Before You Travel

There are many, many things you will need/want to do before you travel, and it’s easy to forget some of them. Frost is there to help you with the Visa paperwork, etc, but there are also additional things you will need to do to prepare yourself for your trip(s).

Depending on the country in which you adopt, you will obtain your visa through the country's consulate or through a visa service. The following are links for general visa information as Frost will provide specific information and the forms required prior to travel.

Consulate General of the Russian Federation In New York Picture of baby

Consulate General of the Russian Federation in San Francisco

Consulate of the Republic of Kazakhstan in New York

Consulate General of Ukraine in New York

Before You Travel Check List

Finish decorating your child(ren)’s room. This is one of the fun things! Picture of baby

Make sure your home is baby/child proofed. You may have already done this, but if not, spend some time installing child-proof latches and baby gates. If you have not had a small child living in your home, you may also want to spend some time putting up some of your breakable treasures. You home may look sparse, but you’ll be able to put these items back much sooner than you think. Leave the items out that you think will be interesting to your child and that he/she can touch. It’s a new world for him/her and exploring will be on the top of the “to do” list!

If your carpets haven’t been shampooed recently, you may want to have this done before you travel. Your child may be spending some time on the floor and you’ll want to have this done before you arrive home with your child. Picture of baby

Make sure all of the laundry and that the house is clean before you leave. You will be so grateful as you will not have much time to think about it when you first get home.

Make a list of important telephone numbers (plumbers, electricians, veterinarian, etc.) for whoever is staying/watching your home.

Contact your post office and/or newspaper and ask them to hold the mail/newspaper, unless you have someone to pick it up.

Select a pediatrician, learn about vaccinations, and schedule an exam for your child shortly after you arrive home.

Investigate vaccinations for family prior to travel. You may want to look into some Hepatitis vaccinations at least 6 months prior to travel to make sure you have acquired adequate immunity.

If you are considering daycare or preschool, visit the potential agencies to learn more about them so you can make the best decision for you child’s care.

Buy lots and lots of film, videotapes, and camera/video batteries.

Make sure your camcorder’s battery pack is charged.

Purchase an appropriate voltage regulator as the electrical current is most likely not the same as in the U.S.

Learn a new language! If your child is speaking, you’ll really benefit from this. If not, it’s still good to know at least a few phrases of the language spoken where you are traveling. Folks in other countries appreciate knowing that you are making an effort.

Make picture copies of you house, pets, local parks and schools. The facilitators, judge and other court personnel seem to enjoy looking at them and seeing where your child will be living.

If you enjoy reading, shop for interesting books to take for the trip.

Investigate telephone calling cards and make sure to purchase enough minutes. In most cases, if you don’t use all of your minutes, you can use them once you return home.
Make sure you bring the required INS forms for the Embassy. These include copies of your three most recent tax returns, and the I-600, and affidavit of support.

Have any prescriptions filled and make sure to keep them in their original pharmacy bottle.

Take extra contact lenses/solution and a pair of glasses, if you have them.

Before you know it, it will be time to travel to meet your child(ren)! Read about what special things you can do during the trip to create some special memories for your child(ren).

Return to Travel Information

You have been wonderful to work with, and we have highly recommended Frost to several others we have come
in contact with. Thanks, again.
-- Tom & Margaret