fee to tenge.

The fee is valid until December 2006.

With the raising fees for the passport and gas, lowering the rate of the Euro and dollar and other unexpected delays, please expect the raising of the fee .

You can take this money in cash or American Express Travelers Checks (this is the preferred method). 

You will go to the bank and get them cashed and pay to Marina.  Or you may send it via Western Union before you travel.  If you take Travelers Checks, you will need some cash to get you to Karaganda.  Regardless of how much cash you carry, be sure that all cash is clean, newer bills, with no stains, rips/tears, or writing on them.  Visa card is accepted some places, and we have tried to list the ones we know.  For getting cash from ATM machines you must know the pin code!! If you take Travelers Checks, the Kazakh offices will give you newer bills, so the problem of clean bills will be solved for you. 

1.       Driving in Karaganda - 900 tenge for an hour, at the driver’s discretion.  This is for any driving not related to your adoption (shopping, aqua park, theater, etc.)

2.       Staying with host family –  4000 tenge per person (includes bed + all food + washer + computer), but after you take your child from orphanage, it is an extra 3000 tenge/day/baby.  Marina prefers for families to stay in her apartment complex.  There are vacant apartments, , etc., all close to Marina’s apartment.  All apartments have internet access, but you must pay for the internet time yourself.  The detergent for your personal belongings is also on your responsibility. 

3.       Plane tickets from/to Almaty-Karaganda:  around $150, one-way.

4.       Registration of the Child in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Astana – 6700  tenge per child for the registration, plus 100 $ for the trip to Astana.  If multiple children are registered in the same trip, then the cost of the trip can be split between families.  Timing is crucial, and we cannot delay registration waiting for a subsequent family.  There may be trips made each day.  Registrations are accepted in Astana 9 am to noon Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.  None are accepted on Wednesday.

5.       For  those countries whose law demands the legalization of the adoption papers-the fee for the legalization will not be included into the adoption fee and must be paid extra.  Also the driving for the registration in Astana will be 100 Euro as the legalization   of the court is done in Astana  also together with the registration and it is the extra driving.

6.       Some Hints:

7.       There is a big stuff working for you in Karaganda: several cooks, maids, drivers, secretary, book- keeper.  They will be pleased if you give them some tokens of your gratitude.

In Almaty:

1.       Upon your initial arrival in Almaty, the services (2 transfers) provided to you by the Staff Driver will be 8400 tenge  , paid directly to the driver. 

2.       The driver will help you to buy the tickets to Karaganda and driving  around the city Almaty will be 1500 tenge per hour. 

3.       If you decide to remain in Karaganda for the 15-day period of appeal AFTER to bring your child home yourself, the Staff Driver will meet you and your child at the airport upon your return from Karaganda, and provide all transportation required to secure the visa (medical exam and visa interview at the USA Consulate).  Around 19 200 tenge(airport included). 

4.       For USA citizens-Meanwhile, a member of Marina’s staff will be assisting in the various steps required to secure the medical exam and apply and secure the visa.  For USA citizen the process of receiving the immigration visa will take 2 days and  for the kids older than 12 years old-3 days. 

5.       For European citizen the visa is issued within 2-3 days. 

6.       The Canadians will have to fly to Moscowto receive their visas. 

Most families choose the option of returning home immediately after the court hearing.  One parent then returns to Kazakhstan to escort their child home personally.  Marina can have everything done, so that the parent needs only fly into Almaty and pick up the child.  In that case the escort fee will be 400 $-that includes escorting the child into Almaty.

Please be prepared to pay this money to Marina prior to your departure from Karaganda, if you want this service.

Steps in the Court Process

“What Happens While I’m In Karaganda?”

When you arrive in Kazakhstan to adopt your child, there are several steps involved in the process.  This is a listing of those steps, as we know them today.  (These time frames are approximate.  When dealing with government officials in another country, it is difficult to say exactly how long things will take, and at that point, it is beyond our control.)  When you travel there, you will understand much better how this is true.  You can expect your travel time to be anywhere from 3 weeks (if you return after court) to 7 + weeks.

