Mar 23, 2015 | Resources, Russia
Families have in recent years expressed interest to International Family Services in taking their now older adopted Russian children to back Russia for a visit to their orphanage, city or extended biological family. While this visit can have positive benefits for these children, adoptive parents should factor into their planning the realities of their children’s Russian citizenship. • In effect, Russian children adopted American parents hold dual citizenship in both the US and Russia. • Russian children adopted and living in the US as American citizens are still considered by Russians to be Russian citizens only. • When these Russian-born children travel to Russia, they must do so on a valid (non-expired) Russian passport rather than in their US passport with a Russian visa. • While in Russia, these children are treated as Russians, limiting US Consulate support should the child get into trouble while in Russia. • Additionally, adopted males 18 – 27 years of age will be subject to the Russian conscription laws, eligible to be drafted into the Russian military. For more information, see the sources below. ——————————— From Russian Behind the Scenes “According to the law on citizenship, a citizen of Russia is considered a citizen of Russia no matter whether he has another citizenship or not.” [ Dmitry Gudkov, Duma deputy and initiator of the amendment of the Dima Yakovlev Law banning the adoption of Russian children by U.S. citizens] . . . . According to Russia’s federal law “On citizenship,” every Russian citizen with dual citizenship is treated by the Russian Federation and its authorities as a citizen of Russia only. [Emphasis added]...
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