AGGHHH, More Ukrainian Delays!!!

When you adopt from Ukraine, one of the rules of Ukraine is that the adoptive parent(s) register the Ukrainian child(ren) with the Embassy of Ukraine in the USA after you enter the US with the child(ren). 

 

While at the US Embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine, to obtain Conner’s and Cooper’s visas, the Ukrainian office gave us the forms necessary to register the boys with the Ukrainian Embassy after we entered the US.  We were told we must register them within 30 days of entering the US.  These forms were given to us March 2.  We entered the US March 3.

 

Because I didn’t want to risk forgetting to register the boys, I decided to take care of this task before we left for the hospital, which was just one day after entering the US with the boys.  I filled out all of the Ukrainian forms (that were given to me by the Ukrainian officer in Kyiv), made copies of everything, gathered all of the required documentation, included the boys’ original passports, along with a stamped return envelope (so the boys’ passports can be mailed back to me), and then mailed all of the paperwork to the correct address to the Consular Office of the Embassy of Ukraine to the USA. 

 

Yesterday I received a letter in the mail from the Consular’s Office.  Here’s what it said:

 

The Consular Office of the Embassy of Ukraine has received your registration documents, but we can’t use them because you sent us the old form.

Starting from January 1, 2012, the registration rules were changed.  Please visit our web-page.  There you can find the  new information regarding required documents for consular registration.

 

I am not even kidding you!!!  Those who either live in Ukraine, have visited Ukraine, have adopted from Ukraine, or have dealt with Ukraine in any way will most likely laugh out loud as you read this!!!  Me, not so much.  I’m screaming out loud.  My words were, “I cannot believe this.  Oh, wait, I mean I can believe this, but we’re in the USA now.  Oh, but wait, we’re dealing with the Ukrainian Embassy.  So, this is normal, but I still can’t believe this.  Oh, wait, yes I can.”  And, remember, the forms I sent in were given to me by a Ukrainian office in Kyiv on March 2, but apparently the rules and requirements changed January 1.  AGGGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!

 

The letter included a copy of the new forms (only one copy was included, but I have to fill out two copies because we adopted two non-related children), but the other problem is that the forms are entirely in Ukrainian.  Yep, not kidding there either.  Not a word of English on any of the pages.  These forms are specifically created for American adoptive families to register their Ukrainian children with the Consular Office.  I’m sure I’m not the only non-Ukrainian speaking/reading adoptive family who must fill out these forms!!!  Hmmmm, one would think there would be an English translation in there since the forms are for Americans, but, then again, we are dealing with Ukraine…in America.

 

So, just in case you’re in the same situation I’m in, click HERE for the NEW registration forms, along with a sample form you can print out to help decipher what info goes where on the Ukrainian forms.

 

Ugh, I just thought we were done with Ukrainian delays, but apparently Ukraine followed us home.