Typically, the procedure will take anywhere from 6-9 months from the start to finish. The Home Study and gathering of all documents takes 3 to 4 months. Once the dossier is sent to Ukraine, it will take an additional 3-5 months to complete the adoption - from the review of your dossier to when you leave Ukraine with your newly adopted child. The time on these procedures may vary depending on several variables like changes in the law and availability of children for a specified age group.
Plan to be in Ukraine from 4 weeks to 4 1/2 weeks. However, be aware that there are situations that may require several more days to be added.
Married couples and singles over the age of 25 may adopt a child in Ukraine. There is no upper limit. For example, a couple in their late 50’s can adopt. Please be aware that the law may change in the future requiring a 45 year age difference between the adoptive parents and the child. If this law goes into affect, this could impact the age of the child (children) that you may be able to adopt.
Yes, parents that already have children can adopt.
Once the adoption authority accepts your paperwork, they will send you a registration number and invitation to come to Ukraine. This is done approximately 20 days after the documents are approved (although it may be take a week or two longer depending on circumstances). Once your paperwork is accepted and sent to you, you can then contact the Ukrainian Adoption Authority. The Ukrainian Adoption Authority will confirm your date and you can prepare to go to Ukraine.
There is no limit at this time. In general, families plan to adopt 1 to 2 children. However, on a few occasions 3 to 4 children have been adopted.
Children ages 15 months and up to 16. Older children and siblings are available. Availability of children aged 18 months to 3 years, especially girls from 2-3 years) is very limited. Children with disabilities can be adopted more expeditiously. If you are looking strictly for children under 4 years of age, Ukraine may not be the best country for your adoption. Children between the ages of 5-10 are the optimal group to adopt in Ukraine.
The advantage of adopting a younger child is that you have an opportunity to bring out the characteristics and behaviors that are positive for a child to have a successful life. The disadvantage is that if there were some physical or mental deficiencies (for instance fetal alcohol syndrome) it may be harder to detect.
The advantage of taking an older child is that you can see how the child has developed mentally and physically. There are many children between the ages of 5 and 10 that are healthy and can flourish in a loving environment. The disadvantage is that the child’s characteristics and personality are formed and there may be some issues like abandonment and attention deficit. With patience and love most of these issues can be overcome and the children can grow up to become loving people and productive citizens.
Typically one trip to Ukraine is required. The duration of that trip will be from 28 to 33 days.
Yes. Both parents must be present at the Adoption Center, at the meeting with the child and at the court hearing to begin the process of adoption. Once the court hearing is complete, one parent can go back to the US if need be. The remaining parent can proceed with the adoption and go thru the rest of the procedures including the final US Embassy requirements.
Adopting parents have access to some historical information. Birthmother information (if available), birth certificates, mother’s statements and father’s on abandoning the child, child’s medical records, blood tests, and history of child’s development. The accuracy of these records varies depending on the circumstances.
Yes. According to the law, every prospective parent has the right for additional pre-adoption medical examination of the child conducted by a private physician in the presence of the orphanage staff member. Children can also be taken out of the orphanage with the permission of the director and head doctor to perform additional blood tests and any other tests that may be needed to be done. At all times the orphan will be accompanied by a staff member of the orphanage. Any additional costs for travel and accommodations of the staff member will be the responsibility of the adoptive parents. The panel physicians of both the American Medical Center and Clinic of Oil Industry of Ukraine in Kiev have also expressed their readiness to perform pre-adoption medical examinations.
In general, orphanages in Ukraine pay good attention to the care giving of orphans. Most orphanages have staff that truly cares about the children. Additionally, with so many Ukrainians living abroad there are many organizations who help orphanages with everyday supplies, clothing and financial assistance to better the conditions in which the children live. As in any situation, there are facilities that are not up to par. Our team of adoption facilitators only works with the orphanages that keep their standards high and also take good care of their children. By providing higher standards, these orphanages know that their children have a better chance of adoption.
No. Once the adoption is final, the child is legally yours. No obligation to the birth parents exists. The child cannot be taken back by the birth parents.
You are only responsible for your daily meals, several nights of accommodations, and any excursions that you may want to take. The adoptive parents are also responsible for visa costs, medical exams, and orphanage donations. We take care of all other aspects of the trip – including all your travel, all fees, translations and logistics. You will be taken care of with attention and understanding throughout the entire process.
When you arrive at the Adoption Authority, you will be shown pictures of children available in the age groups that you had specified. The child’s (children’s) profile will have information about their names and history. The profile will also have information about any siblings and their parents. Medical background will also be shared. Once you determine what children you want to see, you will be given permission to travel to the region to meet the child (children) who you may be interested in adopting.
It is our intention for every family to come home with a child to make their family complete. However, no one can guarantee 100% that the adoption will be successfully completed. Regardless from which country you decide to adopt, there is always a slight risk that the adoption process will not be completed. Please be aware that everything will be done to give you the best possible chance for a successful adoption. If anyone guarantees a child for you from any country, they are not being truthful in the information that they are giving you.
Yes. You can visit and play with a child as often as you would like but remember the longer it takes to choose the child, the more the process may be extended. However, this is an important lifelong decision and every couple must do what they need to do to feel comfortable with the adoption of their child.
Children in Ukraine become adoptable for many reasons. Mothers may be unable to take care of their children both financially and physically. Ukraine is a poor country and many people cannot afford to take care of the children that they have. Parent’s rights may also have been terminated because of drug use, alcohol abuse, criminal activity or the inability to psychologically to take care of the children. Child abandonment is common.
Adopting from Ukraine has several advantages. There are many children available and in general, the care in the orphanages tends to be good. Adoption from Ukraine is typically less costly and can be done in a single trip. Many families are looking for children with European roots and Ukraine gives these families the opportunity to adopt such children. Also, Ukraine is a closed system of adoption which means that once your child is adopted in Ukraine, the child is legally yours and you do not have to go thru a re-adoption process in the US.
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