A World of Hope's Bulgaria Program

 

  A World of Hope is very excited to offer an adoption program in the Republic of Bulgaria. Adopting from Bulgaria is a wonderful choice for families who are interested in adding a child from age one to 16 to their family and who prefer a short in-country stay. Fortunately, children in Bulgarian orphanages often exhibit fewer signs of institutionalization than many other Eastern European countries due to a low nanny to child ratio (usually 1:5). A World of Hope works in partnership with our Bulgarian attorney, Mr. Metody Tilev. In addition to his 15 years of experience working with families who wish to adopt Bulgarian orphans, he is licensed to practice law in both Bulgaria and the United States. Previously, Mr. Tilev had served as a Circuit Court Judge in Bulgaria, specializing in adoptions. He works very closely with other Bulgarian attorneys, social workers, and doctors to ensure that the children are given the best possible care. We feel that the families who choose to adopt through our Bulgaria program are in exceptional hands!

 

 

The Children

v     Children ages 12 months to 16 years are in need of loving families.

v     Boys, girls, sibling groups and twins are waiting.

v     Children are usually ethnic Bulgarian or of Gypsy, Asian or Turkish descent.

v     Parents may specify both an age range and gender preference of the child they wish to adopt.

v     Children become available for adoption due to the following reasons: lack of income, teenage pregnancy, parental rights abolished because of abuse or neglect, parents deceased.

 

 

Family Eligibility

v     Singles and couples age 25 and older may adopt from Bulgaria.

v     The Bulgarian government prefers that the prospective adoptive family be childless. However, it's common for exceptions to be made on a case-by-case basis for families with two or fewer children who are considering the adoption of a child above age three.

v     Parents should be financially stable, have no criminal records, suffer from no serious chronic or contagious diseases (HIV, Tuberculosis) and should be in good psychological health.

 

 

Time Frame

Generally, the adoption process takes from 6 to 10 months to complete once a full set of documents are received by the Republic of Bulgaria. As with any international adoption, times are only approximate and can vary. Your Hope Adoption Specialist will keep you informed during the entire adoption process.

 

 

Travel

Adopting from Bulgaria requires either one or two trips of the adoptive parents. The first trip is mandatory and requires a stay of 2-3 days in the capital city of Sofia. This trip occurs shortly after receiving the referral of your child and is a great time to begin bonding with your child! During this time you can take photographs and video of your child, which will help you get through the months of waiting that lie aheadóa benefit that those adopting from other countries do not have. The second trip is optional and will be a stay of 3-5 days. During this trip you will be presented with your child, attend the medical examination for your child to receive his/her US visa and go to the US Embassy in Sophia for your child's US Visa interview. However, if you prefer not to make the second trip, your child may be escorted to the United States at no additional cost. With both trips, only one parent is required to travel although we recommend that both travel if at all possible.

 

 

Order of Events

A World of Hope will help you through every step of the international adoption process for Bulgaria, including the following steps:

 

v     Apply to INS for advanced approval to adopt internationally.

v     Satisfy the laws in your state by working with a local homestudy agency or independent social worker in order to complete an international homestudy that meets Bulgaria's requirements.

v     Collect the documents needed for the adoption of a Bulgarian child.

v     Obtain all certifications and translations that are required by the Republic of Bulgaria.

v     Send your documents to Bulgaria.

v     Receive your referral!

v     Travel to meet your son or daughter in Bulgaria shortly after accepting your referral.

v     Wait . . . wait . . . wait. We will keep you advised on the status of your adoption as it progresses through the Bulgarian governmental process.

v     Travel to Bulgaria to unite you with your child or escort your child home.

v     Begin your new life as an adoptive family!!!

 

Some of these steps are done simultaneously in order to save time. Additionally, some of the documents needed for your homestudy can also be used in your dossier. This will save time and money. We'll let you know exactly what to work on so that your adoption can be completed in the shortest time possible.

 

Expenses and Fees:

A complete, detailed breakdown of major expenses and fees for our Cambodia program is available by contacting our office at (707) 964-5578 or julie@aworldofhope.org.

 

 

Our Commitment to Education:

We at A World of Hope pride ourselves on our commitment to education. We feel it our duty to provide our families with materials that will not only teach them about their future child's heritage, but also give them tools to become informed adoptive parents. If you choose to work with us you will receive three educational packets throughout your adoption journey.

 

Our Heritage Packet contains invaluable information about your child's country of birthóincluding language, history, customs, traditional dress, maps, and much more. Our International Travel Packet contains everything you will need in order to feel at ease when traveling to your destination country--including visa forms, rules of etiquette (specific to your child's country), and lots of great advice to make your trip an exciting and fun experience. When you return to the United States with your child you will be welcomed home with our Adoptive Parenting Packet. This packet contains information on readoption, getting your child's passport or Certificate of Citizenship, post-adoption medical exams, ways to integrate your child's culture into your family, and many other resources to help you stay informed and connected to the adoption community. All three of our educational packets fit neatly into a personalized binder that we provide to each of our families.

 

 

More Information:

 

All of us at A World of Hope recognize that your adoption journey is unique to you. You will be our highest priority during your entire adoption process. If receiving the most personal and professional care possible is important to you, we encourage you to contact us directly at (707) 964-5578. All of us at A World of Hope would be honored to help you bring your child home!