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We are glad to invite you to our recently-opened region Nizhny Novgorod.
 We've just started our program in this region and expect it to quickly develop into filly-operating region during this year. This region is known for its good attitude towards international adoption. We encourage CHI families to consider Nizhny Novgorod for their trip. Please, have a look at the following facts:
It is the fourth city in Russia by the population (1 700 000 inhabitants). It was founded in 1221 on the confluence of Volga and Oka rivers, which determined its growth as economical and political hub on the way from Moscow to St. Petersburg.
Nizny Novgorod is conveniently located approximately 280 miles(400km) South East from Moscow. It is a big industrial center in Russia with the main industries such as cars, ships and planes construction, metallurgy, wood manufacturing, etc. Nizhny Novgorod is known as a town where famous Nobel Prize Laureate Andrew Sakharov worked on his ideas in nuclear physics. During that time it was a closed city because of its military industries. It is also a native town of world-famous top-model Natalya Vodianova.
UNESCO includes Nisnii Novgorod in the list of 100 cities of the World constituting world historical and cultural value. The city is a cultural center with its own Kremlin, Trade Fair building, Chkalov staircase, Alexander Nevsky cathedral, monasteries and magnificent views of Volga river. You can take a boat-tour along the river or walk its embankment during summer. It is very nice here in summer, the weather is not very hot, approximately 64-77F (+18+25C), and during winter it is mild (according to Russian standards, of course) -4+10F (-12-20C) with high humidity due to the river. Keep in mind it is snowing from mid-November till February, don't forget to pack warm clothing.
You can read more about Nizny Novgorod following this page.
HOW TO GET THERE:
It will take you only one hour flight to get there. There are several flights a day, depending on the day of the week, prices differ due to airlines variety, air-fares, US Dollar rate, etc. Be prepared, that one-way ticket per one person will cost you $120-185 economy class. Due to the fact that this destination is highly popular in Russia and the timetable changes spontaneously, in case we are not able to book a flight for you, especially on the short notice, there are several day/overnight trains to Nizhny Novgorod, with a different duration from 4 hours for a high-speed day-train ($35 per person) to 7 hours for overnight train ($90-160). An overnight train has compartments for two passengers equipped with comfy coaches you can sleep on.
Below you’ll find detailed information about adoption process along with some facts about the travel, hotels, documents, etc. Please, always keep in mind, the plan we propose is just a plan. Every adoption case is unique, some changes in the procedure will occur in each and every case. Please, think about how flexible and tolerant to changes you can be. Once in the region try to stay open, go with the flow and listen to yourself. Trust our coordinators and let them do their job, they are high professionals. Think of adoption as of GOAL-ORIENTED process. There might be bumps on the road, but at the end you'll have your child in your arms, and that is what matters.
Presently there are two required trips to Nizhny Novgorod: the purpose of the first one is to meet with a child referred to you, to get acquainted with his/her medical conditions, documents; the purpose of the second visit is to participate at the court hearing to adopt a child.
1ST VISIT
The CHI Regional Representative will meet you at the train-station holding a sight “Children’s Hope International”, he’ll take you to the hotel and help you to check-in. Among all of the hotels in the city we advise you to stay in the hotel "Oktyabrskaya. It is a nice hotel conveniently located in downtown of the city. Each room is equipped with a TV, phone-line for long-distance calls, Wi-Fi internet in every room, fridge, hairdryer and a shower, of course. There is a restaurant on the first floor, breakfast café and lobby-bar at the hotel. The price for standard room with king-size bed is $230-250 per night including breakfast and VAT. All major credit cards are accepted for payment and it is safe to use them at the hotel.
As the train arrives to Nizhny Novgorod in the morning, you will have time to check-in and have a breakfast at the restaurant of the hotel. The CHI Representative will provide you with the guidelines and itinerary for your visit. We will also explain what to expect at official meetings, for example, what to wear, how to address the officials and the orphanage personnel, etc.
Our representative will accompany you to the Regional Department of the Ministry of Education where you’ll receive a referral – it is brief general information about your child with the address of the orphanage she/he is residing.
There are 5 orphanages in the region we work with, one of them located in the city, 3 are within 1,5 hours drive and the most remote one is 3 hours drive from the hotel. Most probably, the visit to the orphanage will take you the rest of the day. We think that meetings with the chief doctor of the orphanage and with the nurses will be very useful, as they can provide information about the health, interests, and behavior of your child.
