Why are Ukrainian children available for adoption?
As a former Soviet Republic, Ukraine suffered from the economic hardships of Soviet rule. Governmental corruption and inefficiencies, and a general breakdown of infrastructure, have left one of the largest and most populous countries in Europe with severe economic problems. This, coupled with significant rates of alcoholism, has created a large economic underclass. While they are now a democracy, and the economy is improving, many families and single women simply don’t have the resources to take care of some children, and are forced to relinquish them to the care of the state. Parents convicted of crimes or who have been determined to be unfit parents can also have their parental rights terminated. In short, the children in Ukrainian orphanages are very similar to the children available for adoption here in the United States. There are about 25,000 children entering orphanages in Ukraine each year. About 7,000 children are adopted every year with around 2,500 being placed internationally. About a third of the internationally adopted children come to the United States.
What are the advantages to adopting from Ukraine?
Adoptions from Ukraine are attractive for many good reasons.
- You are allowed to select the child(ren) you will adopt at the State Department of Adoptions (SDA) in Kiev, the capitol of Ukraine. This is a very empowering freedom for many families.
- Ukrainian officials accept most families, and have few fixed requirements. There are no fixed requirements for income, number of children already in your family, number of previous marriages, your health, etc. Each family is considered on a case by case basis with most families being easily approved. Singles are not allowed to adopt, and the youngest spouse can be no more than 45 years older than the child being adopted.
- You adoption is normally completed in a single trip to Ukraine. The trip normally lasts four to six weeks. This is a much easier process than can be found in most Eastern European countries.
- Many of the children have an Eastern European appearance and culture, although there are some children with both Asian and more Middle Eastern backgrounds. For many families it is very important that they adopt a child that looks like them. Ukraine provides families from a variety of cultures opportunities to adopt children with a similar physical aspect.
- Ukrainian adoptions are unusually ethical. Unlike other Eastern European countries, matches between adoptive families and the child are NOT made by facilitating middlemen. This protects the adoptive family, child and birth family.
- Orphanages in Ukraine are often very good by international standards, with children receiving adequate physical, medical and emotional care. This is encouraged by Ukraine’s unusually ethical adoption practices where each orphanage is responsible for reporting the health of each child to the State Department of Adoption, which regularly reviews care standards and accuracy of child medical and background reports.
How long does it take to complete an adoption from Ukraine?
It usually takes about a year to complete an adoption, with delays being more likely than opportunities to speed up the process. The first four to six months are spent completing your home study, gathering other documents, and preparing them for submission to the Ukrainian government. These documents are compiled into a “dossier” and sent overseas. There they are translated and submitted to the Ukrainian government, usually in about 4 months. Your documents are normally reviewed and approved in about a month, with travel to Ukraine taking place two months later. Your trip normally lasts 4 – 6 weeks. Families typically have at least two to three weeks notice before they receive their appointment date to prepare for the trip.
What happens once our dossier has been sent to Ukraine?
Your dossier is sent to our guides/interpreters in Ukraine. They translate the dossier and submit the dossier to the Ukraine State Department of Adoptions (SDA) in Kiev. The SDA only accepts a few dossiers each week so it may take several weeks or even months to submit your family’s dossier. The SDA then takes four to six weeks to review your documents, approve your family for adoption, and send you a “registration number”. With that registration number we can then apply for an appointment for you to travel to Ukraine, select your child(ren), and complete your adoption. Waiting times to receive an adoption appointment vary, but have been as long as 6 – 9 months. They are currently very short, with travel to Ukraine taking place about 2 months after receiving your registration number.
Note - There have been many changes in documentation requirements during 2005 that have delayed some families, but processing has been much more consistent in 2007 and 2008.
Do we travel to Ukraine, or is our child brought to us?