1.       Go to local (Karaganda) Department of Education and get “letter of  visiting permission” for you.  You need this letter in order to get the Permission to Adopt.  (1 day)  Marina is usually able to secure this on the day of your arrival.

2.       Marina will take the letter to Ministry of Education in Astana -- get “Permission To Adopt” document.  (1 day)   Actually, this occurs near the end of your bonding period.  If there are any doubts or concerns about finalizing this adoption, you need to speak of it before Marina secures this letter.  If there is serious consideration being given to refusing the adoption, you must contact Marina of the problem.  You are certainly free to refuse to finalize an adoption, but to avoid great problems for everyone, we ask that this decision be made at least three days prior to the court hearing.

3.       Two-week “bonding period” – you spend time daily with your child.  This begins the first business day after your arrival in Karaganda, and lasts for 14 calendar days.

4.       As soon as the decision to adopt has been made (usually five days after the bonding period has begun), a trip will be made to the attorney’s office to sign the application for the court.  This will begin the adoption process and secure the quickest possible court date.  Again, it is very important not to sign this document prior to your final decision.  Be aware, however, that it takes approximately 5-7 days to secure a court date, and delaying this step will delay the court date.

5.       Visiting the notary to sign several local powers of attorney to several persons from Marina’s stuff.

6.       Court Hearing -- within 7-9 business days from the end of the bonding period .

     TOTAL BEFORE THE COURT 21-26 days.

AT THIS POINT AFTER THE COURT, ONE OR BOTH PARENTS  MAY LEAVE, IF NECESSARY

8.       AFTER THE COURT-15-day Appeal Period – 15 calendar days, ending the first business day after the 15^th day of appeal.

9.       Receive Court Order – usually received the morning of the day following the 15^th day of the    appeal.

10.   Apply for new birth certificate (usually given within  next 1-2 business days).

11.   Apply for Certificate of Adoption (usually given within  next 1 business day).

12.   Go to local (Karaganda) police station; apply for passport. 

13.   Marina sends staff to Astana to pick up passport and return with it to Karaganda (usually given          within  next 2-4 days).  This can be delayed by severe weather, or by frequent interruptions in the machinery of that office. 

14.   Apply for Exit Visa, done in Karaganda, stamped into child’s passport  (next 2  days).

15.   Go again to Astana, to register the child’s adoption.  This must be done before the child can             leave Kazakhstan (1-3 days), but only after the exit visa has been stamped into child’s passport.

     TOTAL AFTER THE COURT 21-26 days.

NONE OF THESE STEPS CAN BE DONE WITHIN the appeal period and all these steps can be done only in consequence.

Also you can not apply to the embassy to get the immigration visa within the appeal period as you have no  legal base(court decision) for that.

     So 21-26  days before the court and 21-26 days after the court.

PLEASE, do not tell Marina  that the kids left at home are crying, the boss is angry, the dogs are barking, the house is falling into pieces, so that’s why you want the adoption to be done specially for you in 10 days.

As you can understand, we hear it quite often and it doesn’t help.(ALAS!)

The international adoption is not fast food service.

This was your decision to adopt the child , so you must respect the rules

Of the country,  where you want to do the adoption.

We are working very hard to make your adoption as smooth as possible, but  still there exists some situations that we can not predict and can not influence.  Also keep in mind that the court is appointing the court date and the judge is making the decision, not me and we can not dictate the judge when and how to do the case.

Things to Do/See While in Kazakhstan

In Karaganda

Local History Museum – ticket $3/person.  Videoing is allowed only if you request permission and pay a $5 fee. 

Indoor Aqua park – two options.  The first requires no reservation and you can go just for swimming.  The ticket per person is $2/hour.  The second option is to book a room equipped with a sauna, jacuzzi, couch, and use of the common swimming pool.  Fee varies from $10-15/hour (for 8 people), depending on time of day and availability. 

Outdoor AquaLand – ticket prices are comparable to above. 

Fantasy Park – similar to our Chucky Cheese.  Has outdoor carousel and indoor games and food.  Open from 2 pm in the summer, and from 4 pm in the winter.

City Park – has carousels, lake, walking paths, etc. 

Aladdin Café – children’s theme restaurant, has children’s characters (monkeys, etc.), pizza, very reasonably-priced food.  A favorite with the kids.

