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Members of Congress have a short window of opportunity to sign on to two letters regarding Russia’s recent decision to ban adoptions to the United States.  The first letter is to President Vladimir Putin of Russia and the second is … Continue reading →

In what we can only describe as a tragedy, earlier today President Putin signed the ban on intercountry adoption.  The law goes into effect on January 1, 2013 and while some details remain unclear, it is being reported that the … Continue reading →

Joint Council continues to actively advocate for a positive resolution to the pending intercountry adoption ban in Russia… Continue reading →

Over the last week there have been various news reports that Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs intends to suspend adoptions to the United States until the previously signed bi-lateral agreement between the United States and Russia is ratified by the … Continue reading →

Life in Motion, a unique photo exhibition created to raise awareness about orphaned children who are unable to live a fulfilled life due to their physical limitations will premier on December 8th at the Rita K. Hillman Education Gallery in … Continue reading →

Secretary Clinton and Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov Sign Adoption Agreement July 13, 2011 The Department of State and the Department of Homeland Security announced today, July 13, 2011, that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov … Continue reading →

04/13/2011 Read full article here. Protecting Russia’s orphans April 13, 2011 Svetlana Smetanina Russian government is finally tackling the problem of adoptions by foreign citizens in earnest. A watershed event is scheduled to take place in May: the signing of … Continue reading →

04/08/2011 Read the full article below or follow this link. _____________________________________________________________________ Russia may next month sign an agreement with the United States to ensure the safety of Russian children adopted by U.S. families, Russia’s ombudsman for child rights said on … Continue reading →

05/13/2010 Earlier today, Russia and the U.S. issued a joint statement on the progress of their talks related to intercountry adoption. In addition, the U.S. Department of State has published a separate statement on intercountry adoption in Russia. Both statements … Continue reading →

May 13, 2010 The U.S. Embassy in Moscow, Russia issued the following joint U.S.-Russian statement today, May 13, 2010. On May 12-13, U.S.-Russian consultation on adoption were held in Moscow. ‘Generally, we very positively assess the atmosphere of the talks. … Continue reading →

05/12/2010 The Russian and U.S. media have reported that the governments of Russia and the United States have reached a new bilateral accord on adoptions and expect to sign it within two months. Based on information available to Joint Council, … Continue reading →

04/29/2010 The U.S. Dept of State, Office of Children’s Issues has issued the following announcement regarding adoptions from Russia. Joint Council commends the collaborative efforts of the two governments, as well as the efforts of adoptive families, prospective adoptive families, … Continue reading →

04/27/2010 The U.S. government, represented by seven officials from the Department of State and Department of Homeland Security, will meet with Russian officials in Moscow on Thursday, April 29, 2010. The substance of the meetings will focus on an agreement … Continue reading →

04/26/2010  The Department of State has updated their statements on intercountry adoption with Russia. The text of the statement follows. We have received no official notification that adoptions of Russian orphans by Americans have been suspended, but it is clear … Continue reading →

04/19/2010 As part of Joint Council’s We Are The Truth Campaign, an invitation to all who are concerned about families and children to sign a letter to Presidents Medvedev and Obama. The letter, asking for the uninterrupted continuation of intercountry … Continue reading →

04/19/2010 The meeting between a U.S. government delegation and their Russian counterparts, originally scheduled for April 20th in Moscow, has been postponed due to travel difficulties resulting from the volcanic ash cloud over Iceland and much of Europe. The U.S. … Continue reading →

04/19/2010 The U.S. Department of State issued 6 visas for children adopted in Russia on Monday, April 19, 2010.

04/19/2010 A statement on the website of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicated that intercountry adoption between the U.S. and Russia is not currently suspended, but will be suspended if the U.S. government does not begin discussions on the … Continue reading →

04/16/2010 The Department of State has received no information to confirm a suspension of adoptions from Russia to the United States. Our embassy in Moscow and other Department of State officials are talking with Russian officials to clarify this issue. … Continue reading →

04/15/2010 Suspension Announced But Not Confirmed During a press conference today, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei Nesterenko stated that intercountry adoptions with the United States have been suspended until a bilateral agreement with the United States is signed. At this … Continue reading →

04/13/2010 Please click here to visit our blog for the most continuously updated information on Joint Council’s activities concerning Russia and adoptions from Russia.

