US Embassy Annoucements as of March 20th, 2007

The Ukraine is an independent nation in Eastern Europe. The country revised its adoption law in 1997 and has been open for adoption since that time.

In summer 2006 a new adoption department, called Ukrainian State Department for Adoption and Protection of Rights of the Children (SDAPRC), assumed responsibility for international adoption matters without the Ukrainian government. All orphans in the country must be registered with SDAPRC for at least one year. When the registration period expires, the children can be placed with qualified foreign families whose dossiers (files) had been filed with the same department. Adoptive parents have to be at least 15 years older then the children. There is no upper age requirement, nor marriage length requirement for adoptive homes. Ukrainian law regarding international adoption is quite flexible as far as requirements for adoptive families. Singles are allowed to adopt, though couples are preferred. Children who are available for adoption include toddlers, older children and sibling groups. Unrelated children are not allowed to be placed with the same family. Children live in orphanages and are often developmentally or emotionally delayed due to conditions of institutional life or previous early environment. The problems are in most cases correctable. Some special needs children may need medical or surgical care.

Parents must travel to Ukraine to complete the adoption process in court and US immigration process in the US Embassy in Kiev. This trip might take up to 4 –5 weeks or divided into two separate trips. During your in-country stay you will be assisted by a bilingual attorney on every day basis.

Adoptive families should anticipate some delays due to the recent restructuring and appointing a new adoption department within the Ukrainian government. Families hoping to adopt from Ukraine
need to be flexible in the type of child desired and able to cope with many ups and downs in the process. Patience is essential once a commitment is made to pursuing an international adoption.

Requirements:

• Single or Married, preference is given to married
• No restriction on length of marriage
• No upper age restriction
• Parents have to be at least 15 years older than the child
• Unrelated children are NOT allowed
• No income requirement (must comply with the USCIS guidelines)
  

Cost: $18,000

Adoption Pros Program Fee: $9,000

Foreign Fee: $9,000

US CIS Fees:

$545 with I-600A
$70/person for fingerprinting
$350 child’s visa in Russia
$100 Pre-visa physical exam for child

Other Fees (estimated):

Travel: $2500/person
Lodging: $50-100/day
Miscellaneous: $500
Home Study: $1500 - $2500
Post-placement reports: $30 - $300
Additional translation cost if documents expire or court asks for additional documents