A Child Chosen - Perspectives of an Adoptive Parent

Country Requirements: Ukraine

by Marcie on February 19th, 2008

Number of Adoptions in 2006: 463

From US State Department

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR ADOPTIVE PARENTS: Married and single people may adopt from Ukraine. Prospective adoptive parents have to be at least 18 years old, and the age difference between the adopting parent(s) and adopted child must be at least 15 years, although this can be waived if circumstances warrant. If the child is adopted by a relative, the age difference is not considered.

According to the new Family Code of Ukraine (Article 213), if multiple prospective adoptive parents wish to adopt the same child, preference will be given first to a Ukrainian citizen, second to foreign couples who are married, and finally to foreign single parents. Hence, single foreign parents, while still allowed to register with the SDAPRC, have last preference and may wait significantly longer than other prospective adoptive parents - even to the point that their application documents may expire before they receive an appointment date.

However, each adoption application is considered by Ukrainian adoption authorities on an individual basis.
RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS: There are no residency requirements to adopt in Ukraine.

TIME FRAME: Three to twelve months can pass between the prospective adoptive parents’ submission of their application dossier and the SDAPRC appointment date. In addition, there is usually a three-to-four-week wait between the initial filing of the adoption petition in the local court and issuance of the final adoption decree.
ADOPTION AGENCIES AND ATTORNEYS: Prospective adoptive parents are advised to fully research any adoption agency or facilitator they plan to use for adoption services. For U.S.-based agencies, it is suggested that prospective adoptive parents contact the Better Business Bureau and/or the licensing office of the appropriate state government agency in the U.S. state where the agency is located or licensed.

Please see Important Notice Regarding Adoption Agents and Facilitators at the Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs web site.

Some American parents have reported to the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv that their agents or facilitators may have engaged in questionable practices during the adoption process. The U.S. Embassy in Kyiv and the Office of Children’s Issues at the Department of State in Washington, D.C. want to hear about any such experiences. Please see the contact information for both offices later in this flyer.
INTERPRETERS AND TRANSLATORS: Ukrainian law does not allow adoption intermediaries. Therefore, no private interpreters or facilitators are allowed to interpret during the meetings of prospective parents with the SDAPRC. However, private interpreters/facilitators may be used at other stages of the adoption process. The U.S. Embassy in Kyiv has a list of translators known to work in Ukraine. These are general translation service providers and do not necessarily have experience with adoptions. Neither the U.S. Embassy nor the Department of State can vouch for the efficacy or professionalism of any translator or interpreter.
ADOPTION FEES: There are no Ukrainian fees except those for court filing, notarial, translation and similar services.
Adoptive parents of Ukrainian children have reported paying between $2,000 and $20,000 to their adoption agencies for services rendered. These lump-sum payments have often included lodging, transportation, authentication of Ukrainian documents, fees for expedited services and interpretation/translation services.

Some adoptive parents have also reported facing additional and unexpected fees after arriving in Ukraine. As with the cautionary note above regarding adoption agency practices generally, American families should inform the U.S. Embassy or the Department of State if they encounter unexpected or seemingly inappropriate fees. In order to minimize the possibility of such situations, prospective adoptive parents should request a fee schedule from their adoption agency and discuss under what circumstances additional, unexpected fees may be charged. Prospective adoptive parents can further protect themselves by openly discussing all fees and expenses in detail before hiring a facilitator or interpreter. Recommendations from past adoptive families may also be helpful.

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POSTED IN: Agencies, Countries and Domestic, Country Requirements, Law, Preparation, ukraine