Paperwork snag holding up LI family's adoption

A Long Island couple is fighting to have their family together in time for the holidays, but a paperwork snag is preventing them from taking home their adopted son from Ukraine. Thanksgiving was supposed

News 12 Staff

Nov 25, 2014, 3:54 AM

Updated 3,661 days ago

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A Long Island couple is fighting to have their family together in time for the holidays, but a paperwork snag is preventing them from taking home their adopted son from Ukraine.
Thanksgiving was supposed to be the first holiday for Mariana and Bill Lacal, of Port Washington, to spend with their adopted son. They have been working for four years to bring home 16-year-old Vadim.
Bill Lacal left 10 days ago to finally bring him home, but when he arrived at the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine, he hit a road block. Vadim's paperwork to come to the U.S. wasn't properly filed because the adoption process has taken so long.
The mix-up has caught the attention of Rep. Steve Israel. "This boy should not be held in Ukraine because of a paperwork glitch that can be very easily remedied," Israel said. He has promised the Lacals to do everything he can to expedite Vadim's entry into the U.S.
Israel says he will be calling Immigration Services and the State Department multiple times a day to try to unite the family as quickly as possible.
The Lacals say they are hoping that someone who can possibly help Israel expedite the effort will contact his office.