Through the years we’ve observed that the vast majority of adoptive parents feel that their adoption trips significantly increased their understanding and appreciation of their child’s birth culture. Traveling to the child’s country to complete the adoption also offers the opportunity for early bonding and attachment between the child and parents and eases the child’s transition into their new family and new life. For these important reasons the Ukrainian government requires that pre adoptive families travel to the country and spend time with their child(ren) before completing an adoption.
Ukraine requires that both adoptive parents travel to Ukraine to complete the adoption. Your trip to Ukraine is normally about 4 - 6 weeks, with one to two weeks spent Kiev for paperwork processing and two weeks in your child’s hometown, where you legally adopt your child.
When do we learn about our child?
Before traveling to Ukraine, as a part of your dossier, you complete a “profile” of the kind of child you would like to adopt. In this profile you state age, gender, health, and ethnic background preferences. When you arrive at the SDA, you will register and be presented with the dossiers of several children. The children are selected to match the profile of the child you wish to adopt. The dossiers typically include photos, medical information, care histories, and developmental evaluations. It is at this appointment that you choose the child you wish to adopt.
Note - In order to be registered with the SDA, a child must be legally free to be adopted, and have had a medical workup, including blood tests. Children are not eligible to be adopted until they are 14 months old.
Because so many children are processed through the SDA there are times when there are relatively few younger children, female, children, or children with only minor medical conditions. Flexibility and patience are very important when adopting from Ukraine.
Ukraine has taken a strong line in a fight against corruption in adoption. Facilitators and agencies are not allowed to engage in identifying children for eventual placement. By limiting families to only adopting children who have been registered with the SDA, and by allowing any approved family to adopt any available child, specific children cannot be reserved for specific families. This has largely removed financial incentives to “adoption facilitators”, and makes it impractical for them to attempt to coerce birth parents or forge documents for specific children. Any family can adopt any legally available child.
While our agency does use guides and interpreters in Ukraine to facilitate the travel of families, they function as knowledgeable local guides who are experienced working with local officials and adoptive families. They do not match or reserve children for families. This is strictly against Ukrainian regulations.
In this process there are advantages to a family using an adoption agency with an established presence in Ukraine. By keeping in touch with local orphanages and the staff at the SDA, we are frequently able to keep the adoption process moving smoothly, head off potential roadblocks or obstacles, and provide advance notice of opportunities and challenges.
Note - There are still some agencies and "facilitators" who claim to be able to identify available children in advance of travel to Ukraine, often placing Ukrainian children in photo listing services; place a healthy child directly from a birth family or hospital to adoptive parents; or make available specific children traveling to the United States under the guise of “camps”. Each of these practices is a violation of Ukrainian regulations and puts your adoption at risk. Both Ukrainian and US Immigration authorities work to prevent "adoptions" like this from taking place. Under these circumstances, it is possible to complete an adoption in a child's province only to be told by the US Immigration that the child may not enter the United States. If your papers are not submitted through the SDA or you are attempting to adopt a specific child identified to you in the United States, either through photolistings or a “summer camp”, it is probably an unlawful adoption.
Why are more boys available to be adopted?
Because of culture and tradition, female children are frequently perceived as being easier to raise than boys. Girls often take care of their parents as they get older. Boys are more susceptible to childhood illness. When they are grown, they are at a greater risk to join a gang, or to enter into a life of substance abuse and/or crime. Women, particularly single women, frequently prefer to raise girls. Dealing with more aggressive male attitudes and the sexual challenges of adolescence can be issues. For all of these reasons, boys are more likely to be relinquished and available for adoption.
May we adopt a girl or a sibling group?
Absolutely! As discussed below, families may choose the child or children they want to adopt. Boys are more common than girls. Adopting a sibling group may give you more flexibility in choosing gender. As many families want to adopt female children under 2 years of age with only minor medical conditions, there are fewer children available with this profile. Being more flexible with age, gender, or health will provide you with more adoption choices. Most families focused on adopting a girl under 3 years of age will be able to do so. This may entail a longer trip with multiple trips to the SDA to find the right child(ren), and/or higher overall costs.
