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INTERNATIONAL:
Ukraine Program
In 1999, shortly after being licensed as an adoptive placement agency in North Carolina, God opened the doors for Amazing Grace Adoptions to be involved in Christian ministry in Ukraine. In an effort to help place orphaned children in loving Christian homes, we have partnered with Ukrainian facilitators who are dedicated to the efforts of this ministry. Together we are committed to guiding you through the entire adoptive process - from dossier (paper work) preparation through travel. We will also be here for you when you have arrived home with your child. Detailed fee information is available by calling or emailing the Amazing Grace Adoptions office.
Ukraine Adoption Program Costs
The costs for a Ukrainian adoption through AGA will vary depending on
the type of child you choose to adopt (infant/toddler, older, special
needs). The international fees are estimated at up to $14,000 for a
toddler (or infant if available) to only a few thousand in some very
specific older child adoption cases. Please note that this estimate
does not include all the costs of adoption. Other costs include - but
are not limited to - home study, INS approval, and travel. Please also
understand that it is impossible to perfectly predict the costs due to
potential changes within the the country of Ukraine and the location of
the child.
For further information, and an estimate of all of the associated fees,
please contact us.
Country Overview
Ukraine is a large Eastern European country, which borders Belarus to the north, Poland, Slovakia and Hungary to the west, Romania and Moldova to the southwest, the Black Sea to the south, and Russia to the east. Ukraine was once part of the old Soviet Union and had much of its affairs dictated by Moscow. But, if you have been paying attention to current affairs, you know that the people of Ukraine have stubbornly rejected Russia's continued bids for dominance through their efforts to elect a pro-democracy, pro-Western candidate for President - Viktor Yushchenko. Although, this victory was a tough battle for Yuschchenko and the people of Ukraine, they have won their independence as a sovereign nation, politically separate from Russia. From our sources we have learned that Yushchenko has stated his strong support for the work done in orphanage facilities around Ukraine
Kiev is the capital and the largest city in Ukraine. It is well known in Eastern Europe as an important educational and cultural center. Historically, Kiev is one of the most ancient and important cities of the region. Many historical and architectural landmarks are preserved or reconstructed in the city. Kiev is located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. Kiev is beautiful, clean, cosmopolitan and safe for foreigners.
For more information on the republic of Ukraine, please refer to the robust description in Wikipedia, the free online encyclopedia.
Health and Availability of Children
The Ukrainian government strictly prohibits the pre-selection or matching of children prior to travel. Because of this policy, parents who want to adopt from Ukraine are presented with the unique opportunity to choose their child in-country. Children available for adoption in Ukraine range in age from infants to 15 years old.
Ukraine Adoption Process
Home Study Preparation
Any family adopting any child at any time requires a home study. It is a federal adoption requirement. We will do your home study if you live in North Carolina. If you reside elsewhere, any certified home study provider can serve you.
Dossier File Preparation - Required Paperwork
You submit all your required documents to us. There are many required documents and the process takes some time to complete. In addition, these documents must be appropriately authenticated. Since, this is a complicated process we will advise you along the way. Once we have received the documents, we will arrange to have them translated.
Citizenship and Immigration Services (formerly known as INS) Approval
In order to bring a foreign orphan into this country, you must be approved by CIS and secure naturalized citizenship for your child. CIS requires that all aspiring foreign adoptive parents complete a form I-600A, the Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition. Then, your petition must be approved. In North Carolina it can take up to three months to receive approval from the Charlotte sub-office. If you reside in another state, you must apply through the sub-office specified for your geographic area. Approval time varies by sub-office (see the USCIS Field Office Page, to locate your sub-office choices). For additional inter-country adoption information, visit the USCIS Inter-Country Adoptions website.
Travel
The process in Ukraine is approximately 3-6 weeks depending on how long it takes to select a child, or it is possible to take two trips: the first approximately 3 weeks to select the child and the second approximately 8 days for U.S. Embassy appointment.
Some Financing Options
Federal Adoption Tax Credit of $11,390
Most families qualify to take a tax credit of $10,000 for qualifying expenses paid to adopt an eligible child. The adoption credit is an amount that you subtract from your tax liability. For more information please visit the IRS website and download the IRS publication - Adoption Tax Benefits.
Some states have a state tax credit or deduction in addition to the federal tax credit (AZ, CA, ID, IA, KS, MD, MA, MI, NM, ND, OK, UT, WV, WI). Ask your tax advisor about possible state credits.
Gift of Adoption Fund
The Gift of Adoption Fund (formerly JSW Foundation) is a private, non-profit foundation funded by donations and fundraising events. JSW was established to assist potential adoptive parents by providing cash grants to subsidize a portion of the costs of adoption. For further information, please visit their website - www.giftofadoption.org
Kingdom Kids Adoption Ministries
Kingdom Kids focuses on two primary areas of ministry. First, they present large Christ-centered adoption conferences. Second, they help families raise finances for adoption by developing a support team committed to praying for and contributing to the family's adoption. The way it works is that interested people can make tax-deductible donations to a particular families adoption fund through Kingdom Kids. Please visit their website to gather further information on their ministry and guidelines for participation and how to go about raising funds - http://www.kingdomkidsadoption.org/
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