[lizbourmatnov]

Has anyone worked directly with an agency in Bulgaria, bypassing a US agency? I am contemplating this but was not sure why people would work with a us agency if it is required that a bulgarian one must do tha adoption. Am I missing something?

[sak9645]

First off, remember that you will have no recourse if something goes wrong and you are using a foreign agency.

If you use a U.S. agency, and feel that you have been cheated, that unethical practices were employed, that the staff were unqualified, etc., you can report it to the state in which it is licensed, and it could wind up having its license revoked. You can also report the agency to the Better Business Bureau. One thing that keeps some agencies on the straight and narrow is fear of license revocation or negative comments by the BBB. Foreign agencies have no such incentive.

You can also sue an American agency and recover funds, if your claim is found to be valid. American agencies do not want to be sued, and will often settle before a case goes to trial, to avoid the costs and bad publicity of a potentially adverse ruling.

With a foreign agency, unless you have really good contacts in the country, you will not be sure how reputable it is. You may easily make a big mistake that you will regret. In the U.S., you have a lot more sources of information on an agency.

Some foreign agencies, even if ethical and reputable, may know a great deal about the adoption process in their country, but absolutely nothing about the U.S. immigration requirements. As a result, you could wind up completing the adoption of a child who does not qualify for an adoption visa. If you should happen to adopt a child who does not qualify for a visa, you will have legal and financial responsibility for that child, but will not be able to bring him/her to the U.S. unless you live overseas with him/her for two years.

Most qualified adoption agencies in the U.S. work closely with qualified professionals overseas, to ensure that you have a positive adoption experience with BOTH the American and the foreign end of things.


Sharon

[lizbourmatnov]

I did think about that, but when I read that there are only 21 agencies licensed my the MOJ in bulgaria to do adoptions, it seems as the 50+ in this country must be using those 21 agencies. Because of the hague, it seems to be a very tight process. I was wondering if anyone had done the process this way before.