Ukraine

Ukraine is the second largest country in Europe and is located between Poland and Russia. Its size is comparable to the state of Texas. Much of the southeastern part of the country borders the Black Sea. Ukraine has a population of about 47 million people. Approximately 68% of Ukrainians live in urban areas, with over three million residing in Kiev, the capital and largest city.  While the official language is Ukrainian, most Ukrainians speak Russian as a first or second language.  Ukraine claimed its independence in 1991. With great natural beauty and rich culture, Ukraine is a wonderful place to visit.

The Ukraine has recently reopened their international adoption program. On January 31, 2006 the Ukrainian President, Victor Yushchenko, signed into law the establishment of the SDAPRS and gave it authority to proceed with international adoptions of Ukrainian orphans. In January of 2007, the Ukraine began accepting applications from new parents.

The Ukrainian program offers parents the opportunity to adopt a child or children with one trip of 2-5 weeks and a relatively low fee in comparison to other Eastern European programs. There are many beautiful children available for adoption from 15 months to 16 years old. However, the availability of healthy children under 5 is limited.  Siblings are available, as well as special needs children.  Ukrainian children are mostly Caucasian.  Our in-country staff is very professional and has facilitated many Ukrainian adoptions. Adoption ARK also funds programs for Ukrainian orphans through our charity ARK Mission. The Ukrainian people are very friendly and welcome American visitors.

Adoption ARK has a long standing relationship with an adoption attorney registered in Ukraine.  The role of Adoption Ark is to provide information about country program, prepare dossier for prospective adoptive family, provide pre and post adoption support and to pre-qualify the family for adoption based on submitted documents. Adoption Ark sends dossier to the authorized attorney. The attorney submits dossier to the SDAPRC.  Adoption Ark assists families with hiring a translator that travels with the family and helps them with communication in the orphanage. The attorney prepares and submits documents to the court. The referral is assigned by SDAPRC when family personally visits SDAPRC.

How to Start Your Ukrainian Adoption Process

• Read over this information and then contact us or fill out our no-commitment registration form, and an adoption consultant will contact you with more information.
• If you decide this is the program for you, then request an adoption contract from your consultant, complete it, and send it in to our Illinois office with the initial fee.
• Your contract will be reviewed and approved by our director, and then you will be assigned a caseworker to complete your adoption.
• Your caseworker will inform you of the steps needed to move forward with your adoption. Some of these steps include:
       -Submitting your petition to adopt an orphan from overseas (I600A form)
       -Starting your home study if you do not have one completed 
       -Collecting documents and forms needed for your adoption dossier
• Once your dossier is complete, all documents need to be notarized and apostilled.
• Send in your notarized, apostilled, and complete dossier to your caseworker.
• Your caseworker will make sure the dossier is complete. She will then send the dossier to the Ukraine.

Your Trip to the Ukraine*

• Your caseworker will inform you of your appointment to travel to the Ukraine and visit the SDAPRC in Kiev. This trip is approximately 35 days in length.
• Your Ukrainian facilitator will take you to your appointment and the SDAPRC and will assist you in receiving your referral.
• Once you decide on the child, you will then go with your coordinator to visit the child at the orphanage. At this time you will make the official decision to adopt the child.
• Your coordinator will assist with all necessary paperwork and appointments.
• You will then attend your court date, and this is where you will officially be declared parents of your child!
• You will then travel from your child's region to Kiev and visit the U.S. embassy to receive your child's U.S. visa.
• Then you will travel home with your new son or daughter!
• Post placement reports need to be submitted once a year for the first three years after the adoption, and then once every three years until the child reaches the age of 18.

*In a few regions two trips to the Ukraine are required.