[NancyAshe]

Ukraine President Yushchenko has signed a bill giving interim authority for adoptions to the National Adoption Center (NAC) until the new authority is ready to go. The U.S. Embassy in Kiev has issued the following information for those interested in and in the process of adoptions from Ukraine:

"Dear Members of the American Adoption Community Interested in Ukraine:

On January 31, 2006 President Yushchenko signed the law giving interim authority over adoptions to the Ministry of Education’s National Adoption Center (NAC) until the new adoption authority is legally established under the Ministry of Family, Youth, and Sports. This law will go into effect upon its publication in Parliament"s official newspaper "Holos Ukrainy," which should occur in a matter of days. According to this law, the NAC will have full authority to process adoptions in Ukraine until May 1, 2006 - the final date by which the new adoption central authority must be established under the Ministry of Family, Youth, and Sports. The NAC has stated that they will now resume normal processing - not only of the suspended cases, but also of the cases that had been previously scheduled through the end of January.

The NAC has not yet released a notice to the international adoption community explaining details regarding processing of adoptions during the transition period. Absent NAC written guidance, we cannot confirm processing plans or details. The information below, keyed to frequently asked questions on the part of adoptive parents, reflects our understanding of likely procedures, based on preliminary discussions with the NAC administration. For case-specific information or clarification, contact the NAC or your adoption service provider directly.

Q: We are currently in Ukraine, waiting for the NAC to issue the consent letter required by the court (or waiting for the referral letter/second appointment/etc). When can we expect to have our document issued/case processed?

A: The NAC requests that all American adopting families currently in Ukraine contact the Center directly or through their representatives to obtain case-specific information, such as new appointment date or the official consents required by Ukrainian courts. The NAC has stated that the consents for the courts will be issued immediately on the day the law becomes effective.

Q: Due to the suspension, we missed our scheduled appointment with the NAC in January. When can we travel to Ukraine for a new appointment?

A: According to the NAC, adopting families who had been scheduled for appointments in January will now be rescheduled in February on the same (or closest working day) to their original date (for example, January 24 would be shifted to February 24). Contact the NAC directly or through your local representative to confirm your appointment date prior to traveling to Ukraine.

Q: We are registered at the NAC and were supposed to receive an appointment this year. When can we expect our appointment?

A: The NAC has advised that after the center reschedules all January appointments, the NAC will focus on priority cases such as those involving children with severe medical problems, older children and sibling groups. The NAC will contact families directly.

Q: Will the NAC accept all new adoption dossiers after it re-opens?

A: The NAC has advised that previous restrictions on acceptance of new dossiers will remain in effect. (See our earlier notices regarding the Government of Ukraine’s concern about the non-compliance rate by American adoptive parents with regard to post-adoption reporting, which is required under Ukrainian law.) The NAC will only accept dossiers filed by U.S. citizens on behalf of certain categories of orphans: siblings of previously adopted children; older children; and children with serious health problems.

Q: We have our adoption dossier ready for submission. Should we send it to the NAC or wait till the new adoption authority is open?

A: If your case falls under one of the special categories listed above, you may submit your dossier to the existing NAC. However, officials of the Ministry of Family, Youth and Sports have recommended that prospective adopting parents wait to submit new applications until the new adoption authority is open and operational after May 1, 2006.

Q: How does the new law affect those families whose dossiers were accepted and registered by the NAC months ago, but whose adoptions were neither suspended in mid-December nor already scheduled through the end of January?

A: The NAC advised that there are over 1,000 registered adoption dossiers from foreign citizens, including over 600 from Americans, waiting to be scheduled. According to the NAC, these families will be scheduled for appointments per regular NAC procedures. Any dossier that is not scheduled for an appointment with the existing NAC during the transition period will be transferred to the new adoption authority. "

For ongoing updates, please check with the Embassy at http://kiev.usembassy.gov/