What are conditions like in the orphanages?
Conditions in Eastern European orphanages can be difficult, but orphanages in Ukraine have a well-deserved reputation for providing very good care. This is particularly true for orphanages that place children internationally. The Ukrainian government has established a system where adoptive parents can choose to adopt any available child. This means that orphanages that develop a reputation for having good facilities, and that provide healthy children and accurate medical reports, will place more of their children. There have been some negative reports in the popular media about bad conditions in Eastern European orphanages, but most families returning from Ukraine report good care from dedicated staff. During our travels to orphanages in Ukraine, we have been very impressed by the caregivers, the facilities, the health of the children, and the care they receive.
Despite the good care the children receive, and due to the detailed reporting of medical conditions, almost all of the children registered at the SDA will have a medical diagnosis of some health issue listed in their profile at the SDA. Some of the medical issues listed may not exist or be exaggerated; other medical issues that do exist may not have been diagnosed. You should use both care and an open heart when selecting the child(ren) you want to adopt, and to request additional medical information about the child(ren) when you visit the child in the orphanage. We strongly recommend that families educate themselves about medical conditions commonly found in internationally adopted children. Several recommended books may be found in our adoption book store. Please take particular note of The Handbook of International Adoption Medicine.
What is the trip to Ukraine like?
You begin by flying to Kiev, the capitol of Ukraine. If you choose to use our assistance in Ukraine you will be met by a member of our Ukraine staff. There you will register with the State Department of Adoption (SDA), and decide on the child(ren) you wish to adopt. We will provide you with guidance, to help you make informed decisions. You are normally shown the dossiers of several children consistent with the profile of the kind of child(ren) you wish to adopt, but have the option of looking at more dossiers if you are not comfortable with the first several children presented. If you do not select a child you are normally able to request an appoint to look at additional children after a few days. New children are being registered at the SDA every day. Singles may have less flexibility or longer delays in requesting additional appointments.
You will then travel to the city where your child(ren)'s orphanage is located. In that city, over the course of the next week or two, you will become acquainted with and legally adopt your child. Your guides will make official appointments for you, be sure that you get to them on time with all of the paperwork that you need, and that the paperwork you receive is correct. During those times between appointments, they will give you an opportunity to bond with your child(ren), sample the culture, taking you to interesting, educational, and even fun places. If after meeting the child(ren) you have selected you feel that this is not the right match for your family, our staff will work with the SDA to arrange for another appointment to choose again. This will probably add additional time and expense to your adoption trip. Again singles may have less flexibility or longer delays in establishing additional appointments at the SDA.
In most cases families will be able to stay in apartments, with full meal service included. This is usually more comfortable, less expensive, and safer than staying in local hotels. Some families will choose to stay in hotels, for the greater flexibility, freedom of movement, and meal choices this offers.
Once you have selected the child(ren) you wish to adopt, we can arrange for an independent medical examination. Frequently we are able to arrange for a doctor experienced in adoption medicine to examine your child(ren) and take additional blood tests. The results of these tests will normally be ready before you have your final adoption ceremony (and you can always choose to wait for the results).
The adoption process consists of visiting several government offices over several days. Forms need to be filled out, fees paid, questions answered, and documents signed. During all of this, several visits can be made with your child(ren). After you have adopted your child you are required to wait an additional 10 days to enhance bonding, and to be sure that this is the right match for your family. It is possible that one spouse may be able to return to the US during some or all of this waiting period.
If you choose to use our adoption assistance within Ukraine, you will receive an Instruction Pack that contains (among other things) a list of the documents the embassy officials may want to see, and the correct form and wording for these documents. An adoption specialist will go over all of the documents you need to bring with you to Ukraine in advance of your trip, and be sure that you are ready to go.
Do we travel in a group?
Probably not. Due to the nature of the process in Ukraine, each adoptive family is likely to choose a child from a different orphanage in a different city. This makes it impractical to have families travel and go through the adoption process together.
