That’s too bad. I know that international adoption laws are WAY too rigid; so much so that I’m surprised anyone gets to adopt at all. I’ve checked the rules for adopting from China, which I hope to do. Only couples over 30, who have been married for at least 2 years can adopt. If you’re a single women, you have to present concrete proof that you’re heterosexual. Single men can’t adopt at all, and you can’t adopt if you’ve been diagnosed with mental illness (which I say is outright discrimination, since I’ve battled depression much of my life and I refuse to let it get in the way of adopting). It’s nothing short of ludicrous. Because of those ridiculous laws, kids are going to remain without parents.

Just because someone visits and orphanage doesn’t mean they are planning to adopt- but if they do- more power to them! Also, the rules have changed and adopting from Russia is tough. No single women are allowed to adopt, so there won’t be any adoption for Pam.

I sure hope she adopts from Russia. She’s obviously a sweet person and a good mother, and I’m sure she’d like more kids.

Yeah my neighbors have adopted two kids from russia (although this was a few years ago) so unless something changed, like the other poster said, I never thought it was that hard to adopt from there. Expensive yes, but hard, no. They even told this story about how flight attendants refer to certain flights from russia to the US as “baby flights” because so many americans bring home their newly adopted babies!

It’s harder now – my brother and sister-in-law are currently going through the process, and they were told it can take up to a year. I’m glad Pam is at least visiting, even if she’s not going to adopt. Kids in orphanages love every single bit of care they receive.

It is somewhat difficult to adopt from Russia at this time (because of new regulations and agency accreditation), although living in Russia doesn’t seem to make a difference. It is a country with a very high number of children adopted to the U.S. annually, though, and the process seems pretty straightforward.

I don’t think it is all that hard to adopt either. Lots of paperwork and 2 visits…that is pretty standard for out of country adoptions, and Russia is no different.

I didn’t think it was all that hard to adopt from Russia. I’ve known two couples that have done it and yes there is a lot of paper work and 2 trips required, but I wasn’t aware of anything else.