Adoption Process in Ukraine

The following is an outline of the adoption journey while in Ukraine:

1. Referral at SDA at Kiev- (Day 2) This is your appointment date, you will be given this with about approximately 2 weeks notice. As soon as you are given your date, you can book your flight- make sure you arrive in Kiev the day before your appointment date. (Day 1)
2. Travel to child's region for 1st meeting with child- The evening after our appointment date (Day 3), we travelled by an overnight train to our child's region. We arrived we stopped to pick up the social worker, who would document our "first meeting" of the child, then all of us went straight to the orphanage to meet him. (Day 4)

3. After meeting, go to notary to submit 2 applications.- The 1st if for the local body of custody. The 2nd is for the ministry of social policy. In these applications you are confirming your desire to adopt the child. (Day 4)

4. Interview of head of the state administration- After waiting 3 days (Day 7), you will have this interview which will take place with your facilitator, the orphanage director, and the social worker. The administrator will ask questions similiar to that of court. "Why are you adopting this child knowing they have Down syndrome?" "What resources do you have available to you?" "Will your family accept an adopted child?" "What if you lose your job?" "Are you prepared to have 2 special needs children at home?" etc...

5. Positive Summary- This is an official report from the head of the state administrator saying we can go ahead an request a court date. (Received on Day 8)

6. Send paperwork to Kiev via train. (Day 8) The positive summary is taken by train to Kiev where it will be filed at the SDA (This happens officially on Day 10), and we will wait to receive a court date. It will take 1 week for the approval date if we receive interpol clearance, otherwise it can take an additional 3-4 days if the clearance isn't received timely.

~Short break for approval~ This is a great time to do sight-seeing in the town you are in. Stay local so you can still visit your child at the orphanage. You will want good testimony from the orphanage director during court.
7. Receive approval from the SDA for: International interpol police, and the approval itself for a court date. (I don't remember the exact date this happened)

~This is the point where you can call your travel agent to book for your flight home~

8. Court Appointment (Day 19) We are now adoptive parents!

9. 10 Day appeal/waiting period. (This is 10 calender days, not business days)
~This is your opportunity to travel to other regions in Ukraine or do day trips, etc.~

10. New birth certificate issued for child (Day 30)

11. Execution court decree (Day 30)

12. Passport for child (this takes 3-4 business days) (Day 33)

13. Pick up child from orphanage (Day 35)

14. Travel to Kiev (Day 35) via plane

15. Embassy for 2 days: 1st day- Medical examination (Day 35), 2nd day- VISA (Day 36)- now you can travel home- hopefully you booked your flight close to this day!