The following is a general overview of the independent Ukraine adoption process. Whether you are using an agency or adopting independently, you will have to do these steps.

Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS)

• Gather required documents, such as birth certificates and marriage licenses
• Send in adoption application (I600A) to INS
• Have fingerprints taken by INS for FBI background check
• Complete and submit your home study to INS
• Await INS Approval
• Receive INS Approval

Home Study

• Contact a social worker to perform the home study
• Gather documents required by your social worker
• Meet with social worker at their office
• Social worker visit and inspection of your home
• Await home study completion
• Review completed home study
• Have social worker submit home study to INS

Preparation

• Apply for passports
• Medical physical and blood work
• Receive appropriate vaccinations

Dossier

• Gather remaining documents required for dossier
• Include INS Approval and completed home study
• Contact your facilitator and begin making arrangements
• Send dossier to your advisor for review
• Have your dossier stamped by your Secretary of State office
• Send a copy of dossier to facilitator to begin translation
• Send your dossier to receive federal stamps
• Have your dossier sent to Ukraine Embassy to receive your Embassy stamps
• Have your dossier sent to Ukraine to receive approval by Adoption Center
• When dossier is received by Adoption Center, they will forward it to facilitator.
• Facilitator will submit translated dossier to Adoption Center for approval
• Receive letter of invitation from Adoption Center to adopt

Travel Preparation

• Receive INS Approval
• Schedule a travel date with facilitator
• Purchase plane tickets for travel date
• Send in visa application with passports
• Receive visa within passports
• Receive letter of invitation from Adoption Center

Travel

• Travel to Ukraine for approximately three weeks
• Visit Ukraine Adoption Center in Kiev to review information on available children
• Travel to region Adoption Center referred you to
• Visit city's Municipal Counsel to receive permission to visit orphanage
• Travel to orphanage(s) and find your child
• Go to Ukrainian court to legalize adoption
• Remain in Ukraine while waiting the 10 days for adoption to be finalized
• Gather child's birth certificate
• Apply for child's passport
• Return to Kiev with child
• Visit Central Hospital for child's physical
• Visit American Embassy in Kiev
• Travel to American Embassy in Warsaw, Poland to apply for child's visa
• Return home with your new child