[cadcam]

We have been in the US now 3 weeks, after spending 6 weeks in Ukraine, adopting 2 wonderful girls.

don't heistate to contact me.

[Shrken7]

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

We are waiting for CIS clearance and then we will submit our dossier to be translated. If you don't mind my asking, why were you there for 6 weeks. We have been told 2 to 2 and a half weeks. Did you not get the 30 days waiting period waived? How old are your new children?

Best wishes and many blessings,
Sherry

[cadcam]

If we would have had the first referral work for us, we would have been there the stated 2-3 weeks. It took us 3 referrals, and within each referral this is often a 1 week of dead time. So 3 referrals = 3 weeks, + ~ 2 weeks in the local region = 5 weeks – assuming the judge will waive the 30 days.

[peachygirl]

When was your dossier submitted and when did you get your travel date? We're waiting and it's taking a long time.

We're hoping to adopt 2 children. What are the ages of your daughters?

Is there any item you wished you would have had while in the Ukraine? Anything to make sure is packed in our bags.

Thanks for telling us it's going well.

[cadcam]

we had just under 30 days from when we got the referrel letter to the date at the NAC. But can take 1-2 months for the referrel letter to get to you AFTER you turn in your dossier (translation, etc.).

2 girls sisters 5 & 7. Neither have ever been to any school, but are great girls who speak very fluent Ukraine, they get along well.

1 - go with an open mind. We went not expecting girls at all, what do we come home with, 2 girls. I went there with the attitude of infants, mine are now 5 & 7. We got lucky it was the right choice for us.

2 - pack your suit case as you where to travel for 1 month +. Now take 1/2 of it out and don't bring it. Your suitcase limit is 70 lbs, but rest assured you don't want it - nor do you want a full size bag. Luggage is a royal pain.

Who are you using Cathy Harris?

[Shrken7]

Scott,
Did you do an independent adoption or go through an agency. I see you posted another thread about Cathy Harris, but it was deleted.
Sherry

[cadcam]

I used Cathy Harris' group and recommend them. Details once you get over there available upon request. But it all went through Cathy.

[tobe]

Scott, first of all congratualtion.

You said you were looking for infants and your referrals were much older, How did than happen? we are too looking to adopt infants, and I am afraid of exactly what happened to you; being told infants and then... Our counselors told us not to change our criteria's under pressure

Tks,
H

[newversionofme]

We, too, are going through Cathy. Now I'm nervous. We are requesting 0-3 yr old girl or boy. Will we not only be shown children that meet that criteria? I was under the impression that this is how it works. Now I'm starting to be afraid that we'll go through all of this, get there and be shown only older children. Not that we would never consider older children, but our preference is for younger.

Monica

[carolinetampa]

It looks like you're looking for a great facilitator group with short travel times of 2-3 weeks door to door and consistent dossier specific referrals time after time even when young children are requested, email me privately. This team also does it by-the-book, in case you were wondering.......

[v_kats]

Monica,

Unfortunately, NAC is not required to provide you a referral within your requested criteria. I know a family that was given a referral for four siblings even though they were approved only for 2 kids by USCIS (btw, they went with an agency, so agency/indy plays no role here).

The only exception may be Canadians, who are prohibited by Canadian law to adopt a child over 3 or with any serious health issues. I have a suspicion NAC pre-selects some children for Canadian families so that their trip would not be in vain. Of course, some Canadians still go home without a child, just like many Americans, and [personal opinion again] it may often depend on who are their facilitators in Ukraine.

Just do your research, compare a track record of several teams, talk to families who consistently used the same facilitator in Ukraine (not just state-side assistant), find out how many families eventually adopted within their age/health/gender/time-in-country criteria.

Good luck,
Victoria

[Eagerlyawaiting]

My husband and I have just begun the process of adopting a little boy from the Ukraine. I was just wondering how long you all had to wait after your dossier was sent until you recieved your invitation letter? And were the children shown to you within your prefered age range? I have been told that if you don't have a knowledgable facilitator that you could end up seeing only the books of sick children. Also, do any of you have any advice or tips for traveling to the Ukraine during the winter? We are estimating that our travel time will be during the winter. What were your experiences while you were in the Ukraine? Were the people nice, what was the condition of the orphanages? Do the children appear to be treated well? I have never been on a plane before, let alone travel overseas, so I am somewhat nervous about that aspect. Also I have come across lists that rate the regions of Ukraine based upon whether or not that region will waive the 30 days. Are these lists accurate? My husband and I are looking into staying in an apartment instead of a hotel, any advice regarding that? What were dining experiences?
Sorry for all the questions, I'm a newbie to the whole process.

[v_kats]

Dear Eagerlyawaiting,

winter in Ukraine is much like the Colorado one. Please bring a lot of warm clothes, and although everybody recommends packing light, in the winter you may want to take some extra clothes as the apartments often would have a washing machine but not a dryer. A lot of families stay in the apartments rather than hotels: decent apartments are sometimes nicer (and definitely cheaper) then hotels, but in some regions there are no renovated apartments and you might choose to stay in a hotel. If you are going independently, it should be your choice where to stay, but your facilitation team should be able to find you an apartment or a hotel fitting your requirements.

Best of luck,
Victoria

[Eric Reisedge]

Congratulations Scott!

We also recently returned from Ukraine on November 24th with a 21 month old little boy. Our appointment at NAC was November 2nd. We were over there (in Kiev) through the entire election process. We had first chosen a 22 month old little girl at NAC but our facilitators called her orphanage from the parking lot and found out she had alot more medical problems that were not listed in the file. Our facilitator went back inside and asked for a referral for a little boy we had also liked and they granted us permission to visit him instead. His orphanage was only about 45 minutes south of Kiev. Luckily they worked with us because we couldn't imagine life without our little boy.