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Interesting, this letter states he is a “Russian National” - if she adopted him, wouldn’t he have become an American Citizen as soon as they landed here after the adoption.

I say this because when we brought our daughter home, she became an American Citizen the moment we landed at JFK.

Children cannot renounce citizenship in most cases.

I don’t know the law in regards to Russian adoption, but it’s entirely possible, even likely that this child is dual citizen at least.

Im not clear on immigration laws, but I highly recommend you verify your child's status with the State Department. I have read a number of horror stories of adoptees who's papers were never finalized and then when they applied for a Passport or Drivers license etc they got a lot of flack for it or couldnt get one at all because they didnt have the right paper work. Also these agencies tend to get hung up on wanting an Original Birth Certificate, and I think youd be shocked at how many states do not allow adoptees access to their OBC, once again preventing many adoptees who are otherwise good and decent citizens from obtaining passports and licenses. I know when I was applying for my passport a year or so ago, I was terrified I would be denied (I was going on a vacation to England) simply because I was adopted.

Not telling you all of this to be contentious, but to bring awareness to the situation. Youd be shocked at how much an adoptee is denied and has no legitimate means of proving their citizenship because of legalities.

"I say this because when we brought our daughter home, she became an American Citizen the moment we landed at JFK"

That is (was?) only true when two parents accompanied the child home.....

I alone escorted my child home in 2001....and she was NOT considered a US citizen until my wife and adopted her once again in the US....in reality...she was adopted 2x....once in China and once in the US...

Again, I am not sure if the law has changed to recognize one parent upon arrival.....