Russia Travel Fee

MONEY MATTERS FOR TRAVEL

Travel Expenses Paid in Russia

US Immigrant Visa for your child??? $380 ($380 per child, paid at the US Embassy in Moscow as
services rendered, credit cards or cash)
Hotel in Moscow (estimate for 3 days @ $200-$260 per night) - paid in hotel or CHI Representative
Hotel in orphanage city ($75 -$135 per day) - paid in hotel or to CHI Representative
Train, Car, or Airfare (2 parents) inside Russia - please see http://www.childrenshope.ru for the
latest fares - paid to CHI Representative if from Moscow and to representative upon return to
Moscow.
Food and sightseeing in Moscow and your adopting Region will be additional to the above. If you
choose to go sightseeing, the following options are open to you:

          * Excursions, Professional Tours of the Kremlin, etc. - Rates posted in hotel or ask CHI
           Representative

        * Car ($75 per day)

        * Guide and Translator ($75 per day)

Most adoption expenses are covered in your final fee that is paid to CHI. This includes ground transportation, translation, orphanage donation, etc. Some additional fees will need to be paid in Russia. We suggest that a family brings approximately $3,500 to cover expenses of hotel, air travel within Russia, food, and sightseeing.

You will be able to exchange your US dollars to Russian rubles just before you need it at the hotel lobby desk. Exchange rate: US$1.00 = approximately 26.8 rubles. The most recent exchange rate can be found at http://www.childrenshope.ru.

We understand that in our plastic society it may seem absurd to carry cash. But it is really quite important. Let us explain why. The money is needed in the first two days in the province and time is very important:

$ Traveler's checks are generally not accepted in stores and it means that you have to go to the bank to cash them.

$ But a trip to the bank for even one person means that half a day or more is lost because of the archaic system.

$ Credit card theft is very high in Russia and it is very difficult to dispute a charge made in Russia from half way around the world after you receive your credit statement.

$ A money belt is a handy, safe, and convenient way to carry money, passport, etc.

$ If you must use a credit card, we advise that you only use it at the hotels in Moscow. Please be aware that any purchase to your credit card will also have a 3-4% surcharge automatically added due to the exchange rate.

GUIDELINES FOR TIPPING

Please do not tip (in cash) the CHI coordinator, translator, any Russian Officials, or orphanage staff.
A surcharge is not included in restaurant bills, so please be prepared to tip approximately 10% of the bill.
As of May 2001, all CHI paid staff, including our coordinators in all countries, are not allowed to receive money or monetary gifts from families. All adoptive families are advised NOT to tip our coordinators on their trip, which may jeopardize their employment with CHI. If a family feels strongly about doing something special for the CHI Russian staff, it is acceptable to invite them to join you for dinner and purchase their meal.

The coordinators working for us are very qualified staff that are truly dedicated to children and have expressed to us they will follow this policy. We have also made some adjustment to their pay to reflect this change. We ask all families to cooperate with us on this policy, so we will have a well-respected team in Russia. We want to thank you for your cooperation on this matter. By doing so, you will help CHI and the International Adoption profession by setting a better and higher standard of practice. Your actions will also help other families who are following you so they may also experience good service.

Beginning January 2003, we will be buying gifts for any of the adoption personnel (orphanage director, caretakers, etc.) through the fees you have paid to our agency. Therefore, the family does not need to worry about bringing gifts or purchasing gifts in Russia. We do suggest that each family be open to bringing an additional $100 - $150 to buy gifts for the children in your child?s orphanage. It is imperative that you work with our representative in the region to purchase the gifts for the orphanage and do not give the money directly to the orphanage staff so that it is not considered a bribe by the Russian government. GIFTS OF CASH ARE NOT APPROPRIATE AND ARE INTERPRETED AS BRIBES WHICH ARE ILLEGAL.