Adoption Options: Americans Adopting Children From Belarus

Adopting a child from Belarus to the US is a complex process. Belarus is a party to the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption, which sets out the requirements for intercountry adoptions. While US citizens living in Belarus may be eligible to adopt, there are many legal and practical considerations. For example, only children in orphanages who are deemed unadoptable by Belarusian families can be considered for adoption by foreigners. Additionally, the US State Department has issued a Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory for Belarus due to political tensions and the risk of arbitrary detention. As of 2019, new restrictions imposed by the Belarusian government have put a hold on the number of adoptions between Belarus and America.

Americans cannot currently adopt from Belarus

The process of adopting a child from Belarus is complex. Prospective parents must work with a licensed adoption agency or provider that employs representatives or facilitators in Belarus. They must also submit a completed application, along with Russian language translations of all documents, to the consular section of the Belarusian Embassy in Washington, D.C. This application is then verified and notarized by the Belarusian consul before being sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Minsk. The application is then passed to the Ministry of National Education in Minsk (MNO), which decides whether to allow the process of selecting a child to go forward. If approved, the MNO tasks its regional and local branches with locating an appropriate child in a Belarusian orphanage.

However, only children in orphanages formally described as "unadoptable" by Belarusian families can be considered for adoption by foreigners. The Belarusian government defines "unadoptable" children as those with various forms of physical or mental defects (including Chernobyl-related health problems) or those who have not been placed with prospective adoptive Belarusian families. MNO officials have stated that a child should be officially offered to Belarusian families at least three or four times before being considered "unadoptable".

Once a child has been matched with prospective adoptive parents, the parents must travel to Belarus to meet them. The adoption request is then reviewed and approved by the executive branch of the regional government, before being sent to the city district executive committee responsible for the city district in which the child resides. This committee makes the final decision on whether to allow the adoption, taking into account the recommendations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the MNO, and the regional government.

After the adoption is approved, the parents apply for their child's passport with the local office of visas and registration. The passport is issued in the child's new name if the adoptive parents wish to change it. However, it is important to note that U.S. citizens cannot obtain medical or immigrant visa processing for their adopted Belarusian children at the U.S. Embassy in Minsk. Instead, they must go to the U.S. Embassy in Warsaw, Poland, which handles visa processing for children adopted from Belarus.

Belarusians in the US are often unaware of the term Belarusian

Belarusians in the US are often unaware of the term 'Belarusian' and refer to themselves as ''White Russian' instead. This is because the first wave of immigrants from Belarus arrived before the full development and spread of Belarusian nationalism. Most of these early immigrants were registered as Russians (if they were Orthodox Christians) or Poles (if they were Roman Catholics). The majority of ethnic Belarusians considered themselves Russian and held Russophilic or Westrussianist views. The term 'Belarusian' only became common near the end of the Soviet Union's existence, so descendants of pre-World War I immigrants often continue to use the more archaic term 'White Russian'.

There were several waves of Belarusian immigration to the US, including one before the Russian Revolution, from 1919-1939, in the late 1940s to early 1950s, and after the collapse of the USSR in the 1990s. The largest concentrations of Belarusian Americans are in metropolitan areas like New York, New Jersey, Cleveland, Chicago, Los Angeles, Sacramento, and Detroit.

According to the 1990 US Census, only 4,277 respondents claimed Belarusian ancestry. There are no reports from the 2000 census, but the 2000 Census Bureau report states that 38,505 people born in Belarus lived in the US, with 1,363 speaking Belarusian at home.

The term 'White Russian' or 'White Ruthenian' was customary in American English at the time of the first wave of immigration. For example, the first Belarusian-American newspaper, 'Belaruskaja trybuna' (Belarusian Tribune), was published in 1926 by the Whiteruthenian National Association with the English subtitle 'Whiteruthenian Tribune'.

While Belarus gained its independence from the USSR in 1991, many Belarusians in the US may still be unfamiliar with the term 'Belarusian' due to the historical context of their immigration and the continued use of terms like 'White Russian' in certain communities and organisations.

Belarusians in the US often refer to themselves as White Russian

Adopting a child from Belarus as an American citizen is a complex process. Belarus is a party to the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption. This means that intercountry adoption processing must follow the requirements of the Convention, as well as U.S. legislation and Belarusian regulations. While Americans were able to adopt hundreds of Belarusian children between 2001 and 2004, new restrictions imposed by President Aliakansandr Lukashenko in 2004 have put a hold on adoptions between the two countries. As of 2019, these restrictions remain in place, preventing Americans from adopting Belarusian children, even if they are living in Belarus.

