[v_kats]

For everyone hoping to adopt children 10 and over, I have some good news!

Today there was a meeting at the Ministry of Education in Kiev and it was decided to prioritize processing of dossiers for families hoping to adopt older children. This means dossiers could be registered within a week, without any special resolution from the director.

I don't know how soon NAC will pick up on this new policy, but at least it's a start.

[ked208]

Victoria-
I know this is a very old post - but is this still the case? In other words, do dossiers get approved quicker if requests are for older children?

Thanks -

[v_kats]

Dear ked208

Unfortunately, this statement now holds only partially true. The NAC is so overwhelmed with case files, they have no time to sort and prioritize, unless it is brought specifically to their attention. So often a lot depends on how well facilitators advocate on behalf of their families. Inquiring every day may yield exceptional results, or it may alienate the NAC against the facilitator. And the results are mixed as well. I know of families who are hoping to adopt 15-year olds and are waiting since May, and then others who are looking for kids 8-10 y.o. (also considered older by the NAC standards), who submitted their dossier in July and already have an appointment for September.

I know the trend now is to accuse facilitators in bribery, but with older and special-needs children, it’s really about the timing, and maybe about facilitator’s charisma. When the director takes a look at a file, I believe she gladly gives a quicker appointment to those going for harder-to-place children, no bribes involved, but the trick is to catch her at a time when she is not being pulled in multiple directions and given a chance to go through a dossier.

Once again, this is only my personal opinion based on stories I hear from both families and facilitators.

Good luck,
Victoria

[ked208]

Thanks, Victoria. I appreciate your thorough response.