Karen's Adoption Links Blog

Looking for a separately adopted sibling from Russia, Eastern Europe, Central Asia? The first step is to register on Julie's Sibling Registry. Julie is an adoptive mom who lives in Michigan. Julie S is collecting information to connect our kids with any biological siblings that have been adopted from Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, any Former Soviet Union or Eastern European country. She is just an adoptive mom hoping to help the kids connect as well as maybe finding siblings for her own children. The information will remain strictly confidential and only given out if there is a match.   Julie S This information is not stored on the internet mom2russians@yahoo.com Here is the information Julie needs (you can submit whatever you feel comfortable with) - Birthfather's name (first and last) - Birthmother's name (first and last) - Child's Birth City - Child's Birth Country - Child's name (birth and/or adoptive) - Your name (first and/or last) - Your

Often Adoptive Parents or Adoptees want to review the documents in the immigration packet that was hand carried through immigration when you arrived in the USA. Here are the forms you need. Request for Originals G-884  https://www.uscis.gov/g-884 You will get originals of anything USCIS has originals of  (possibly Birth Ceritifcate, Adoption Decree, decree terminating bio parent rights/death certificates, etc.). You will need the “ A number ”, which should will be in the first country passport that was used for immigration into USA. It is also on Certificate to Citizenship as INS or USCIS Registration Number FOIA request G-639 https://www.uscis.gov/g-639 This provides a photocopy of everything. It will have more forms. The G-884 provides the original documents (but not everything will have an "original"), the G-639 provides scans of all documents. I recommend both forms. 

Consider reading and signing this petition. This proposed law will not end all the adoptee citizenship issues, but it will resolve the issue for many.  Adoptees for Justice International adoptees legally adopted by U.S. citizen parents now face serious obstacles as adults living in the U.S. without citizenship, including threat of deportation. Under current law, U.S. citizenship is not guaranteed for international adoptees born before 1983, or for those who entered the U.S. on a visa that did not provide automatic citizenship. More than 30 adoptees have already been deported to 18 different countries where they struggle with language and cultural barriers, finding employment, and being separated from loved ones. The Adoptee Citizenship Act of 2019 will grant automatic citizenship to all qualifying international adoptees adopted by a U.S. citizen parent, regardless of the date the adoption was finalized. This legislation will also allow adult adoptees who have been deported the

I am headed to Washington DC next month to represent the voice of adoptive parents at the upcoming Department of State symposium: “Strengthening Practice for the Future of Intercountry Adoption” . I have been asked specifically to speak about my experiences in international adoption and suggest improvements to policies and processes in international adoption. Therefore, I want to gather information from you. I have a poll set up in the facebook group Adoptive Family CARE .  Please stop by and answer the poll questions. I want to hear your ideas!

International Women's Day (March 8), is an official holiday  in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, China, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Mongolia, Nepal, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan,  Ukraine, Uzbekistan, and many other countries around the world. Traditions vary by country, but often include gifts given by both men and women to the special women in their lives. Flowers, chocolate, and cards with poetry are examples of gifts. Do you celebrate International Women's Day? Photo from Alberto Salguero Quiles at Wikimedia

Adoptee Citizenship - Please make sure that you adopted child has their Certificate of Citizenship or Certificate of Naturalization. These are the gold standard documents to prove citizenship.

Culture, do you include it in your home?  Do you include foods? Tandyr nan a central Asian unleavened bread Do you include Folk arts? Matryoshka Dolls Do you include Antiques? Antique Ginger Jar Think about celebrating your child's culture through everyday items.

Criticism: We all live with it.  I think Elbert Hubbard (1856 - 1915) said it best:  To escape criticism: Do nothing, say nothing, be nothing. Elbert Hubbard was an American writer, publisher, artist, and great thinker. He was the founder of the Roycroft community of artists and a part of the fabulous Arts and Crafts Movement in the USA.