Now, onto your next question: Belarusians in the U.S. often refer to themselves as "White Russian" due to the country's name in several European languages being a direct translation of "White Russia". For instance, in Dutch, Belarusian is "Wit-Rusland", in German, it's "Weißrussland", in Danish, it's "Hviderusland", in Estonian, it's "Valgevene", in Latvian, it's "Baltkrievija", and in Lithuanian, it's "Baltarusija". These translations are considered incorrect by many Belarusians, who are keen to distance themselves from Russia, especially in the current political climate. The term "White Russia" is seen as a vestige of Russian imperialism and a manipulation by the Russian Tsars.

The name "Belarus" is closely related to "Belaya Rus", which translates to ""White Rus" in Russian. However, it's important to note that "Rus" has a broader geographical and political meaning than just Russia. It refers to the Eastern Slavic territories of the medieval era, which now mostly belong to Belarus and Ukraine. Thus, the term "Rus" in "Belaya Rus" does not equate to modern-day Russia.

After Belarus gained its independence from the USSR in 1991, its international name in English and French was adjusted to be closer to the Belarusian language. The Belarusian diaspora has advocated for the use of "Belarus" in Latin alphabet languages, and some countries, such as Sweden, have heeded this request. However, as of 2020, several European nations and their media organizations continued to use "White Russia" or its translation when referring to Belarus, despite backlash from activists and the Belarusian government.

The US Embassy in Minsk does not offer immigration services

Adopting a child from Belarus is a complex process that requires careful consideration and adherence to legal procedures. While Americans have previously adopted children from Belarus, it's important to note that the process is currently subject to certain restrictions and limitations.

On February 28, 2022, the U.S. Embassy in Minsk, Belarus, suspended its operations due to security concerns and the Russian military's attack on Ukraine from Belarus. This suspension includes all consular services, both routine and emergency, until further notice. The U.S. Department of State has advised U.S. citizens in Belarus who require consular services to depart the country as soon as possible and seek assistance from a U.S. embassy or consulate in another country. This advisory is primarily due to the unpredictable situation, heightened regional tension, and potential harassment targeted at foreigners.

The U.S. Embassy in Minsk does not offer immigration services. U.S. citizens who have adopted or are planning to adopt a child in Belarus must understand that they cannot obtain immigration or medical processing for their adopted child at the U.S. Embassy in Minsk. Instead, they will need to travel to the U.S. Embassy in Warsaw, Poland, to complete medical and immigrant visa processing for their adopted child. This additional step is crucial for bringing the child to the United States.

The process of adopting a child from Belarus typically involves working with a licensed adoption agency or provider that has representatives in the country. Prospective adoptive parents must submit their application and supporting documents, translated into Russian, to the consular section of the Belarusian Embassy in Washington, D.C. The Belarusian consul verifies and notarizes the documentation before forwarding it to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Minsk for further review and approval.

It is important to note that Belarusian laws restrict international adoption to children in orphanages who are deemed "unadoptable" by Belarusian families. The Belarusian government defines "unadoptable" children as those with physical or mental defects, including Chernobyl-related health problems, or those who have not been chosen by prospective Belarusian adoptive families. This process can be lengthy, and prospective parents should be prepared for a wait of approximately 18 months on average.

The US government has imposed a Do Not Travel advisory for Belarus

The US government has imposed a Level 4 "Do Not Travel" advisory for Belarus due to several factors, including:

• The Belarusian authorities' continued facilitation of Russia's war against Ukraine and the buildup of Russian military forces in Belarus.
• The arbitrary enforcement of local laws, potential civil unrest, and the risk of detention.
• The limited ability of the US Embassy in Minsk to assist US citizens residing in or travelling to Belarus, following the suspension of its operations on February 28, 2022.
• The heightened volatility and unpredictable nature of the regional security environment due to the conflict in neighbouring Ukraine.
• The potential for harassment specifically targeted at foreigners.
• The detention of tens of thousands of individuals, including US citizens, by Belarusian authorities for alleged affiliations with opposition parties and participation in political demonstrations.
• The enforcement of special restrictions on dual US-Belarusian nationals, including the potential refusal to acknowledge US citizenship and delays in consular assistance.
• The Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) prohibition on US air carriers, operators, airmen/airwomen, and registered aircraft from operating in the Minsk Flight Information Region.

Given these factors, US citizens are advised against travelling to Belarus and those currently in the country are recommended to depart immediately. If US citizens in Belarus require consular services, they should try to leave the country as soon as possible and contact a US embassy or consulate in another country.

It is important to note that the situation in Belarus is unpredictable and subject to change. US citizens considering travel to the region should remain vigilant and aware of the potential risks involved.

Frequently asked questions