Bowling Center – ticket 800 Tenge/person/hour. 

“Zoom” shopping mall – very large.  On the first floor there is a good souvenir shop which sells traditional Kazakh outfits; special orders can be filled usually within 3-4 days.  Behind the Zoom is a large inside clothing bazaar, with comparably inexpensive clothing.  Also there is a “Green Bazaar”, with cheaper prices, but not as good quality of merchandise.  It is advised to go with your university student when you go shopping.  Most of what you’ll need for your child, or gifts for the caregivers can be purchased at Zoom or at these bazaars. 

The Circus – this is a traveling circus, so not always available. 

Symphony Theatre – ticket depends on the artist, usually between $8-20.

Opera – performances usually every weekend, tickets between $8-15.

Puppet Show – every Sunday 12 noon; $1/ticket.

Karaganda State University – free of charge; informal visit with English classes at the university level

Asia Shop – Great souvenir source for traditional Kazakh souvenirs

Art Galleries – One is operated by the government and is for display only; the other has pieces of art for sale. 

Russian Orthodox Church (and many other churches) are open for visitation.  For the Russian Orthodox service, ladies must wear a dress or skirt, and have a head covering.  Services are at 9 am and 4 pm daily.

In Almaty

Museum of History -- $3/person

Two Art Museums – fee is comparable to above

19^th Century Russian Orthodox Cathedral (Main Cathedral of Kazakhstan) – again in operation.  Very nice park surrounds this church with monuments, etc. 

Main Square – contains governmental buildings and “Monument to Freedom” (Golden Soldier)

Medeo – mountain top ice skating rink (outdoor).  A large number of world records have been set on this rink.  If you wish to see this, and time permits, this is included in the fee you have paid for your Almaty package. 

Chimbulak -- The mountains above Medeo.  You get to Chimbulak by car, weather permitting, then you can take ski lifts (chair lifts) up to a higher mountain range.  Fees begin at 300 Tenge/person for the ski lifts.  At the highest point, you would find yourself above the clouds.  If you wish to see this, consult your Driver in Almaty as driving there is 8000 tenge. 

For outdoors lovers, there are caves to spelunk, mountain trails to hike, and trout streams to fish.  This must be planned in advance, so mention it to us if you want to take advantage of some of these activities.

“Zoom” shopping mall – on the 3^rd floor, there is a great choice of souvenirs – more than in Karaganda.  If you’re really missing PIZZA, go to the Ram Store on the 1^st floor.  They have great pizza. 

Almaty Bazaar – you can buy a relatively cheap Persian Lamb coat ($150). 

Fantasy Park – outdoor amusement park.  Admittance is 500 Tenge/person.

Bobek Park – free admission but every ride is 100 Tenge.  More appropriate for children under age 8.

Restaurants Available In/Around Almaty:

If you’re missing American fare, go to “Soho”.  Meals are about 1,000 Tenge/person, drinks not included. 

There is a very nice restaurant set in the mountains – “Almarason”.  They offer a variety of cuisine, from Russian Georgian to Swiss to National Kazakh, and they are set around a spa, with therapeutic massage and swimming.  Prices for meals start at $10/person. 

Just a few minutes from the Almarason restaurant, there is a “shish kabob” restaurant, kind of rustic, wooden tables near a cascading mountain river.  Karaoke is available, but you must sign a pledge that you won’t reveal you’re a “Williams family” ;-) unless you can really sing!! 

“Zharyuk” (“Promised Land”) National Museum Restaurant – downtown Almaty.  Serves all types of Kazakh, European, and Thai food.  8-10 pm floor show of Kazakh traditional dances, belly dancing, traditional singing and playing of traditional instruments.  Reservations required.  President Gorbachev has eaten here.  Meals start at $10.

Finally, please keep in mind as you spend your time in Kazakhstan, that “you’re not in Kansas anymore”. 

Everything will seem different and maybe frightening.  You will be caught up in alternating between periods of boredom and frantic rushing to complete your adoption.  During your downtime, you can make good use of the services of your university student, to see the world from which your child has come. 

During the times of frantic rushing, our best advice is to “go with the flow”.