[doghouse]

Does anyone have the latest news about the adoption situation in Bulgaria?

I have been reading Bulgarian news in English, trying to learn about their politics and to keep up with current events. Very interresting and sometimes difficult to understand from my not having a good understanding of their political system. The sites also have forum posting regarding the news articles. Very, very interresting.

Tammy

[DC-Dad]

Last week I had a rather lengthy and heart felt conversation with my U.S. attorney about the situation. This was of course after he got my hopes up. He never calls me, but I was in a meeting and my cell phone rang. I looked and saw his number and knew I had a referral. Well, I was wrong. But he did tell me that he had spoken with the Bulgarian attorney and asked her to see what was going on. The other family that I went into the program with is having horrendous problems (I thought my being a single male would be the problem but my registration went through without any problems) with the new medicals and everything. A word to those awaiting, you might want to get a copy of what the new medicals will require so that you can be ready for the requirements. But he did tell me that she is asking discrete questions to see what is going on behind the scenes. She has a previous relationship with the Vice-Minister (they grew up together in the same village) and seems to think she might find something out. I'll post relevant stuff when I hear it. Keep your fingers crossed for all of us! Dana

[doghouse]

Thanks for the info. I will be looking for your posts in the future.
Tammy

[LMG]

To Dana,

What are the new medicals exactly? I haven't heard anything about this from our agency and we are about to turn in our dossier.

Thanks,
Laura

[DC-Dad]

Laura and Tammy,

When I started this process over a year ago I had my primary care physician complete a form (very simple) that the U.S. agency said would have to be completed. The social worker also needed the form completed for the Home Study. Some countries have an extensive medical form that has to be completed wanting a variety of information including mental health status. From what I'm hearing apparently the Bulgarian government has adopted a similar form. There was a post a few months ago on the forum that stated the same information. It used to be that we had to have our FBI fingerprints and medical done if it was over 6 months old. According to the Bulgarian attorney now it only has to be updated for the "court date". So I am trying to get a copy of the new medical. I got involved in this because the other people who are also adopting and began at the time I did, needed a psychologist to complete the form. I have done this for other families. I declined this time (not because I'm mean) but because I didn't want my name cropping up too many times at the MOJ. I have a very distinct last name. I will let you know what they are looking for, but I think the mental health evaluation is the biggest part of it. Dana

[petersonsuri]

Actually I started this process in june/july 2004 and the mental health part was needed even back then. It was listed as a required document on the US embassy Sofia site as far back as that too(which was a literal translation from the MoJ requirements). My agency asked me to get a letter from my doc that stated that we were free from all life threatening and chronic conditions and to specifically address STD's and TB as well as supply serological evidence of being disease free. We had to be tested for TB,HIV,Syphilis, GC and Chlamydia x 2 in the last year. My husband's wasn't clear enough for the mental health paragraph(his doctor did not follow my instructions to a tee) and so they requested a seperate letter (in late sept) that stated that he was free of all mental illness and had never had any mental deficits or illness. This must have worked because we received a referral in December 2004. We updated our medicals and prints and took them with us in January and then we had the HS agency update a document that was expiring 2/28th. It worked and we are getting close to fulfilling our dream.

Mary

[LMG]

Thanks Dana and Mary. I have two different medical forms to be filled out. One for my home study agency and the other for my adoption agency. One of them does have a statement re: TB, HIV,STD, psychological,
etc. I guess this will be sufficient? My appointment is next week and my husband just went for his. Then we are finished with most of our paperwork. I think.....
I'm sure we'll be re-doing a great deal of it this time next year though.

Laura

[DC-Dad]

Sounds like you are getting it all together Laura. That is the way to do it. You have to be very attentive to detail. As my best friend tells me, she knew my tendency pay attention to all details, however minor, would pay off one day! Dana

[2Bulgarianbeauties]

Has anyone heard of a referral coming out of Bulgaria this year? Are you hearing anything from your attorneys as to why the delay?

Kay
Mom to Anna and Registered for #2

[handfull2b]

I have not heard anything. I am thinking of it in the light that the cabinet first got together at the end of January due to the Christmas break. I heard somewhere that even after they match families with children, it would take another month to let the families know of that match (referral.) I will give them a month extra play time. I doubt they came back in January ready for matching children. If we are not hearing of any referrals by the end of March, I am totally frustrated.
Maria

[DC-Dad]

I am hearing nothing. And the U.S. agency is getting frustrated with me calling them every couple of weeks! I have no idea what is going on but they are sending e-mails to the attorney in Bulgaria to ask her what is going on and what the timeline is right now. I am starting a new job in 10 days and luckily my new boss is very understanding. She adopted many years ago from Romania (twice) and said she would make sure that when I need to go I go! I guess the best thing is to keep our chins up! But I've heard of no children since Mary's little boy! Dana

[T`SDAD]

we have had contact with Bulgaria and know our case was reviewed in JANUARY. They have asked for additional info from one of the social services. We are adopting a older child, that started under the old laws. It has been a long haul, but we have been very blessed with some great Bulgarian friends

T`sdad

[handfull2b]

Originally Posted by Kay Jarboe

Has anyone heard of a referral coming out of Bulgaria this year? Are you hearing anything from your attorneys as to why the delay?

Kay
Mom to Anna and Registered for #2

My agency e-mailed me today and stated that the problem is that it is taking longer than they expected to get all the children on the registry. She said that they did register the special needs children first (as they should have.) She said that the adoptions WILL go through and that although Bulgaria is sometimes slow, Bulgaria is reliable.
This is what I have needed to hear. Now I can relax and just be patient. I thought we all could use this encouragement.
Maria

[doghouse]

Can your attorney get a specific number of special needs children that were registered?

Tammy

[petersonsuri]

When I was there is January I was told that there were 750 children registered so far. I do know that there are healthy young children on the list already because I made inquiries about 2 young girls in my sons orphanage and they were healthy and therefore we could not pursue because of our large family. Have you gone and looked at the statistics of IA visas given over the last 3 years at the US embassy site? There have never been more than 250 per year given(even before the new laws).