USCIS Adoption Information: Ukraine

October 21, 2022

From the United States Citizenship & Immigration Services:

We recognize that many U.S. citizens wish to help and adopt children affected by the conflict in Ukraine. It is important to note that adoption by a U.S. citizen, by itself, does not give a child U.S. citizenship or make them immediately eligible to immigrate to the United States. The Ukrainian government has expressed concern to the U.S. Department of State (DOS) about moving children out of Europe, or generally, traveling to the United States for adoption.  On June 11, 2022, the government of Ukraine announced that hosting programs may resume in certain circumstances but will not apply to children who are considered orphans or deprived of parental care under Ukraine law. 

As the situation evolves, you can find current information on the DOS website, including:

Prospective adoptive parents (PAPs) should seek guidance from their accredited or approved adoption service provider. They may also consider finding an immigration attorney or accredited representative to help them determine which options might be appropriate for their situation.

NOTE: The Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine (MSP) has stated adoption in Ukraine is “impossible” at this time. Based on the MSP’s statement, if a petitioner has not already completed all the required adoption steps in Ukraine, beginning or continuing the adoption process may not be possible at this time.

https://www.uscis.gov/adoption/country-information/adoption-information-ukraine