Ukraine

Come to beautiful Ukraine. This Eastern European country is the second largest country in Europe only after Russia. The country’s largest city is Kiev, which is also the country’s capital and economic, cultural, and educational center. The economic circumstances in Ukraine have led to an ever increasing number of orphans. Many orphanages struggle daily to provide for the basic needs of each child. Thousands of precious children need the security and love of a family.

 

Lifeline is a state-licensed, non-profit ministry that exists to both place these children in a safe and loving home and provide services to Christian families desiring to adopt. Lifeline began its adoption ministry in Ukraine in 2002 with a vision to help find loving, Christian homes for these precious children who otherwise might never experience the love and care from having a family of their own. Adopting a child from Ukraine is a wonderful way to add a member to your family and provide a child a loving home. Lifeline invites you to open your heart and take this incredible journey of faith to Ukraine.

 

The adoption process begins with a home study report. This report consists of four interviews with a social worker as well as various accompanying documents that will be gathered during the process. Lifeline will complete the home study report for families residing in the state of Alabama and help families residing outside of Alabama to be referred to a home study provider in your state of residence. During the home study report process, you will also apply to Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) as well as begin gathering documents for your Dossier. The documents that make up your Dossier will be verified through a series of stages that will include notarization and certification by the Secretary of State. After Lifeline has helped you complete this process, we will check your Dossier for accuracy before it is sent to Ukraine. Your Dossier will then be sent to our facilitator in Ukraine who will make a final check for accuracy before delivering your Dossier to the State Department for Adoptions and the Protection of the Rights of the Child (SDA).

 

Once your Dossier has been sent to the SDA, we will wait for the SDA to review and approve your Dossier. When this approval process has been completed, we will then await an invitation for your family to travel to Ukraine. This invitation will require you to be in Ukraine on a certain date for an appointment at the SDA. You will not actually be matched with your child before you travel, but will receive a referral for a child at your appointment date at the SDA. After you have been matched with your child at the SDA, you will have the opportunity to travel to see your child at his or her orphanage where you will receive further information about him or her.

 

Your in-country travel will involve time spent in Kiev, where the SDA is located, as well as time spent in the city where your child’s orphanage is located. Your time spent in country will vary, depending on the region where your child’s orphanage is located. Part of your trip will also involve a court hearing presided over by a judge in your child’s region. Once the court hearing has been completed, you will be able to travel back to Kiev with your child to visit the U.S. Embassy. It will be at the U.S. Embassy that you will receive your child(ren)’s visa to be able to come home. When this process has been completed, you will return home with your child! Our facilitation team in Ukraine will be with you throughout your entire stay, helping you through each stage of the adoption process in-country and translating for you. You will be well taken care of by our staff throughout your stay in Ukraine!

 

We have helped numerous families to bring home their children from Ukraine and look forward to the privilege of serving your family as well. Start the journey here by searching our website for valuable information that will help you through the Ukraine adoption process. For a listing of references, please visit: www.lifelineadoption.org/ukraine_references.