If you are preparing a dossier or waiting to submit a dossier, please read the entire post. This blog is just information reframed. Nothing has changed on dossier submissions.

As the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy states:

DON'T PANIC

Well this just blows rotten eggs. My hope for 2007 was that everyone who wanted to adopt, could adopt.... more

I love Jan. She always asks the best questions. All of the questions are from Heeding Warnings - Important in International Adoptions?

Jan wants to know if adoptive parents read the notices and warnings from the US State Department.

Yes we do. We read them very closely.

The State Department has 15 notices posted on Ukrainian... more

I want your opinion. What topics do you want to read about?

Do you like my blogroll? Want to see it organized in a different manner?

I haven't mentioned anything about the summer hosting programs failing to get visas for the Ukrainian orphans. Want to hear my thoughts and suggestions?

I am single. Want to hear more about adopting as a single... more

It is unlikely that you will get receipts for all of your adoption expenses while traveling in Ukraine. I had difficulty in getting receipts for housing and driving services. And I never asked for expedite fees receipts.

Several Ukrainian service providers became worried or hostile when asked for a receipt. And yes there were times that I didn't get a receipt.

There seemed to be two different thoughts going on.... more

I just heard that a new director, Mr. Shick, was finally appointed to the SDAPRC. If you know anything about him please post a comment or email me at adoptukraineblog@adoptionmail.com. Has he worked for the Ukrainian government before?

The SDAPRC (Ukrainian government adoption authority) has been leaderless for 58 days. The former director, Ms Volynets resigned March... more

I started AC's story in Returning Home Without Child. AC is a Canadian who very recently traveled to Ukraine with her husband. They had 2 appointments and couldn't find a child 24 months or younger.

The SDAPRC is limiting families to 3 appointments. During the appointment (1 hour meeting at SDAPRC's Kyiv office), the SDAPRC will provide information on 3 to 5 children. The family will... more

A few months ago I posted a blog about Why Do Families Return From Ukraine Without a Child. I am saddened that this continues to happen to families.

Occasionally families want to share their Ukrainian adoption experiences. But they want to stay anonymous. So they email me their story and I post it.

This blog contains quotes from AC who had an appointment at the SDAPRC... more

When you adopt from Ukraine your home study must satisfy 3 government entities.

The best place to start is by understanding your state's law. Who can do a home study? How are they licensed or authorized?

I... more

I received confirmation that the SDAPRC is processing dossiers and handing out referrals and accepting new dossiers. They are just moving slower then expected. Dossiers are taking 30 to 40 business days to be approved rather then 20 days. They are accepting 5 new dossiers per week from American families rather than 8.

(My sources: US Embassy in Kyiv, a couple of blogs and a few emails)

We... more

This is a frustrating email from the US Embassy in Kyiv. Their signature takes up more room then the actual message. And the message lacks any specific details. Typically this type of email is sent out when they get a lot of questions and don't want to answer them individually.

The SDAPRC started accepting new dossiers again on April 16, 2007. However German families were unable to get their dossiers accepted last week. I haven't heard of any French family successfully submitted their dossier either. And I haven't heard anything... more