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My husband and I were in Crimea this summer on a mission trip. We became very close to a 17 year old orphan girl, whom I now communicate with daily via facebook.
Does anyone have any information or experience with adopting an older Ukrainian child. And if adoption is not an option at this point, would anyone have information on the expense, and technicalities of a future to the USA?
The one thing I do know is that the adoptive parent must be at least 15 years older. I am 15years and 2weeks older then she :)
Thank you so much for any help,
Christie
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Max'smom
Hi,
Unfortunately, you cannot adopt a 17 year old internationally, due to US regulations. You can try to help her come here on an education visa.
Good luck, Maxsmom
As was indicated, the U.S. Immigration and Natonality Act limits adoption visas to children who are under 16 when their I-600 or I-800 orphan petition is filed with the USCIS. The only exception is in the case of a child whose biological sibling has already been adopted by the same family, in which case the child can get an adoption visa if the I-600 or I-800 is filed before his/her 18th birthday.
If you were to adopt a Ukrainian 17 year old, the only way you could bring her to the U.S. would be to live overseas with her for two years, and then bring her home on a regular dependent visa. But most countries won't allow this sort of thing. They'll want to see proof that the child can immigrate to the U.S., with an adoption visa, immediately.
An education visa will be hard to get for an orphan. The reason is that the USCIS will want to see evidence that the child has strong ties to his/her birth country that will keep him/her from trying to over-stay his/her visa and remain in the U.S. illegally, once he/she completes his/her education. This usually means that the child must have parents or close relatives overseas, or that he/she will acquire money or property if he/she goes back home.
With an education visa, the child must be accepted for study at an American school which is authorized by the USCIS to accept foreign students. This generally means that the child must pass English proficiency exams and have a level of education appropriate to his/her age.
There must be proof that either the family, the sponsor, or the school will pay all of the child's school fees, and that the family or sponsor will provide full financial support (room, board, allowance, medical care, etc.) to the child while he/she lives in the U.S.
Sharon
Thank you everyone for your helpful reply's! Although the information is disappointing, I refuse to be discouraged. I am in this for her benefit not mine, so if all I am able to be is an encouraging voice in her life, then that is what I will be. Thank God for facebook. I have hopes of a possible visit after she is eighteen and MAYBE once she has finished with the University, there will be a chance for a longer stay. Also, if all goes well, I may find myself in Crimea once again this summer...