[TXTennis]

DH and I are considering a second adoption from Bulgaria and he is concerned that we will not get a healthy girl under 2 --- or that the wait will be unreasonable for a referal of a girl under 2.

Anybody bring home a girl under 2 recently - or be matched with a healthy girl under 2 recently?

(I don't want to disrupt the birth order - that is why she has to be younger than my current daughter.)

[catt13]

TX Tennis,
I have not adopted from Bulgaria, but have been looking for information on Adoption from Bulgaria. I am in Canada, and have found adoption agencies accredited with Bulgaria, but the wait time is estimated at 3 years. This is an estimate as many havent even completed adoptions from Bulgaria isn years.

I hope you find the info you need, and hopefully someone will be able to provide me with info as well.

Good Luck!

[2Bulgarianbeauties]

Here is what I know. My agency never stopped working in Bulgaria. Their clients all received referrals during the slow down and brought home their children (including mine!) Now, I do not believe they have received a referral under the new regime, but that is because they had no one in the cue - no one in process with their dossier or a just submitted dossier. Their Bulgarian agency has received referrals for their clients in other countries, that had dossiers in the cue. I read some other news articles that they are making around 15 matches a week, and they are trying to increase that number.

Given there are around 10,000 children in Bulgarian orphanages, and probably 6,000 under the age of 5, there are far more healthy children than waiting parents.

The stated wait time right now is 12 months from dossier submission to bringing home a child. I would think that is pretty correct. Once you have your match, you are bringing home your child in 2 1/2 - 3 months. So, assuming 1 month for translation, another to get registered, you are in the matching cue for about 6 months.

It took me 2 years to bring home my second DD, and that was when they were only letting out 100 kids per year, so 3 years under this new system seems crazy, unless your agency is inexperienced or Canada is very different than the US.

A year ago I told people not to go to Bulgaria because the MOJ was not letting out kids. Now that he has been fired, and the new MOJ lived in Bulgarian orphanages for several years, and I have read many of her interviews, I think Bulgaria is the best place to go right now for a healthy child. There are so many waiting kids. They are beautiful and talented (at least mine are! ) and it is a very easy process compared to most countries.

Good luck

[qs mom]

I too have read much of what Kay has stated. Adoptions are picking up in Bulgaria and I know of at least 1 agency that continued to work with/in Bulgaria during the slowdown. The agency I used has begun to accept applications for Bulgaria again. This seems like good news.

My adoption was done in 2003. It was a fairly simple process compared to other countries.

The kids are beautiful. My son is adorable,sweet, funny, smart and quite a talented tap dancer and ice skater!

[catt13]

2 BulgarianBeauties,
Thank you so much for your post. The first two agencies i called didnt have very much information and hadnt made an placements last year of the year before, so i was so upset. Yesterday i called an agency that apparently does most of the adoptions out of Bulgaria, and she seemed to have made more placements (9-10) last year, and has much more info on Bulgaria.

I think you are right in saying that it slowed down but willpick up quite soon. I know from what ihave read and understand things will move much more quickly due to changes in the law, new minister etc.

Thank you for the info and your daughters are gorgeous!

qsmom.
Thank you for the info. I hope things pick up quite quickly. I am so anxious toget the ball rolling, but where i live there are only 3 agencies that work with Bulgaria and 2 of them have never placed a child. I am hoping to get things started soon.

Thank you aldies for all of your help, if you have anything other info about Bulgaria, the culture, etc let me know

[kellyann69]

Could you inform me of this agency that is so familiar with placing children from Bulgaria?

Thanks,
Kelly Ann

[catt13]

kelleyann,
Sorry it took me so long to reply (busy weekend). The agency i will be dealing with is in Canada. I can PM the info to you if youw ould like asi do not think we are allowed to refer to specific agencies on the forum.

Let me know

[kellyann69]

Yes... sorry private mail would be appropriate... at kellyann@farmersmiths.com

[Gypsy740]

We are Canadians and this has been our experience... We did successfully adopt from Bulgaria in 2003. Signed up to adopt again in the summer of 2004 and were registered that Dec. still waiting. we are told things are starting to happen again. We will just have to wait and see. But, I do not know the est. wait time starting the process now.

[catt13]

kellyann,
I meant private message but email is fine as well. Sorry for not replying sooner but i was at a conference. I will email you asap

gypsy,
Where are you in Canada? Would you be able to PM me with any info that you have? (agency timelines, experience, etc.) I would greatly appreciate it.

[ElsieC]

I recently (this week) received the following info from Rainbow Kids about Bulgaria. Maybe it will be helpful?

Overview The Bulgarian Adoption Program has opened and closed a few times over the years. At the time of this writing, Bulgaria is open once again for adoption. Researching the stability and current status of this program is important. Please join a yahoogroup and speak with other parents while considering this country.

Children Available: The children available for adoption are 12 months of age to school-age children. The children are Caucasian/European. Siblings are available. There are Caucasian children of Eastern European ‘looks’ and there are also a number of ‘Rom’ or Gypsy children with beautiful brown eyes and hair.

Parent Qualifications: Single people, as well as married couples may adopt. At this time, there is no marriage or age requirement. Bulgaria has a strong preference for small families, but may make exceptions for special needs children.

Travel: Either two trips are required, or some agencies allow the child to be escorted to the US on the 2nd trip.

Timeline: Referral time is typically three months from submission of your dossier. Once the referral is accepted, the adoption will take approximately four to six months to complete; however, after family and child have been matched, at least one parent must travel within two months to see the child. The country requires you to visit for at least one day or twenty-four hours. When the adoption is complete, parents can return to Bulgaria to bring the child home or the child can be escorted.

On the link below, there are also links for agencies and other stuff about Bulagaria.

Bulgaria Adoption – Adopting from Bulgaria

[kwien]

That is interesting from Rainbow Kids...wonder though where they got their timeline from...?

Thanks for sharing!

-K

[tstjohn]

Hello:

Can you send me the name of agancy you used for Bulgaria?

Many Thanks!

Tammie

[momof2x2]

We are looking to adopt from Bulgaria. Could you recommend or warn against an agency? Thanks so much.