It has been a while since I’ve updated the log. First, I’ve been sick – yuck! Also, we have been watching the status of adoptions in Russia very closely. After much prayer and many discussions, we have chosen to switch from the Russia program to the Ukraine program. This was a difficult decision. With where we are in our process, making a switch is easy now, but in another month or so, it would be much more difficult and expensive. We love the Eastern European culture, so we wanted to stick with a country in that block. Ukraine stole our hearts. What a neat country! The more we learn the more excited we are. Ukraine has a long and varied history with a mix of cultures.
The Process will be similar. The main difference is that the Ukraine will usually require just 1 trip. That one trip will be much longer lasting from 3-6 weeks. Our Home study is almost complete (just waiting on some state clearances to come in). Once the home study is complete, we will file it with USCIS to begin the immigration process. We send the home study and a few other documents to the Ukraine and wait for them to tell us what other documents will be required and for a preliminary acceptance. We then complete our dossier. We should then get an invitation to travel about a month later.
The Ukraine does referrals a bit differently than Russia. We will travel to the Ukraine where we will be provided with a selection of children that might match our family and are available for adoption. We will then choose 1-3 of them to visit and make a decision. Then we have a court visit and a waiting period before we can bring the child home.
I have a dear friend who is travelling to Russia today to adopt her son that they have been trying to adopt for 2 years now. Please keep her and her family in your thoughts as they travel during these uncertain times in Russian adoption.
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