The Children
Once a family submits their dossier, they are registered with the State Department for Adoption and Protection of Rights of the Child (SDA) and the family is invited to Ukraine to select a child. Children may be selected from those on file with the SDA. Once you select a child to visit, you will travel to the region in which the child's orphanage is located.
It is Ukraine's practice to first offer older or special needs children to each family. At first you may be told that these are the only children available. Please understand that this is their effort to find families for all children. Graciously select and visit one of these children, then other younger and healthier children will be offered to you once you return to the SDA.
You are completely free to decline any child and request others. Within the limits of children available at the time, you will be offered children until you find the right child for your family.
Once you select your child, and the documents are prepared, you will be accompanied to the local court, where the adoption will be granted. There is now a 10 day appeal period following the court. It might be extended ONLY if there are serious complications, which happens extremely rarely. Then an additional 7 - 10 days is required to obtain the child's documents. Families may choose to return to the U.S. until their adoption order is final and documents are ready. You will return to Kiev and be accompanied to the U.S. Embassy to undergo the required medical exams and receive your immigrant visa for new your child. Plan for a trip of approximately four to six weeks, after which you will return home with your child.
Email
Print