Ukrainian Stork: Independent Adoption from Ukraine

Introduction [index.htm] Outline Dossier Links Photoalbum Contact While in the U.S., prospective families are required to prepare adoption dossier (a set of documents required for adoption processing by local authorities abroad). For Ukraine, dossier includes USCIS (former INS) permission to adopt internationally, homestudy prepared by a licensed agency or social worker, and a number of documents verifying family marital status, income, health condition, criminal clearance, etc. Once dossier is completed, it is mailed to a facilitator in Ukraine. Facilitator gets dossier translated into Ukrainian and submits on family's behalf to the NAC. After dossier is processed and registered, NAC invites family for an appointment in Kiev. Except for special situations, both parents must travel. During the appointment, parents are given a non-binding referral for a specific child or a siblings group. Parents then travel to the orphanage to meet the child(ren). The family has a right to refuse a referral for any reason and go back to the NAC for a new referral. When looking for an older child, parents may sometimes be presented with other adoptable children in that orphanage (per director's discretion). Once parents accept their referral, paperwork approval process begins and a hearing at the local city court is scheduled. By Ukrainian law, adoption becomes final 30 days after the court; most judges in adoption-friendly regions waive the 30 days and grant immediate execution of the court's decision. When 30 days are waived, one of the parents may leave Ukraine after signing the power of attorney for spouse at the U.S. Embassy in Kiev. The other parent would complete some final paperwork in the region and return to Kiev for an exit interview at U.S. Embassy. U.S. Embassy in Kiev started issuing immigrant visas to adopted Ukrainian children on April 19, 2004, so the trip to Warsaw is no longer be needed. If the 30 days after the court are not waived, parents can leave and come back in a month (only one parent can travel). In U.S., parents are required to register their child with the Ukrainian Embassy within one month of arrival. After that, parents need to submit annual report about child's well-being to the Ukrainian Embassy or Consulate. No post-placement reports done by a licensed agency are required. Steps to Adopting from Ukraine Establish a budget. Research, establish contact with, and chose your facilitation team. Establish your timeline. Do you want to travel in 6 months or 12 months? Victoria from ABOUT A CHILD will help you begin your dossier according to your timeline by having you mail your I-600A and researching social workers to do your homestudy. Complete the dossier with all notary signatures, and apostilles. Victoria will help you by assembling it with you and answering your questions along the way. Dossier is sent DHL or Fedex to the NAC. Alex tracks it, picks it up, gets it translated in a few days. He turns it in to the NAC. Victoria notifies you of your NAC appointment as soon as Alex gets it. You travel a couple days before your appointment, and you are met by Alex's team at the airport in Kyiv. Please take a look at our travel tips . You are taken to a nice private apartment in a good section of town. You may upgrade to a 5-star hotel, maid service, cooks, whatever you wish. You have your NAC appointment and receive your referral(s). You travel in a private vehicle or train to the region to meet the child(ren). You may upgrade to plane depending on where the region is. Most families accept the first referral, and court is about 5-7 days later. Your return to Kyiv to complete medical clearance and U.S. Embassy exit interview, and fly home with your new kid(s) We will be there for you every step of the way! Copyright © Ukrainian Stork