Since people have asked about this, let me do a little explaining. Some have wondered if we will have to "bribe people" in order to adopt. They have heard that a judge or official will do this or that sooner if gifts or money is given, etc.

While it is against the law here in the U.S. for an official or judge to make such a request, it is NOT in Ukraine, unless they are taking money to do something against the law there.

For example, here in the U.S., if we want a passport or a visa sooner than the usual time it takes to get them, we have a set amount that we can pay to "expedite" the process. Completely legal, right? In Ukraine, there is no "set amount," but it is perfectly legal (and standard, even), for the judge or legal official to decide what would be suitable. Sometimes he/she doesn't ask for ANYTHING, they just expedite it out of the kindness of their heart. (UNLIKE HERE IN THE US!!!)

A BRIBE, however, is when someone is willing to do something illegal for us if we give him/her money. So, hypothetically, if the National Adoption Center in Kyiv won't show us the type of children we request unless we give someone an extra few thousand dollars, then Too Bad, we can't pay it. That is ILLEGAL in Ukraine. If they are willing to "save" a particular child for a particular family for a certain amount of money, that is a BRIBE since it is illegal in Ukraine to do such a thing.

BUT, if a judge requests a fee to waive the 30 day waiting period after the court date, (which is his legal privilege to do), that is an EXPEDITING fee. Not a bribe. The judge has broken no Ukrainian laws by asking for an extra fee. A judge can legally choose to waive the waiting period or not.

In the US, we have SET fees. Just because they aren't set in Ukraine doesn't mean it is corrupt or illegal or a BRIBE. Their system is different from ours, and though it would be nice if it were all uniform, that is the way it goes. Often a judge will ask for paper supplies or a new typewriter for their office, or even flowers, chocolate, etc.

It is NOT mandatory to pay expediting fees at all. You'll just be waiting longer in country if you won't. If you don't feel comfortable paying an expediting fee at all, certainly Ukraine is not the country for you. Whether you yourself pay the fee, or your facilitator does without your knowledge, the chances are very high that you will indeed have to pay *something* extra. And for good reason. We shouldn't expect that just because we are Americans, we should expect better service than they provide for their own countrymen. Ukrainians don't get their passports the next day, or new birth certificates issued the same day, or a court hearing that same week, etc. They have to pay the fees too.

While John and I were at Walgreens getting our passport pictures taken, the lady in line behind us had mentioned that she'd been to Kazhakstan a few years ago. She said, "Whatever you do, bring gifts, and expect to give gifts to everyone. You can't outgive a Russian, and it is engrained into their culture to do so." In other words, if we bring gum, we'll expect to share it with EVERYONE around us. If we bring a snack, we'd better have enough for everyone. Their gift-giving culture just happens to carry over into their legal system. Different from what we're used to, and it certainly wouldn't fly on American soil, but on Ukrainian soil, it not only flies, but it is legal and appropriate.

Still unsure? Check out the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act for further clarification. It clearly states that expediting routine governmental actions does not constitute bribery.