Thursday, December 22, 2011
Fong Family Adoption #2 FAQ
We love being able to tell our friends about our 2nd Russian adoption. There are usually more questions than answers and we try to share as many details as possible. We've come up with a FAQ about the Fong Family Adoption #2. Check out the first FAQ here.
Why are you adopting?
We have witnessed firsthand how adoption changes lives. Things have been lining up lately that point straight to adoption and we're obeying God's call for us to adopt again.
Why Russia?
Our youngest daughter was adopted from Krasnoyarsk, Russia in December, 2010. While we may not be going back to Siberia we still have a heart for Russia and have applied to the Moscow program.
What age and gender?
We are requesting a male under two years old.
How much does the adoption cost?
Agency payments, orphanage costs, government fees and travel expenses will total roughly $60,000.
How will you pay for the adoption?
We are still trying to figure this out. We don't have any massive plans for fundraisers at this time but hope God will reveal His plan soon.
How can I help?
Referral - After the dossier is submitted to Russia, we wait for a child to be assigned to us. The child is assigned based on our request and the child's needs. This is typically the longest part of the adoption process and can take up to 12 months as of now. Once we receive the referral we will receive a picture and brief medical report. We will have the opportunity to reject the referral if the child has any issues that we could not properly take care of.
Travel, Trip 1 - Once we accept our referral we will arrange for our first trip to Russia. This is a short trip of 6-8 days where we meet the child and request a court date in Russia for the official adoption.
Waiting for Court Date - When we get back to the U.S. we will have to update any dossier documents and get new medical exams. Once a court date is assigned we will arrange travel for our second trip.
Travel, Trip 2 - Trip two will last approximately 1 week. We will go to meet the child and appear before the Russian court stating our case for adoption. If approved there is a 30-day waiting period for the court order to take effect.
Travel, Trip 3 - We return to Russia to pick up our son on the final week-long trip. We receive his passport and complete paperwork at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow.
Arrive home, post-placement reports - We'll need to have periodic visits by our social worker so she can send reports back to Russia. This allows the Russian government to keep track of its citizen (he'll have dual-citizenship) and also fosters a good relationship between the agencies and future adopters.
Why are you adopting?
We have witnessed firsthand how adoption changes lives. Things have been lining up lately that point straight to adoption and we're obeying God's call for us to adopt again.
Why Russia?
Our youngest daughter was adopted from Krasnoyarsk, Russia in December, 2010. While we may not be going back to Siberia we still have a heart for Russia and have applied to the Moscow program.
What age and gender?
We are requesting a male under two years old.
How much does the adoption cost?
Agency payments, orphanage costs, government fees and travel expenses will total roughly $60,000.
How will you pay for the adoption?
We are still trying to figure this out. We don't have any massive plans for fundraisers at this time but hope God will reveal His plan soon.
How can I help?
Please pass on our website and information to others. We may have fundraisers later on.
How can I make a monetary donation?
You can send a monetary donation through PayPal or by check. There is a PayPal link on the front page (Click "Donate"). Email us for our address if you would like to send a check.
What agency are you using?
We are using the same agency we used for adoption #1. Email us and we'd be happy to share our experience.
Will you need to learn Russian?
We will have translators while we are in Russia. We do know some basic Russian from our first adoption and still use a few phrases with E.
How do N and C and E feel about having a little sister?
They are excited! N and C really understand the need for adoption and are ready to help nurture our newest family member. We remind E how thankful we are she is home and let her know she is going to be a big sister.
How long will the adoption process take?
Once our documents are sent to Russia, it may take 12 months to complete the adoption.
How does the Russian adoption process work?
There are several phases to the adoption process. This is a much simplified summary. I'll break these down into Paperwork, paperwork, paperwork, waiting, travel, paperwork, travel and paperwork.
Application to adoption agency - Send an application to adoption agency. This application states the basic facts to ensure you are eligible to adopt in a specific country.
Home Study - The home study can be one by the adoption agency if it is licensed in your state. In our case we are using a local agency to complete this as our agency in not licensed here. The home study includes several interviews and an inspection of our home. The social worker will create a report to be included in the dossier. [We are here]
Dossier - The dossier is the package of documents that goes to Russia. This includes the home study and various other letters and documents that need to be notarized and apostilled. It is then sent to Russia to be translated and we are assigned a particular region in Russia where we wait for a referral.
How can I make a monetary donation?
You can send a monetary donation through PayPal or by check. There is a PayPal link on the front page (Click "Donate"). Email us for our address if you would like to send a check.
What agency are you using?
We are using the same agency we used for adoption #1. Email us and we'd be happy to share our experience.
Will you need to learn Russian?
We will have translators while we are in Russia. We do know some basic Russian from our first adoption and still use a few phrases with E.
How do N and C and E feel about having a little sister?
They are excited! N and C really understand the need for adoption and are ready to help nurture our newest family member. We remind E how thankful we are she is home and let her know she is going to be a big sister.
How long will the adoption process take?
Once our documents are sent to Russia, it may take 12 months to complete the adoption.
How does the Russian adoption process work?
There are several phases to the adoption process. This is a much simplified summary. I'll break these down into Paperwork, paperwork, paperwork, waiting, travel, paperwork, travel and paperwork.
Application to adoption agency - Send an application to adoption agency. This application states the basic facts to ensure you are eligible to adopt in a specific country.
Home Study - The home study can be one by the adoption agency if it is licensed in your state. In our case we are using a local agency to complete this as our agency in not licensed here. The home study includes several interviews and an inspection of our home. The social worker will create a report to be included in the dossier. [We are here]
Dossier - The dossier is the package of documents that goes to Russia. This includes the home study and various other letters and documents that need to be notarized and apostilled. It is then sent to Russia to be translated and we are assigned a particular region in Russia where we wait for a referral.
