Adopting from Ukraine is very popular due to several factors; ability to travel and select the child yourself once in Kiev, relatively healthy children with normal orphanage delays, and there are many sibling groups available for adoption. In fact, it is one of the most affordable countries for adopting sibling groups. As is our standard policy, A Love Beyond Borders does not charge a second (or third) agency service fee when a second or third biological sibling is adopted at the same time as the first child. This will greatly reduce your adoption fees if you adopt a sibling through our agency.

A Love Beyond Borders offers very affordable program fees coupled with an experienced, professional facilitator in Ukraine. Please don't assume that our affordable program means lack of quality! On the contrary, A Love Beyond Borders works hard to ensure that all country fees are kept as reasonable as possible to ensure that more children are available for adoption. Although many agencies have higher program fees, our experience has shown us and our adoptive families that it is very possible to keep fees reasonable in Ukraine, thus we do so. Using an agency does not mean paying unnecessary fees, but it does mean greater financial protection and less stress for the client.

Many people choose to adopt independently from Ukraine which is an unregulated and at times expensive and disappointing process. In Colorado where A Love Beyond Borders is located, persons or couples are not allowed to adopt independently, and all adoptions must occur through a licensed child placement agency. Potential adoptive parents in other states should be aware that not all states allow people to adopt independently, without an agency being involved. Do your home work first rather than find yourself in a legal bind down the road! Adoption is a complex and emotional process, with laws of two countries involved. Financially and emotionally there is much at stake, which is why so many prospective adoptive parents choose to work with a licensed, ethical adoption agency. There are many unlicensed, un-regulated "coordinators" or "facilitators" in the US who represent that they will volunteer to connect you with one of their facilitators in Ukraine. This supposedly saves the client money, but remember there are no protections to the consumer if you go it alone, especially in a foreign country! By the time the adoptive parents pay the higher costs to the independent facilitator, it will be as much as, maybe even more than, the adoption fees at A Love Beyond Borders. Independent adoption does not necessarily mean less expensive, but it does mean less regulated. A Love Beyond Borders is licensed by the state and seeking Hague Accreditation. We are committed to the most ethical, financially transparent and supportive adoption experience for our clients. We will tell you where the money goes and who gets paid what to provide adoption-related services to you. We encourage you to weigh the pros and cons of using an affordable, licensed (ie accountable), and experienced adoption agency verses the unknown of having to figure out complex US and foreign laws and processes yourself, and the emotionally, financially risks of using an un-regulated independent adoption facilitator. Be aware that many states do not allow adoptive parents to adopt independently. Be an informed consumer and know the laws of the US and Ukraine!

• Children from 2 years to 15 years old are available although fewer children under 4 are available. The key to a successful adoption from Ukraine is to be flexible on age, gender and health conditions of the child you travel to select. Be flexible!

• Most children are of Caucasian heritage, primarily Christian Orthodox.  Some children are Roma or other ethnicities.

• Many children over 12 years old take English as a foreign language. 

• Siblings as well as unrelated children can be adopted at the same time.  Ukraine has many sibling groups available.

• Married couples can adopt from Ukraine. Singles can no longer adopt from Ukraine.
• 45 is the preferred maximum age limit for Ukraine. If one parent is over this age limit but the second applicant is 45 or younger, the adoption can be completed in the younger parent's name only (with written permission by the older spouse).
• The maximum age difference between adopted child and adoptive parent is 45 years old.
• No limitation regarding the number of children already in the home
• Although not specifically stated in the law, families with many children are only considered on a case-by-case basis.
• Previously divorced individuals may adopt.
• Both adoptive parents must be U.S. citizens.

Parents are usually able to complete their adoption 4-6 months after the dossier is submitted in Ukraine. Political situations and the children available for adoption in the SDA's database can impact this timeline. The governing body for adoptions in Ukraine is the SDA.

However, the timeframe for any adoption depends on several factors, including how fast you complete the homestudy, USCIS and dossier, available children, and the practices in the country and region of the adoption.

Parents complete application to A Love Beyond Borders (LBB) and begin a Homestudy with LBB or a licensed agency in your state.

We guide you through each step of the dossier preparation.

Parents submit completed dossier to LBB. We will send it to Ukraine to be translated and registered at the adoption center, the SDA.

Officials review dossier and invite parents to Ukraine to select a child. You will select a child from the database of children available for adoption, with assistance from an English-speaking staff person at the SDA.

Parents spend two weeks in the region for the bonding period with the child.  Once parents accept their referral, the Ukraine legal process begins and a hearing at the local city court is scheduled. 

After the court hearing, one or both of the parents may leave Ukraine before you return to complete the immigration process, approximately one month later.  Then one parent can return in about two weeks to complete the process at the US Embassy in Kiev and take their child home.   Although several factors can impact the time adoptive parents will be required to be in Ukraine, currently the majority of families are completing their adoptions in 4-6 weeks.

When it is time to travel we will assist you with recommendations for airfare. Accommodations (typically an apartment) and transportation (train, intercountry flights, etc.) in Ukraine will be coordinated by the facilitator. You are responsible for intercountry transportation costs (plane, train). Adoptive parents are responsible for shared accommodations (apartment) with the facilitator, and paying for meals and transportation costs for the facilitator while in Ukraine. This is estimated in the per day/diem fee of $100-150 dependant on region.

We look forward to assisting you with your adoption.

Due to the nature of international adoptions, the requirements, timelines and fees are subject to change without notice.