So much for hoping the U.S. government would have an enlightened attitude on the fees it charges for adoption-related documents.

According to a statement issued today, effective July 30, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will be slapping a whopping 38% increase on the cost of an I-600A. Fingerprinting costs will rise to $80 from $70 for each member of an adoptive household over the age of 18. And the price of a citizenship certificate... more

It's not often that I get to say nice things about New Jersey politicians. But a group of them did something very smart yesterday and I'd like to bring it to your attention.

The New Jersey Senate's Budget and Appropriations Committee approved, 8-6, a bill that extends the state's Temporary Disability Benefits law to cover those caring for sick family members, newborns or--drumroll please--newly adopted children. If the bill, which grants 10 weeks of partially paid... more

In the general scheme of things, and given the current state of the adoption process in Russia, this is only a minor annoyance. But I want to make sure those of you who are traveling or will be traveling soon are up to date.

This morning, the U.S. Embassy in Moscow posted a notice on its Web site that it will need more time to process adoption exit visas. As of June 18, the standard processing time will be at least two business days instead of one. Why?... more

OK, let me state for the record that I have no idea whether Pamela Anderson is planning to adopt from Russia. Her blog entry on her trip to a Moscow-area orphanage after she hosted the MTV Russia Film Awards could be read in many different ways. Her manager hasn't yet returned my call seeking a clarification. But if Ms. Anderson is thinking along adoption lines, she will be glad that she is a citizen of both the United States and Canada. That's because Canadian adoption practices... more

Now, I'm going to deal with one of the more burning questions among families waiting for Russia to begin rolling out the accreditations again: Why did my adoption fingerprints expire? Think about it, folks. Fingerprints are a unique mark of your identity. In adulthood, which is when you are being fingerprinted, they don't change. Before DNA testing became widespread, fingerprints were law enforcement's chief tool for linking criminals to a crime, even... more

You will be fingerprinted many times as you work toward your adoption in Russia, many times. You'll be fingerprinted at the local level, the state level and by U.S. federal authorities, too. And if your adoption drags on for more than a year, you'll discover what I did: You--and every member of your household over the age of 18--will have to be fingerprinted again.

In the 18 months it took to complete my second adoption in Russia, my recurring trips to get fingerprinted became something of a running joke among my co-workers. "You... more

Here's something productive to do with your time while you wait for your agency's re-accreditation: Lobby your legislator to extend the I-171H.

For newcomers to the adoption process, the I-171H is one of those big "green light" documents that move you ahead in your adoption journey. Known formally as the Notice of Favorable Determination Concerning Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition (leave it to bureaucrats to invent a mouthful like that), it is what U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services sends you to let you know that your adoption... more

After putting in 3 hours of ice skating Saturday (see what happens when you adopt kids from Russia!), I unwound by reading a few Russian adoption blogs.

I was catching up on Russian Adoption Journey, which chronicles one New Jersey couple's effort to adopt two children (they are just about headed home!). One particular episode struck a note of recognition with me: Their efforts to get an apostille in New Jersey on an employment letter written in Texas.

A what, you ask?

This... more