Referral - After the dossier is submitted to Russia, we wait for a child to be assigned to us. The child is assigned based on our request and the child's needs. This is typically the longest part of the adoption process and can take up to 12 months as of now. Once we receive the referral we will receive a picture and brief medical report. We will have the opportunity to reject the referral if the child has any issues that we could not properly take care of.
Travel, Trip 1 - Once we accept our referral we will arrange for our first trip to Russia. This is a short trip of 6-8 days where we meet the child and request a court date in Russia for the official adoption.
Waiting for Court Date - When we get back to the U.S. we will have to update any dossier documents and get new medical exams. Once a court date is assigned we will arrange travel for our second trip.
Travel, Trip 2 - Trip two will last approximately 1 week. We will go to meet the child and appear before the Russian court stating our case for adoption. If approved there is a 30-day waiting period for the court order to take effect.
Travel, Trip 3 - We return to Russia to pick up our son on the final week-long trip. We receive his passport and complete paperwork at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow.
Arrive home, post-placement reports - We'll need to have periodic visits by our social worker so she can send reports back to Russia. This allows the Russian government to keep track of its citizen (he'll have dual-citizenship) and also fosters a good relationship between the agencies and future adopters.
Etc. And The Rest
I had to look it up because I wasn't exactly sure what the direct translation for et cetera was. It literally means, "and the rest". We use the phrase so often in everyday English.
Several weeks ago we submitted our application to return to Russia. We're hoping, in God's will and timing, to adopt a boy from Moscow. A few weeks ago I posted how Something's Missing. I know what it is - we're missing "and the rest" of our family, who we are now calling "Etcetera".
Please pray for us on this second Russian adoption journey. There are spiritual, emotional, financial and paperwork issues to come. We are excited to be sharing this second journey with you.
Several weeks ago we submitted our application to return to Russia. We're hoping, in God's will and timing, to adopt a boy from Moscow. A few weeks ago I posted how Something's Missing. I know what it is - we're missing "and the rest" of our family, who we are now calling "Etcetera".
Please pray for us on this second Russian adoption journey. There are spiritual, emotional, financial and paperwork issues to come. We are excited to be sharing this second journey with you.
Sunday, December 11, 2011
GOTCHA DAY, One Year Ago
One year ago today we picked up E from the orphanage. The months of praying, waiting, fundraising and dreaming came together on this one day.
It was a cold Krasnoyarsk morning. I was picked up early in the day by Y and S and we headed across town to the district office where E was born. We opened the heavy, wooden double doors and proceeded down a long hallway where there was a galley of empty chairs. Y went inside an inner office for a few minutes and then invited me too. I was shown E's new birth certificate, with us now listed as parents (in Russian). We climbed back into the car and headed back to the apartment to pick everyone else up around noon.
The family was buzzing with excitement. We knew the next few moments were going to be special. As we arrived at the orphanage we did not go into the normal play area but waited in the small lobby. Y asked for E's clothes and disappeared upstairs.
the waiting family
A few minutes later the caregiver emerged with E. She was quite bundled up and ready to go. E was well cared for in the orphanage. Even up to the last moments the caregiver was still doing her best for E. Below is a video of her last moments in an orphanage. The password is 'alfc'.
outside baby home #3
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Officially Parents Again
One year ago today we became parents again. Our court proceeding went as smoothly as one could hope for, see the full story here. We were now parents to a former orphan!
Then
Now
Monday, November 28, 2011
Two Plus One
One year ago we were in Krasnoyarsk about to see our daughter for the first time on trip two. We had an unusually short wait between trips and were only apart for about seven weeks. Last month I posted the video when we met E for the first time. For trip two, it was N's and C's turn to meet E for the first time. Below is the raw video, the password is 'alfc'.
Saturday, November 26, 2011
A U.S. Passport
Today we applied for E's U.S. Passport. If we travel anywhere it will be much easier for E to enter on a U.S. passport. I had pre-filled the application online and made an appointment at a local post office. I brought E's Illinois re-adoption order and her Illinois birth certificate. I also brought her Russian passport and Certificate of Citizenship but the agent didn't ask for it. I am very hesitant to let those two out of our hands, especially the Russian passport because it is nearly irreplaceable. I didn't bring a check book so we had to purchase a money order via debit card and it all worked out. We were done in about fifteen minutes.
It will take about 4-6 weeks before we receive her passport. You never know when we might need to travel to another country...
It will take about 4-6 weeks before we receive her passport. You never know when we might need to travel to another country...
Russian Passport Photo 2010
U.S. Passport Photo 2011
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Something's Missing
When we came home last December I could not wait to be home. Things were familiar and in our own language. It was great to be home to start our new lives together. But it only took a few weeks before I started to miss Russia. Why would I miss a country that was so cold (-40C!)? Or people who seemed so distant? It's strange, but I miss Russia.
A few weeks ago a friend shared the possibility of our church planting a new church in Krasnoyarsk. Question #1 - Who plants a church in Russia? #2 - in Siberia? #3 - in the birthplace of our daughter? Nothing is official on that front but it was interesting that our church would be considering this.
Whenever I see an article in the newspaper about Russia I read it. I still occasionally listen to some Russian pop music with E. When I meet someone who speaks Russian I try to use as much Russian as I know (not much).
I'm looking forward to the chance to go back to Russia, and I hope it's sooner rather than later. Maybe other parents who adopted internationally feel the same way? Somehow I feel that something's missing...
at the local park
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