There will be bi-lingual in-country staff available to assist you throughout your stay in Kazakhstan. In the case of married couples, both parents must travel at least once to Kazakhstan, and both parents must stay until the court day. One parent may leave at that point if necessary. Singles must travel to complete the adoption process.

Families have the option of taking one longer trip or two shorter trips. The length of the trip varies depending on the region and the judge. If taking one trip, the stay in country could be approximately 5 ½ to 8 weeks. If making two trips the first trip is approximately 3 ½ weeks and the second trip is 4 - 5 days. Kazakhstan has a two week visitation period with the child before the court hearing, and a 15 day waiting period after the adoption court hearing. The waiting period is now rarely being waved, therefore the legal process is currently taking 4 - 6 weeks. It typically takes an additional week or two after this to complete the paperwork.

ll in-country travel and lodging is arranged by the facilitator. Families usually travel in small groups with at least one other family. Families usually stay in apartments or hotels depending on availability. Most families stay in comfortable apartments furnished with stoves, microwaves, televisions, etc. Families fly in to Kazakhstan . Families then travel to the region where their child resides, usually by air, although sometimes travel is done by train or automobile. While waiting for the legal and paperwork process to be completed, families are driven to the orphanage daily to visit with their child. After finalizing the adoption, families fly back to Almaty to complete the US Embassy portion of the process before returning home.