We do not require that our client families use our adoption assistance. Those who are experienced travelers, or who have access to resources in Ukraine (friends, relatives, etc.), may choose to do all of their own adoption processing without our assistance.
Where do we go after we have completed the process in our child(ren)’s home town?
Once you have completed the final adoption processes and paperwork, you then return to Kiev for a few days to register your documents at the SDA and the US Embassy in Kiev. Your child must undergo a physical examination for the Embassy. There are several approved clinics and hospitals in the area. This examination is normally very brief and non-invasive. It takes less than an hour (depending on the lines), no blood is drawn, and no specimens are required.
You must then apply at the U.S. Embassy to receive an immigration visa for your child to enter the US. Your child is still a native of Ukraine, traveling under a passport from that country, and needs a visa to enter the US. Adoption by United States citizens automatically makes your child a citizen of the United States as soon as you enter the United States.
A sealed copy of the physical examination report, photos of your child, proof of your adoption, and all other required documents are then taken to the Embassy. All of the documents are reviewed, and there may be an interview with a consular official. If all of the documents are found to be in order, your child is issued a visa to enter the United States. This process can normally be completed in a few days. Only one spouse needs to be present for this part of the process.
When is our adoption final?
When you adopt a child from Ukraine, the adoption is normally complete and final in that country, before you return to the US. Unlike Ukraine, in domestic adoptions (and some international adoptions) there is a period of time where the adoption is "at risk". This is the period after the child is placed with you, but before the adoption is final. This can be a very stressful time for the adoptive family. It is a time when the adoption can more easily be legally challenged, and in a few rare cases, when the adoptive family can be required to relinquish a child back to a government agency or a birth family. This at risk period can last for months, particularly with domestic adoptions. With adoptions from Ukraine, your adoption is final at the courthouse in your child’s home town.
What happens when we arrive in the United States?
Any time you enter a country, you must stop at a customs station. Here they ask if you have anything to declare. Every country has rules about what you may and may not bring on to their soil. The United States is no exception. Anyone who has traveled outside the United States is familiar with this procedure. When returning with an adopted child, you must also stop at the US Immigration station at the (air)port of entry before you go to customs. Here, you surrender the sealed Visa envelope to the US Immigration officer. The documents within are then sent to your local US Immigration office. This office should then issue a Certificate of Citizenship for your child within a few months.
How much does it cost to adopt from Ukraine?
Adoption expenses vary country to country. Your agency fees may include court and legal fees, translation fees, country taxes, ministry fees and other items such as humanitarian aid to the orphanages. Additionally, all travel expenses you incur travelling to the Ukraine are not included. By completing most of the paperwork, travel and educational process on your own, you can greatly reduce the cost of your adoption.
Do we need to take a lot of cash with us to Ukraine?
Not when compared to most Eastern European adoption. Most of the fees due in Ukraine are wired in advance of your travel. Most families will still need to take several thousand dollars with them in cash to pay for variable fees and expenses. Total adoption costs can vary by two or three thousand dollars depending on region. You will not know before your trip if your child’s orphanage is in an area with higher costs. It is possible you will be able to return to the United States with a significant amount of cash. For families nervous about traveling with cash, it is sometimes possible to use ATM cards and credit cards to obtain cash advances at banks. Most fees must be paid in US dollars, and many banks have a very limited supply of foreign currency, so this can be an impractical method of obtaining US currency.
Will our child be able to search for her or his birth parents?
Very possibly. It is rare for children to be anonymously abandoned in Ukraine. More typically, they are relinquished to the orphanage by destitute birth parents, often a single mother, or the birth parents have had their parental rights terminated by the local courts. This means that you may be given identifying information and a genetic history about the birth family, or even get to meet them during your adoption trip. Many adoptees do have a very natural desire to search for their birth parents as they grow and mature. This is an issue that adoptive parents should treat with respect and understanding.
