Adoption

This is a general information about adoption process. Whether you are using an agency or adopting independently, you will need to follow these steps.

Approximate cost of adoption of one child from Ukraine is $22,000. The cost of adoption for two children from Ukraine is $28,000.

Adoption cost for one child from Russia is approximately $38,000, for two children it is $48,000.

Some children may have grants available for their adoption. The Federal tax credit of $13,170 for adoption of one child can be claimed at the end of the adoption process. For adoption of two children the Federal tax credit doubles.

• Start working on preparation of your documents for the adoption process.

• Work on your Home study – You will need to find an adoption agency or a licensed social worker in your area who will prepare your Home study. We will be working with your Home study provider, helping them to prepare the Home study in accordance with the country adoption law requirements.
  
  Home Study usually takes about 1-2 months to obtain.

• Submit required paperwork to USCIS to obtain an Immigration approval letter.
  
  USCIS – United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. The process of obtaining an approval letter from USCIS to bring a foreign born child may take 1-2 months, we will assist you in this process to make it as quick as possible.

• If you do not have a passport – apply to obtain one.

• Our consultant will be in contact with you helping you with all the documents' preparation. She will review your dossier before its certification by the Secretary of State office (apostile).

• Mail the dossier documents to us. The dossier will be checked and mailed to the country. It will then be submitted to the Adoption authority. 

• You will receive a letter of invitation from the Adoption authority to come for the appointment in the country.

• Preparation for Travel:
  
  
  • Purchase plane tickets to arrive to the country a day or two prior your appointment day with the State Department of Adoption.
  • You can purchase “adoption fare” tickets which can be exchanged or returned free of charge. Sometimes it`s better to buy regular tickets and then exchange them when needed during the adoption process in country.
    
• Travel to the country to adopt a child.
  
  
  • If a family selects to stay in country for the whole process, it can be a 4-5 weeks stay.
  • If the family selects two trips: first trip – one week; second trip – about 3 weeks or vice versa; only one parent is required to the second trip if it`s a short one.
  • If the family selects three trips: first trip – one week; second trip – 1-2 days;
    third trip –  7-10 days; only one  parent required to come for the last trip.

• While in country:
  
  
  • The family will visit the Adoption authority with our facilitator to review information about the child/ren.
  
  
• Travel to a region where a child lives.

• Upon official acceptance of the child, the paperwork for the court hearing will start. It can take a couple weeks, so during this time you can either stay in the country and communicate with the child visiting him/her at the orphanage or you can come back home and wait until the facilitator informs you about the date of your court hearing. Our facilitator will be helping you all the way.

• Court hearing usually lasts a couple hours.

• After the court hearing there is a 10 day waiting period for the adoption to be finalized.

• After the 10 day waiting period you can obtain your Court decree and pick up the child from the orphanage.

• Apply for child's new birth certificate.

• Apply for child's passport.

• Travel to the US Consulate to obtain a visa for your adopted child.

• Return home with your child!

• Submit registration papers for your adopted child in US.