There is one legal adoption agency in Ukraine: the government - operated National Adoption Center in Kiev. The Adoption Center is the only organization which may legally show photos or files of available children and help you identify a child for adoption. In order to identify a child for adoption, the parents must first have their application and dossier approved by the Adoption Center in Kiev. Parents must travel in person to Ukraine to identify their child and to attend the court hearing. There is no legal procedure for adoption by guardianship or by proxy in Ukraine. The total adoption process in Ukraine takes approximately 3 weeks.

CHILDREN TO BE ADOPTED

Boys classified healthy are readily available from about 1,5 years of age, and girls from about 2 years of age. Some younger children are available classified with medical conditions (from about 5 months), which may range from crossed eyes to cleft palate, limb issues, cerebral palsy, Hepatitis C, and epilepsy. More boys are available than girls. The children should keep Ukrainian citizenship until 18 years of age.

ADOPTIVE PARENTS

The U.S. has recently passed a law which grants adopted children U.S. citizenship automatically upon adoption. Two children may be adopted in the same court hearing (in the same court region). No second dossier is needed. The children may or may not be siblings.

There is no upper age limit for adopting parents - they should be deemed physically able to raise the child to adulthood. Parents must be 15 years older than the adopted child. Parents are responsible for registering the child with the Ukrainian Consulate in the country of residence within one month after adoption, and for sending yearly updates to the Ukrainian Consulate.

SOME NEWS AND TIPS

Baby girls are less available than boys as always - being flexible about the age and sex and/or health condition of the child/ren you adopt is better suited to the Ukraine Adoption system.

Before starting to work on your Ukraine Adoption dossier submit your INS papers. It will save you lots of time.

It is preferable to have your home study for an international adoption performed by a licensed adoption agency. You will also need a notarized copy of their current license (and the social worker's license if available).

Ukraine Adoption law does not allow pre-identification of children. If some agencies (or facilitators) have photos and medical information on particular children, they will charge large fees to cover risks involved.

Write to request your original visa application from the appropriate Ukrainian consulate for your state approximately 2 months before traveling. You must include a self-addressed, stamped envelope for the consulate to return the applications. See the Letter of Obligation form above to find the address of the consulate assigned to your state. To apply for your visa, you will need an original application, a letter of invitation, two passport-sized photos, and payment as described in the instructions you receive with your application. Be sure to send your passport and papers by FedEx, UPS or other traceable courier.