Виталий Оуэн

But at the time of adoption, she will not have a visa and US residency. There is no such law in Russia where a child must be under guardianship for 2 years. In Russia, pre-guardianship lasts for half a year and is followed by adoption. That is, in any case, the child must live 2 years from the moment of adoption in order to file a petition?

There was a biological father, but he is not in the documents. And he refused to take the child, because he is an alcoholic. The wife will push back the date of the interview. The interview has not been scheduled yet. After the appointment, the date can be pushed back for a year.

I mean, when the wife will be the legal mother by a court decision. Then can I, a US citizen, file a petition as a stepson? I cannot establish a legal relationship with this child (custody, adoption) since this is not allowed by the legislation of Russia.

This child has no father. The child was left an orphan.

Hello. I am a US citizen. My wife is a citizen of Russia. We have been married for 2 years. At the moment we are waiting for the appointment of an interview for the wife's visa. On August 10, 2023, my wife's sister died. My sister-in-law had a child left without care at the age of 3 years. My sister-in-law was a single mother. In December, a court will be held in the Russian Federation on the adoption of this child by my wife. The child has no other relatives. I, a US citizen, cannot take custody and adopt this child, a citizen of the Russian Federation, since this cannot be done under the law "Dima Yakovlev's Law". Russia is also not part of the Hague Convention. Question: Can I file a petition for this child as my stepdaughter? Or what kind of petition should I file for this child to emigrate to the USA?