4/12/2010 We Are The Truth: A Campaign and Call to Action The outrageous treatment of Arty by his adoptive family has rightfully resulted in outrage by the Governments of Russia and the United States and all who care about children. … Continue reading →

4/9/2010 The Governments of Russia and the United States have reported that a seven-year old Russian child, adopted by a U.S. family, was flown to Russia and abandoned at the Ministry of Education in Moscow. The child, adopted approximately 6-months … Continue reading →

11/6/2009 America.gov has published a story on intercountry adoption and heritage, specific to Russia. The story highlights Alex Griffith, a CNN Hero and friend of Joint Council, as well as, Families for Russian and Ukrainian Adoption (FRUA). The story is … Continue reading →

06/01/2009 Joint Council participated in a live video conference with a U.S. based panel of child welfare experts and a corresponding panel based in Moscow along with mbers of the U.S. and Russian media. Additionally, Joint Council was interviewed for … Continue reading →

03/19/2009 The US embassy in Moscow has released an update on the list recently published by the Russian MOE.

02/27/2009 U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has announced that beginning March 30th it will adjudicate all I-600 petitions for intercountry adoptions from Russia. USCIS has also released related FAQs to further clarify the process. Please read this most recent release, … Continue reading →

12/23/2008 Joint Council wishes to express our sympathy regarding the tragic death of Chase Harrison (Dmitri Yakovlev). Nothing can be done to change that tragedy and we continue to extend our sympathies to everyone who cared for and loved Chase. … Continue reading →

11/11/2008 Traditionally when adoptive parents filed their I-600 at the U.S. embassy in Moscow, the I-604 review was conducted by a Department of State (DOS) Consular Officer. This procedure is in the process of changing. These changes may affect both … Continue reading →

11/26/2007 Joint Council has been invited to speak at the Russian Ministry of Education and Science’s International Conference on the Protection of Rights for Orphans and Children Without Parents. The conference, scheduled for December 9, 10, and 11, 2007 in … Continue reading →

10/27/2007 Joint Council, in cooperation with members of Congress, is requesting immediate action on the part of the U.S. Department of Justice regarding the issuance of clearances for agencies attempting to obtain Russian accreditation. Joint Council has also been in … Continue reading →

09/05/2007 Adoptions are now taking place in several locations where they have been largely stalled for over a year, including the Yevreiskaya Autonomous Republic, the Bryansk Region, and the municipalities of Tomsk and Novosibirsk.

07/09/2007 The following message regarding transit visas was posted by the Immigrant Visa Unit of the U.S. embassy in Moscow. “Dear representatives of adoption agencies: The U.S. embassy respectfully requests that adoption facilitators and agencies alert their clients to the … Continue reading →

07/06/2007 Joint Council was recently informed that the Russian Ministry of Education has begun issuing accreditations for agencies to resume adoption services in the country. We are working to confirm the Member organizations that have received their official documentation and will … Continue reading →

05/18/2007 The following notice was sent to Joint Council by the Consular Section in Moscow. The notice details an upcoming change in procedure to obtain visas for adopted children: “The U.S. embassy in Moscow wishes to alert you to an … Continue reading →

04/30/2007 The following announcement was made by the U.S. Department of State on Friday, April 27th: Update on Adoption Agency Accreditation Delays – No U.S.-based adoption service providers (adoption agencies) are currently accredited with the Ministry of Education and Science … Continue reading →

01/29/2007 Joint Council staff and Board of Directors met with the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services last Monday in conjunction with our quarterly Board meeting. The following update was supplied to us by DOS: The … Continue reading →

09/26/2006 As of September 15th, ten U.S. adoptive service providers have successfully completed the NGO registration process. DOS understands that the October 18th deadline, previously announced by the Ministry of Justice, still stands. Re-accreditation by the Ministry of Education is … Continue reading →

07/06/2006 In May, the Government of Russia passed an NGO law which affects the accreditation of U.S. based adoption service providers. As of today, July 6th, embassy Moscow has not been able to gain clarification on the new requirements for … Continue reading →

05/24/2006 At this time, the accreditations of a number of US agencies working in Russia have lapsed. Russia has not yet issued reaccreditations for these agencies, and Joint Council is not aware of the time-frame in which this will happen. … Continue reading →

05/05/2006 Joint Council has learned the following from the U.S. Department of State. The Russian Ministry of Education has confirmed that foreign adoption service providers are subject to the new NGO law. (Previously it was thought that adoption agencies would … Continue reading →

05/03/2006 Joint Council wrote a letter to the Ministry of Education in Russia requesting the timely reaccreditation of adoption agencies up for renewal on May 17, 2006. Click here for a copy of the letter.

