Q13: We are a family from USA. What are the procedures for US citizen interested in adopting a child from Bulgaria?
A13: U.S. citizen parents interested in adopting a Bulgarian orphan should first contact the U.S. CIS and satisfy the U.S. pre-adoption requirements. The next step is to identify an orphan available for adoption. Changes in Bulgarian adoption law in July 2003 require prospective adoptive parents to deposit their applications directly at the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) using the services of an American adoption agency licensed in Bulgaria or a Bulgarian agency accredited by the MOJ. The names of all prospective adoptive parents will be entered into a register. Another register will keep track of all Bulgarian children available for foreign adoptions. A council consisting of representatives of the Ministries of Justice, Health, Education, Social Services will review each application. The Council will offer a child to a prospective adoptive family. The MOJ will provide photographs of the child and information about his/her medical condition. If the family declines to adopt a specific child, the Council should be informed within two months and a new child will be offered for adoption.
Once the adoptive parent(s) select a child and the Council approves the application, the case will be forwarded to the Minister of Justice for final approval. When the Minister signs the parents’ application, the paperwork will be transferred directly to the Bulgarian court, which must give custody of the child to the adoptive parents. One or both of the adoptive parents should plan on making a trip to Bulgaria. When the court has given custody of the child to the adoptive parents, they would be expected to spend at least five days with their adopted son or daughter before the orphanage director releases their child.
Last updated: Feb 2006
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Q14: What type of documents are required for adoption in Bulgaria?
A14: Required documents for adoption in Bulgaria are:

Q15: What type of agency we can use for adoption in Bulgaria?
A15: Prospective adoptive parents must use a foreign adoption agency licensed in Bulgaria or a Bulgarian adoption agency accredited by the Bulgarian Ministry of Justice.
more info >> List of some Bulgarian and International Adoption Organizations
Last updated: Feb 2006
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Q16: Is there residency requirements to complete an adoption in Bulgaria?
A16: There are no residency requirements to complete an international adoption in Bulgaria. However, prospective adoptive parents are expected to spend 5 days with their adoptive child before the orphanage director will release the child.
Last updated: Feb 2006
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Q17: Addresses and contact info of agencies providing adoption service for Bulgaria?
A17: There are lots of agencies & organizations providing adoption for Bulgaria:

List of some Bulgarian organizations:

• Foundation Happy Childhood 2000
• 44 Hristo Smirnenski str, ent.B, Sofia, (359) 2 9630808 (http://www.happychildhood2000.com)
  
• The Association Amore (Association for International Adoption and Reintegration)
• , Krichim Str., 1407-Sofia, Bulgaria, (359) 2 8620196, 8620409, email: info@amor-bg.com (http://www.amor-bg.com/)
  
• National Agency for Protecting Children at Risk and Cooperation in International Adoptions
• Sofia, Lozenetz Region, 63 "Zlatovrach" Str. 5th floor, 12 ap.; +35929620488; email: adopt.agency@mail.bg or office@adoptbg.com; (http://www.adoptbg.com/)
  
• Foundation Sun for kids
• fl.2, #4 Tsar Assen str, Sofia; +35929802082; email: Tanya@sofiasat.com;
  
• Children`s Smiles foundation
• Sofia 1606, 33 Ivaylo Street, 3rd floor, flat 5; Telephone: (+359 2) 8526025; GSM: (+359 ) 888 750500; (+359 ) 888 511576; Telephone/fax: (+359 2) 9516575; e-mails: detskiusmivki@abv.bg / office@childrensmiles.com / graykova@childrensmiles.com / dnatan@childrensmiles.com / zadikyan@childrensmiles.com (http://www.childrensmiles.com)
  
• Association Victoria
• 7 W.Gladstone str., Sofia; +359 2 952 27 48; email: office@associacia-victoria.org (http://www.associacia-victoria.org)
  

List of some International agencies

• Adoption Choice Inc.
• USA, 924 Juneau Ave., Suite 410, Milwaukee, WI 53202; (414) 276-3262 (http://www.adoptintl.com/)
  
• Saint Mary International Adoptions
• USA, 1515 Mockingbird Lane, Suite 204,Charlotte, NC 28209;(704) 527-7673 (http://www.smiaadopt.com/)
  
• Adopt International
• USA, 407 Lincoln Rd Suite 710, Miami Beach, FL 33139
  
• Adoptions Forever
• USA, 509 Strathmore Road, Havertown, PA 19083, (610) 853-2635 (http://www.adoptionsforever.org/)
  
• Building Blocks Adoption
• USA, 52 Public SQ., Medina, OH 44256; (866) 321-ADOPT; (330) 725-5521; (330) 725-0672 (http://www.bbas.org/)
  
• Children`s House International
• USA, PO Box 1829, Ferdale, WA 98248 (http://www.adopting.com/)

Q18: What is the Fee I must pay when I adopt child from Bulgaria?
A18: The maximum rate of the mediation fee, approved by the Ministry of Justice, is EUR 10.000. The fee includes expenses for state, court and notary fees, expenses for written and oral translations, legalization of documents and technical realization of the procedure. It includes also expenses for the Adoptive Parents` stay in the country for making contacts with the specified child and taking the child after the procedure is over. The sum includes also the fees of the specialists working upon the adoption procedure and the fee of the lawyer hired for the legal case and the expenses for carrying out the post-adoption control. Payments are made through 4 installments.
For every specific case the sums are specified depending on the obligations undertaken by the Foundation.
Last updated: Feb 2006
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Q19: Court proceedings under an application for international adoption?
A19: The Sofa City Court shall consider the application for adoption at a court sitting in camera within 14 days from its receipt and shall pass a decision on it, immediately communicated to the parties.
The decision may be appealed with the Sofia Appellate Court within 7 days from the communication on its ruling. Within 14 days from receipt of the appeal the court, at a sitting in camera with participation of a public prosecutor, shall pass a decision, which is final.
Upon entry into force of the decision the accredited organization shall submit a copy of the decision for issuance of a new birth certificate of the child, shall file the documents for issuance of a Bulgarian international passport of the child, shall translate and legalize the decision, shall submit all the required documents to the relevant embassy, and shall organize the trip of the family to the home where the child is brought up and the return trip.
Last updated: Feb 2006
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