[treshawks]

We are in the process of adopting from Ukraine, and I have just begun speaking to people that have actually been there and adopted. I am more scared than ever!!! Everything that I have read says that you may not bribe the officials and things will be done properly, but I am finding out quite the opposite!!! I was told that upon arriving in Kiev, we will most likely be shown profiles of disabled children for 3 - 5 days, and then told that is all the children available. At this point, a bribe may be given by people working for us, and perhaps a healthy child is now available. Also, someone else went looking for a young girl, and was told they could either adopt siblings (boy and girl) or go home. I am petrified that we will be completely emotionally and financially drained, and with no child to bring home. Does anyone have any insight on this? I am really looking for some honest answers, and not just "what the rules say".

[glorias]

Regarding crooked system, I have spoken with several couples who adopted from Ukraine within the past year, none of them needed to bribe anyone. All of the couples came back to the US with healthy toddlers, boys and girls. My husband and I will be travelling sometime between now and January. I really hope what you have heard is not true.

gloria

[Neicey]

Please email me at NEICEY330@AOL.COM I am on my way to Kiev, and my AGENCEY has a wonderful repution!! I will give you their website,,,, and you can look at it and even call them!

Good Luck!
Denise

[demmor]

We did a lot of research before we decided on Ukraine...we heard the same things....but we have also heard some wonderful stories. What we found is that it depends on the agency/facilitators that you use. Who are you working with? You can email me this privately if you like....our facilitator has an excellent reputation, so I don't think we will have any problems....he might even be able to help you in Ukraine if you find that things aren't working they way you had hoped. Wishing you a wonderful adoption journey! waiting2adopt903@yahoo.com

[thensley]

Yes, the entire Ukrainian system of government and commerce works on the "greased palm" system - whether it's adoption, business, or whatever. The key is knowing how it works, being prepared to work the system as needed, and achieve your goals. In the US, that is so counter-culture to our way of doing things - it's considered borderline illegal and less-than-ethical here in the States. But you have to remember that Ukraine isn't the US. When in Rome...

Make sure you have a good agency or Coordinator, that you have a facilitator that knows what he/she is doing, and that both have the best of possible connections.

We had a fantastic coordinator and facilitator (we did not use an "agency") and everything went as smooth as silk. We even had government paperwork completed on a government holiday in order for us to make our scheduled flight to Warsaw.

The child is beautiful, relatively healthy (nothing serious), and the process was handled with little stress on us. It was also reasonably affordable considering costs of adoption in Asia and other countries.

T.

[Neicey]

You really think it is that CROOKED? Haven't you ever paid extra money for front row seats for a concert, sporting event,, better table at a resturant... even for a well know hairdresser. I am happuy thay your process went smoothly, many others have some very heartbreaking stories, from all countries!!