02/06/2006 The Russian Ministry of Education has issued reaccreditation certificates to four agencies in the US. Two of these agencies are Joint Council member agencies. The Ministry has also informed the US embassy in Moscow that there are a number … Continue reading →

09/15/2005 Joint Council is hosting a Reception for a visiting Russian Delegation on Thursday, Septber 15, 2005 and would like to invite families in the DC/ MD/ VA area. The event is a wonderful opportunity for the Delegation to witness … Continue reading →

09/2005 Joint Council releases a press release after convening a coalition meeting to discuss guidelines and response to Russian tragedies. In response to the recent alleged incidents of abuse involving Russian adopted children, Joint Council on International Children’s Services (Joint … Continue reading →

08/29/2005 The US emembassy in Moscow has released the following statement regarding documentation requirements for families traveling to Russia. More information on this and details on all documentary requirements can be found on the US emembassy in Moscow’s Adoption Visa … Continue reading →

08/08/2005 Joint Council cautions against rash legislation limiting the options for Russian orphans but encourages strengthening and improving the intercountry adoption system. Joint Council on International Children’s Services (Joint Council) is saddened by the recent reports of the January 2005 … Continue reading →

07/08/2005 Joint Council releases the following response to today’s news report that a Russian adopted child died as result of physical abuse by her adoptive mother. The mother is currently being held without bond and if convicted, she could face … Continue reading →

06/14/2005 The Russian Ministry of Education has accredited a number of U.S. agencies in mid-May. Since that time, more agencies have been accredited. Q; What if my agency is not listed? If your agency has not received re-accreditation they may … Continue reading →

05/24/2005 The US Department of State just released the following notice on the reaccreditation process in Russia: RUSSIA IMPORTANT NOTICE ON ADOPTIONS May 24, 2005 This notice replaces the notice of March 22, 2005. The U.S. embassy in Moscow informed … Continue reading →

05/18/2005 Joint Council agencies have begun receiving certificates of accreditation from the Russian Ministry of Education. These agencies have been granted permission by the Russian government to resume their work “in accordance with the laws of the Russian Federation”. Agencies … Continue reading →

05/17/2005 Joint Council sent a letter to President Putin in response to recent press reports regarding Russian-born children who have been adopted in the US. Click here to read this letter.

05/13/2005 It is our understanding that no agencies are accredited at this time. This has been confirmed by the Department of State in Washington, DC and the US emembassy in Moscow. Joint Council has written a letter in response to … Continue reading →

03/22/2005 The following message was released today by the State Department: Russia Important Notice on Adoptions March 22, 2005 This notice replaces the notice of February 16, 2005. On March 11, 2005, the Russian Ministry of Education informed officials at … Continue reading →

02/11/2005 As part of our advocacy efforts, Joint Council sent letters to President Putin and President Bush outlining our concerns regarding the delayed accreditation process and data bank letters, and addressing the concerns about international adoption within the Duma. We … Continue reading →

01/31/2005 Joint Council met with the Department of State last week. The new adoption law has gone into effect requiring that orphaned children must be on the federal data bank for 6 months before being eligible for international adoption. The … Continue reading →

January 21, 2005 The U.S. embassy in Moscow has released the following update: Data Bank Release Letters Update (as of January 20, 2005) According to Ministry of Education sources, in adoption cases in which the American prospective adoptive parents have … Continue reading →

12/30/2004 Joint Council is hearing reports that President Putin signed the legislation yesterday lengthening the time a child is listed on the databank registry. We are awaiting confirmation of this report from the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. … Continue reading →

12/17/2004 On December 15, 2004 the State Duma of the Russian Federation approved the draft for new amendments to the Family Code of the Russian Federation regarding adoption. These changes would allow a greater opportunity for Russian citizens to adopt. … Continue reading →

12/16/2004 In discussions with the U.S. Department of State (DOS) today, they reiterated that the Russian government is undergoing reorganization and that they believe the current temporary data bank release suspension is related to this situation. The Russian government hopes … Continue reading →

12/10/2004 Below please find a notice from the embassy in Moscow. It addresses the current suspension of data base releases. We have heard from several of agencies and families experiencing this problem and understand the hardship placed on families to … Continue reading →

12/07/2004 According to the U.S. Department of State, the Ministry of Education recently ordered the creation of an accreditation commission by the end of December. The accreditation commission will include representatives from the Ministries of Education, Justice, Internal Affairs and … Continue reading →

12/02/2004 Many families have contacted Joint Council regarding the adoption process in Russia fearing that a shut down is forthcoming. This fear has been generated by frequent foreign press reports citing Russia’s desire for a bi-lateral agreement with the United … Continue reading →

11/04/2004 For the past two days Joint Council has been hearing reports from families and agencies that the Russian federal databank was closed and no longer issuing letters. We are not sure where this information was obtained but it is … Continue reading →

12/09/2003 The embassy of the United States in Moscow, Russia is pleased to announce that it will accept credit card payments for the collection of immigrant visa fees for adopted children: the I-600 petition fee and the Immigrant Visa issuance … Continue reading →