Recent update on Kyrgyzstan

Dear Kyrgyzstan Families:

I have heard through the Joint Council that the findings of the adoption committee were presented to Parliament. The presentation was fair and well received. The presentation did address child trafficking and encouraged prosecution of the orphanage directors and officials that have been implicated in these situations. The Vice-Premier defended American adoptions encouraging the continuation of adoptions to American families. There was also emphasis placed on compliance with post-adoption reporting for continuation of the program. All of our families that have previously adopted have been in compliance with the post-adoption reporting.
Additionally it does appear that the Parliament will move towards ratification of the Hague Convention. What this will likely mean is that for those families that have already filed their I-600A they will be grandfathered under that current non-Hague regulations and for those that file after Kyrgyzstan ratifies the Hague Convention you will need to file the I-800A. The Hague Convention process is much more intensive in cost, effort and documentation so I encourage that anyone who has not filed their I-600A do so before this is ratified. I do not have a date as to when this will occur.
As you know this is good news that they have finally presented their findings. This is a step towards reopening their adoptions. We will follow these developments and update you as we get more information. I know that there is a tentative meeting scheduled with the State Dept for the families that are suspended on April 15th. I will let you know what is discussed during this meeting. Please let me know if you have any questions regarding this update.

Warm regards,

Brent

Brent E. Yoder, LCSW
Executive Director