Your application allows CCAI to screen your qualifications for a Ukrainian adoption. From your application, we are able to determine whether or not you meet the requirements of our agency and the requirements of the various government entities that will be involved in your adoption - U.S. government, Ukrainian government, etc. If a family submits a complete and truthful application and is approved by CCAI, we are committed to serving you through all the stages of a Ukrainian adoption.

Your dossier cannot be complete without your Home Study; CCAI provides a list of home study service providers and is your link to the USCIS. Our dossier team will review your home study.

The Ukrainian Adoption Authority, the National Social Service of Ukraine (NATSOSERV). maintains a database of available children for both domestic and international adoption. The NATSOSERV will help you meet and identify an eligible child to adopt. If you are eligible to adopt, and the NATSOSERV approves your application, you will receive an appointment (invitation) to visit the NATSOSERV.

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.

The estimated timelines from start to finish is 12-14 weeks, barring any unforeseen problems.

THREE TRIPS

1. 1ST TRIP: 1 week: During this trip the family completes NATSOSERV and local Child Protective Services (CPS) process. Then there is a pause of about 6-7 weeks of preparation for the court hearing. During this pause the family will go home and come back to Ukraine for court . Dependent on the region, holidays and the local court, there have been some instances where the court date is not set for at least 8 or more weeks.
2. 2ND TRIP: 3 hours for the court hearing, then 30 day wait period. The family can either stay in Ukraine (keeping it to a 2 trip scenario), or go home for these 30 days of appeal period and come back to complete the process in 30 days.
3. 3RD TRIP: 14-21 days. (If the family went home after court): The 3rd trip includes: obtaining the child’s birth certificate, passport, medicals, and embassy appointment. One spouse can do the third part of the process by him/herself.

Please remember that timelines are controlled by the Ukrainian government offices and are subject to change.

Throughout the wait, families are encouraged to check in with CCAI regularly. We maintain a library of books and resources at our office and are able to recommend relevant reading materials to families as they wait.

* The timeframe may lengthen while you are in process. However, the outline above reflects the timeline that families have experienced. This may not be your timeline.

CCAI and our Ukrainian facilitator will work with your family to determine the best option for your family related to travel. CCAI’s Ukrainian facilitator will arrange your local travel, accommodations, and visit to the orphanage. You will be met at the airport and accompanied at all times by your Ukrainian representative. CCAI will provide you with the needed travel training.

After you return to the United States, CCAI will provide ongoing post adoption support to assist you with your adoption transition. The prospective adoptive parents must commit, in writing, to register their child with the Ukrainian Embassy or Consulate in the United States within one month of the completion of the adoption. Ukraine requires adoptive parents to supply information about the adopted child's living conditions and educational progress to the Ukrainian consular office annually during the first three years following the adoption and once every three years thereafter, until the child's 18th birthday. Note: Under Ukrainian law, an adopted child remains a citizen until he/she turns 18 years old. At that time, he/she can decide whether or not to remain a Ukrainian citizen. Photos are to be attached to all reports. CCAI will provide you information on how to validate your finalized adoption through your local court, enable your adopted Ukrainian child(ren) to receive a U.S. birth certificate from your state, and obtain his/her Social Security card and citizenship, if necessary.