The proposed ban on Americans adopting Russian children that we’ve written about has since been signed into law by Vladimir Putin. Of the many adoptions that have now been put on hold because of this action, a couple from Texas will now have to wait to see what happens next.
There is hope that children already in the process of being adopted would be allowed to come to the United States, but as of right now these children will be forced to remain in Russia. One adoption center is asking parents awaiting these children to take a few days to decide what actions should be taken next.
There will likely be parents that will wait and see if changes will occur regarding the Russian adoption issue, and other couples that will move on to the adoption of children from other locations. Unfortunately, the whole situation has become so politicized that there is no telling the direction circumstances will take.
Like so many other nations, the previous process for adopting children from Russia has never been easy. Parents were required to visit the nation of Russia on at least three separate occasions before an adoption would be approved, and the entire process usually lasted more than a year. The process can be daunting without the assistance of an attorney to help guide parents through the process.
Potential parents should not give up hope. There will always be opportunities to help out less fortunate children. Perhaps at some point governments will be forced to place the interest of these children before their own political games.
Source: NBCDFW.com, “Russian Ban on US Adoptions Hits North Texas Couple,” by Mark Schnyder and Jim Heintz, Dec. 28, 2012