BE SURE TO ASK ALL THE QUESTIONS CONCERNING YOUR CHILD'S HISTORY AND MEDICAL INFORMATION WHILE AT THE ORPHANAGE. But be prepared that some information may be missing. The officials' goal is that the adoptive parents are informed as much as possible to help them make their decision. Be prepared to answer some questions about your family and your motivation for adoption as well.
ATTENTION!
You have a right to request an independent medical examination of your child. If you choose to do so, expect to pay for the doctor's visit. If, for some severe medical reason, you feel that you cannot adopt your first referred child, you will then get a second referral in the region. Our goal is that a family will not leave their region in Russia until a positive decision about a child is made. However, this may cause you to stay in the region longer than originally planned. That is why purchasing exchangeable airline tickets back to the United States is so important.
Be sure to take pictures of yourself with the child after you’ve sing the Petition to Adopt, as you would have to show these pictures during the court hearing on your second trip. We suggest, especially for families adopting children over the age of two, to prepare a small photo album with pictures to leave with your child. Include some photos of yourself, your other children if any, of the room you have prepared for this child, a family activity shot, your home, and family pets to leave with the child. If you can bring some staffed animals, toys, dolls, table games, crackers and sweets for your meeting with the child, you'll see this will be appreciated!
You will communicate with your child every day while you are in the region but as much as it is allowed by the orphanage administration.
Usually, it takes 2-3 days in the region to make all official steps during your first trip.
Your petition to adopt will be submitted to the Regional Court. The judge has the right to study the adoption case for two months and to request any additional documents, so the approximate calculation for your second visit might be in 5 to 10 weeks from the date your documents have been submitted to the regional court.
2ND VISIT
Both parents must be present to see and receive the child and to attend the Court Hearing. Ask your social worker in the USA what documents must be updated for your second visit to Russia. Please check if your fingerprint record is still valid.
For your second trip you may arrive to Nizhny Novgorod one day before the court to meet with your child. You will be met by CHI interpreter and driver at the train-station and taken to the hotel. After a short rest you’ll go for the orphanage to spend some time with your child. Same or next day our interpreter and representative will tell you what questions are typically asked in court. Usually it lasts about 1,5-2 hours depending on the case. If the court decides to satisfy your petition to adopt the child, the decision of the court goes into effect immediately. Straight after the hearing you may go to the orphanage to pick up your child. In some rare cases the judge may enforce 10 days waiting period.
Note: We strongly recommend that you adhere very closely to the same diet and routine for the child until after you are back at home - and then change it gradually and under medical supervision. Ask your CHI representative to help you buy some Russian food, if needed, before taking your child on the plane back home. Don't forget to bring a warm outfit for your child: from October till April a snowsuit would be appropriate.
During your stay in Nizhny Novgorod region you will have the CHI regional Representative working on your behalf and a professional interpreter to accompany you. You will be provided with local transportation.
As soon as the Court Decree is issued, you have to obtain the CERTIFICATE OF ADOPTION and the new BIRTH CERTIFICATE of your child. In order to get them you’ll need to visit Vital Statistic office. Don’t worry, your regional coordinator will accompany you during these legal steps providing help and support. These documents are extremely important. Keep them in a safe place. Having gotten these documents you have everything necessary to get anINTERNATIONAL PASSPORT for your child to travel abroad. As of today, collecting all the documents take only 2 days. Altogether you’ll stay in the region 3-4 days during your second trip.
Note: Our representatives are usually very busy working on the family's behalf to complete the last minute documents for the court and, after the court, to obtain the new identification documents for your child. During this period of time you may see a translator more than the representative, but be assured that he/she is reachable if you run into some problems.
After obtaining all of these documents you and your child will leave for Moscow where the process of adoption is to be completed. If you have time before departure for Moscow you may do some sightseeing together with your child!
The procedure of adoption is to be completed in Moscow. You will have to stay in Moscow for 2 - 3 days to have Pre-visa medical examination of your child and visit the American Embassy in order to get an Immigration Visa for your child. The American Embassy requests all immigrants to proceed medical examination and have an interview with US Embassy official. We provide qualified help during this process as well. Please, check the information about the continuation of the adoption process in Moscow – link Adoption info on the left side-bar.
We want you to know, we’ll try our best for you to have an excellent adoption experience in our region!
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