Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan Adoption Alert
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Bureau of Consular Affairs Office of Children’s Issues

December 10, 2008
The U.S. Department of State does not recommend that U.S. citizens consider adoption from Kyrgyzstan at this time because of serious, ongoing problems in the country’s intercountry adoption process. A number of prospective adoptive parents have reported that their cases are not being processed. The U.S. Embassy has requested official clarification, but no formal response has been received. According to local experts, no cases are being processed at this time. Further, the government of Kyrgyzstan appears to be making moves to strengthen its internal controls of and develop new legislation on adoptions. It has been reported that Kyrgyz citizens may have been denied the opportunity to adopt during the past year, even while some intercountry adoptions by non-citizens were being approved. At this time it is not clear what action will be taken on pending cases or if the Government of Kyrgyzstan will accept any new cases The U.S. Embassy continues to monitor the situation and will provide clarification as soon as it is received.

Located between China and Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan is very mountainous and ruggedly beautiful. The Kyrgyz people have a proud and distinctive cultural heritage. The population is approximately 80% Kyrgyz, Uzbek or other Central Asian nationalities, and 20% Caucasian. Children are available for adoption in Kyrgyzstan as young as 3 months old.

Currently, Adoption ARK is one of only five adoption agencies that has a signed agreement with the Minister of Education of the Kyrgyz Republic to pursue adoptions in that country. The role of Adoption ARK is to provide information on the program and its specifics, to help the prospective adoptive family prepare dossier, to prequalify the family for adoption based on submitted documents, to arrange for translation of the dossier, to assist the family with travel arrangements and to provide pre and post adoption support. Adoption ARK communicates directly with the central authorities in Kyrgyzstan and will assist parents in hiring in-country representation.

How to Start Your Adoption Process

• Read the information on this page, and fill out our no-commitment registration form, and an adoption consultant will contact you with more information.
• If you decide this is the program for you, then request an adoption contract from your consultant, complete it, and send it in to our Illinois office with the initial fee.
• Your contract will be reviewed and approved by our director, and then you will be assigned a caseworker to complete your adoption.
• Your caseworker will inform you of the steps needed to move forward with your adoption. Some of these steps include are:
  -submitting your petition to adopt an orphan from overseas (I600A form from USCIS)
  -starting your home study if you do not have one complete
  -collecting documents and forms needed for your adoption dossier.
• All documents must be notarized, apostilled and authenticated before being submitted.
• Once completed, your initial paperwork will be translated and submitted to the Minister of Education in Kyrgyzstan.
• Based on the description provided by the parents, a referral is chosen.  Pictures of the child and medical information is provided.
• Upon accepting your referral, your caseworker will inform you of any additional paperwork required before you travel.

Traveling to Kyrgyzstan

• All Documents must be must be submitted to Adoption ARK and processed through the U.S. State Department and Consulate.  Your casework will notify you when you are able to travel to Kyrgyzstan.
• While in Kyrgyzstan parents are usually required to have a minimum of seven days of personal contact with their referral. Please note that in certain circumstances this trip  may be waived.  However, Adoption ARK can make no guarentees as to wether one trip or two trips will be necessary to complete your adoption from Kyrgyzstan.
• The dossier is reviewed and submitted to the local court.  After review of all documents the judge will set a court date.  In some situations a representative may be present in court on the parents behalf.  After court, the approximate time for finalization of the adoption is two months.
• At the end of this one-month period, when the court has finalized its decision, the parents may then obtain the child’s new birth certificate.
• After obtaining a new birth certificate, the coordinator will assist parents in arranging for a passport at the local passport office.  At the same time, the coordinator sets up the parents appointment at the U.S. Embassy in Bishkek.
• After completing the paperwork in Bishkek, parents travel to Almaty, Kazakhstan to obtain the U.S. immigration visa.
• Congratulations!  You can now travel home with your new son or daughter.
• Post Adoption Reports (aka Post Placement Reports) are required every six months until the child turns 14.

Children Available for Adoption in Kyrgyzstan
Currently boys and girls, ages 3 months - 16 years of age, are available for adoption. Kyrgyzstan does allow sibling adoptions; however, sibling groups tend to be among the older children.  Children with special needs are also available.

Parent Requirmentrs
Married couples and single women may adopt. Couples must be in the age range of 25-52, and singles women must be 30-52 years old. There should be no more than 45 years age difference between parents and adoptive children. Prior divorce and other children in the home are acceptable. Kyrgyzstan requires proof of the adoptive parents’ health status and financial ability to provide a suitable environment for the child.

Timeframe
The wait for a referral is typically 12-24 months after your paperwork is submitted and approved in Kyrgyzstan.

Useful Links
Kyrgyzstan News
General Information about Kyrgyzstan
Map of Kyrgyzstan
U.S. Department of State, Kyrgyzstan

For an overview of all of our international adoption programs, please view our adoption program comparison chart.