
908 Court Street, Saginaw, Michigan 48602		Phone: 989.793.0000 \| Fax: 989.793.9510

Kazakhstan

We are proud to announce Swartz Adoption Agency is officially registered with the Consulate of the Republic of Kazkahstan in New York City as of December 2004. Our dossiers are translated by translators who are also registered with both the Consulate and the Embassy.
In Kazakhstan, the second largest country of the former Soviet Union, children are kept in very stable and nurturing government baby houses and grouped according to their ages. The caretaker-to-child ratio is very small so the children receive lots of individual attention.

Children are available from the Aktobe and Shymkent regions.
Because Kazakhstan has a large Muslim population, alcohol and drug usage are not as socially acceptable as other parts of Europe. Incidences of fetal alcohol syndrome and other such delays related to drug and alcohol abuse are much lower. Children available from Kazakhstan are generally healthy. Also, because the caretaker to child ratio is very small, the children are incredibly well bonded. Attachment and bonding disorders are also less prevalent than in some other Eastern European countries.
Married couples and single females accepted.
Relatively short referral and processing time. On average, the adoption takes approximately 6-9 months.
The children available range in age from 6 months to 10 years. They are of Asian, Caucasian, or Kazak heritage or a striking mix. An equal amount of male and female children are available.
Children live in government baby houses.
Only one trip is required. Travel time is approximately 40 days.
Both parents must travel for the adoption, however one parent may leave after the 14-day mandatory bonding period

For more information or to begin your adoption, please contact us. We look forward to hearing from you.

Be sure to visit our Happy Families page to meet some of our happy families.

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What to Expect

Upon submission of your application and fee, your adoption coordinator will complete your INS I-600a form which is your formal request to bring a foreign-born child into the United States. At this time, you should begin your home study, either with one of our Social Workers, or with one of your choosing.

You should also apply for your passports at the earliest possible date. During this time, your Adoption Coordinator will be working with you to gather the necessary documents to complete your dossier such as marriage license, divorce papers, employer references, health clearances, etc.

At this time, our families are doing what is called "traveling blind." This means that they do not receive referrals or information about any specific child prior to travel. Kazakhstan does not have a formal referral system and they do not "reserve" a specific child for a specific family. This is actually to your advantage that you be able to travel and meet children in person before making a decision. This way you can meet and hold each child to find that child of your dreams. For more information on Kazakhstan's adoption laws, please visit the US Department of State's website: http://www.travel.state.gov/family/adoption/country/country_408.html

Throughout this process, your documents are notarized, apostilled, and translated. Once your home study is completed, a copy is sent to the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (formerly INS) and once approval is received, your dossier is sent to the Kazak Embassy in either New York or Washington DC. Once they have processed the documents (approximately 60 days) everything is sent to Kazakhstan where your dossier is processed at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Almaty and then at the Ministry of Education in your region. Once the final processing has taken place, a Letter of Invitation is issued along with a travel date.

Once you receive a travel date, you will fly to Almaty, Kazakhstan and then either take a domestic flight to Aktobe or a train to Shymkent. You will meet the children you chose from photos or meet other children that are available for adoption. You will have a guide, driver and translator throughout your stay. After the mandatory 14-day bonding period, you will then go to court and formally adopt your children. Once that is completed and the paperwork is processed, the 10-day appeal period may or may not be waived. If it is, you will return immediately to Almaty and visit the US Embassy for an interview where the children's travel Visas will be processed. You will also visit the Kazak Embassy and register the children with them. Once that is complete, you will return to the US with your new family!

For more information or to begin your adoption, please contact us. We look forward to hearing from you.

Be sure to visit our Happy Families page to meet some of our happy families.