Upon receipt of an appointment (invitation) to visit the NATSOSERV, the Ukraine officials will show you information about several orphans eligible for inter-country adoption. Once you chose one of the profiles, NATSOSERV will issue a letter of referral to allow you to visit the orphanage to meet and establish contact with the child, and check his or her medical records. If you do not see a child you want to meet, then you can request a second appointment, approximately 1 to 2 weeks later to review different children’s files. You will not be granted more than 3 appointments with NATSOSERV to select a child.
For families adopting a specific child(ren) who they have hosted or learned about through a hosting or advocacy program, the process described above is the same except that when they appear at their appointment, the identified child will be the ONLY child profile shown. You confirm your desire to adopt this child and you then receive your official referral to meet the child and establish contact with the child, and check his or her medical records. If a host child has siblings, you may also be given their information at the meeting.
Parents spend up to two weeks in the region for the bonding period with the child. Once parents accept their referral, the Ukraine legal process begins and a hearing at the local city court is scheduled
After the court hearing there is a 30 day waiting period before the adoption paperwork is signed. One or both of the parents may leave Ukraine during this period, and return approximately 30 days later.
Although several factors can impact the time adoptive parents will be required to be in Ukraine, currently the majority of families are completing their adoptions within 12-14 weeks.
When it is time to travel we will assist you with recommendations for travel. Accommodations (typically an apartment) and transportation (train, inter-country flights, etc.) in Ukraine will be coordinated by the facilitator. You are responsible for inter-country transportation costs (plane, train). Adoptive parents are responsible for shared accommodations (apartment) with the facilitator, and paying for meals and transportation costs for the facilitator while in Ukraine. This is estimated in the per day/diem fee of $50, dependent on the region.