Home study - This in itself equals all the rest of this together. Some agencies require classes, some require up to three interviews. Ours did not require classes, and only two interviews. The home study process is quite rigorous... If you get through this ok without letting out a "Yahoo!" after you've completed the requirements, then Something is Wrong with you! You will be required to prove income, health, insurance, employment, stability, your home will be looked through and every possible question about your emotional health, relationship, personal history will be asked. You will need several letters of reference (we had to have 5!) We even had to have a police check done in Every city we've lived in in the past ten years! (That's not including the State crime check that was also required!)

Agency License - (In WI, the agency licenses do not expire. We had to get another letter from the state licensing board saying that our agency's standings were good, and that agency licenses in WI do not expire. Have the licensing board send it to your agency, and have your agency make a "true and exact" copy of it using the same notary that has signed all the rest of your agency documents. It will save you a big headache when you need to send everything to the Ukrainian Consulate in Chicago.)

Social Worker letter - (written by agency saying the s.w. is in good standing, etc.)

Medical Letters There are specific medical forms that the NAC requires. Plus you need a notarized copy of your physician's license.

Employer Letter - saying what last year's salary was, what this year's projected salary is, position title, and attesting that the job is permanent.

Petition to Adopt - letter to the National Adoption Center in Ukraine asking for permission to adopt.

Marriage Certificate - usually two are required, but our translator said we could just get one (per dossier) and that he would get the second copy in UA. This is because he wanted us to have two POA's instead of one... (Saving us some expense, in other words).

Letter of Obligation - Saying that we will register our child at the Ukrainian Embassy and send yearly updates and photos of our child. Also says we will keep the child's Ukrainian citizenship until the child is 18 and can choose for themself. (Adopted child will have dual-citizenship.)

Passport Copies - Copy both passports on ONE page. Will save you big bucks at authentication time.

State Crime Check - Not talking about the standard "form" that is usually sent in for your home study requirements. You will need a LETTER from the state on state letterhead saying that you don't have a criminal record in your state. Request this letter at the same time that you send for the regular state crime check that is probably required for your homestudy. It will save everyone headaches if you do.

Power of Attorney letter(s) - Giving legal permission to be able to act on our behalf while in UA.Usually there is only one, but it appears that Cathy's translators are starting to give us two. They can get doc's at the NAC for us, etc. If we have two POA's, it will save THEM a headache as one person won't have to do all the work that way. (They have to sit for hours waiting to get in to the NAC and pick up and drop off documents for us, sometimes several days in a row, etc.)