Frequently Asked Questions

How old are the children?
From age 7 months and up.

How do I start the adoption process?
In order to start an international adoption you need to fill out the Application, contact us and sign up for the program. We will assist you with everything from that point onward and recommend a homestudy agency in your state.

How long will the process take?
To a large extent, the over all time frame of the adoption depends on the prospective parents. It is up to you to begin and complete a homestudy and apply for and receive USCIS (formerly the INS) clearance. Some families can complete their homestudy, dossier papers and USCIS clearance in a few months, but some take much longer. After submitting your dossier to AAI, we will review it and send it for translation and authentication by the Kazakhstan Embassy. Once your dossier papers have been authenticated by the Kazakhstan Embassy they will be sent to Kazakhstan to be presented to the proper authorities in Kazakhstan. From this point, waiting times until your first trip can be from 1 to 2 months.

How much notice can we expect to get before our first trip?
Two to three weeks.

Who will help us during our stay in Kazakhstan?
In order to facilitate your trip we'll provide you with an adoption package that includes travel within Kazakhstan, drivers, translators, coordinators, and hotels with meal arrangements for you and your child. You will never be alone during your stay.

How long will we stay in Kazakhstan?
Parents will take two trips. The first trip is 16-17 days and the second trip is 2-3 days, separated by approximately 2-3 weeks.

Who can adopt from Kazakhstan?
Both couples and single women may adopt. Couples over 50 need to be prepared to adopt toddlers and older children.

Where do the children come from?
The children come from orphanages from one of four regions in Kazakhstan: Astana, Karaganda, Kostanay, or Zhezkazgan.

Kazakhstan Program Overview

Step One: Getting to Know Us
The first step in the adoption process is for you to carefully review this information packet. Please feel free to contact any of our references. When you decide to join the program, send in your Application along with the Application Fee. We will then send you our Retainer Agreement to sign and return to us along with the Retainer Fee.

Step Two: Preparing Your Homestudy
At approximately the same time you sign up with us, you will need to select a state licensed homestudy agency to prepare the homestudy and assist you in getting USCIS clearance. As we place children throughout the US, we are happy to recommend homestudy agencies in your state. We will work with them to prepare an appropriate homestudy for Kazakhstan.

Step Three: Preparing the Dossier
Once you sign up with us you will receive a list of paperwork needed for the Kazakhstan government. We will tell you how to get your papers notarized and apostilled and walk you through the process. We pride ourselves on the personal nature of our program, and you will receive help and support every step of the way. There will be scheduled dossier conference calls for you to attend in order to ask questions regarding the dossier paperwork and process. We will review your dossier and work with you to correct any problems. This is also a good time to apply for a current passport if you do not already have one, as Kazakhstan law requires that a parent or parents pick up the child personally.

Step Four: Dossier Goes to Kazakhstan
Once you have collected all your papers and had them notarized and apostilled, you send them to us with the AAI Program Fee. We then send your documents to the Kazakhstan Consulate to be professionally translated, and authenticated by a Kazakhstan official. Your dossier will then travel to Kazakhstan and be presented to the Kazakhstan authorities.

Step Five: Child Referral
When a child becomes available, we immediately present you with medical information. If you are adopting a sibling group, you will receive medical information on both children. The next step will be to fill out our acceptance papers, and send the Referral Fee. If, for some reason, you do not wish to travel at this point, you may choose to wait until the next group of children becomes available. We work with families until they accept a referral.

Step Six: Child's Documents Prepared in Kazakhstan
Once you will accept a referral, we will contact the appropriate Kazakhstan authorities. Our associates work with local officials to prepare the child's documents for adoption.

Step Seven: Travel Preparations
Buy a brush! While you paint your child's room, you will be reading over the Travel Packet we send you and preparing for your trip to Kazakhstan. As soon as your child's papers are in order, we will notify you of your departure date. Again, we want to stress that we will help you through every step of the process, from suggesting a travel agency to helping you choose what to pack. You will receive more details about all these things in the travel packet and during a phone travel meeting.

Step Eight: Traveling
You will take two trips, the first for about 16-17 days and the second for about 2-3 days, separated by approximately 2-3 weeks.

During your first trip, you will meet and visit with your child for a few hours per day for 14 days, as required by Kazakhstan law. Kazakhstan officials put a strong emphasis on the bond of a family and the child to ensure that the family is a good match. After the required visitations have been satisfied, you will complete any necessary paperwork and attend a court date.

After court, you will return home for approximately 2-3 weeks while the court decision is written and the child's remaining documents are completed.

One parent may travel to complete the adoption on the 2nd trip. During this trip, which lasts about 2-3 days, you will pick up your child and collect your child's visa from the American Embassy. Before, you know it, you will be back at home starting a new life with your child.