Adopt from Bulgaria
(Last updated 12/19/05)

**THIS IS CONSIDERED TO BE A PILOT PROGRAM SINCE NEW LEGISLATION IN 2004 FAMILIES ADOPTING FROM BULGARIA SHOULD EXPECT UNSTABLE TIMELINES, NO REFERRALS HAVE OCCURRED FOR PAST SIX MONTHS**

Children available for adoption in Bulgaria
The children available for adoption in Bulgaria are ages 1 year and up and of Bulgarian, Turkish and Romany ancestry.

Parent Requirements
Single women and couples may adopt from Bulgaria. In general parents should be 25-55 years old and be no more than 45 years older than the prospective adoptive child. Couples with no children may adopt orphans ages 1-3 and couples with 1-2 children may adopt orphans 3 years and up. Families with 3 or more children are considered on a case-by-case basis. There are no marriage or divorce requirements, but the stability of your present marriage will be considered. Many of these requirements may be waived in the cases of children ages 4 and up or those with special needs. Bulgaria will not allow the adoption of a child by a gay or lesbian person.

The Process
As with all international adoptions, an approved home study, clearance from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the completion of a foreign dossier are required. The Cradle provides home study preparation for families in the greater Chicago area. After submission of dossier paperwork, families will wait for a referral of a specific child from Bulgaria, typically in the form of videos or photographs. The time between submission of the Dossier and referral is approximately 8-10 months, with placement occurring approximately 8 months later.

Travel
Adopting from Bulgaria requires either one or both parents to make two short trips of approximately one week each. The first trip occurs shortly after families receive their referral and is an opportunity to meet and bond with your child. The second trip occurs after the adoption process has been completed, typically about 5 to 8 months later. One parent may travel. Before leaving Bulgaria with the child, families must apply for and obtain a U.S. immigrant visa.