Adopting Siblings from Bulgaria
Welcome Home – March 2022
Meet one of our families who adopted their beautiful children from Bulgaria in 30 months despite dealing with Covid in the midst of their adoption.
Welcome home! Here are some pics from their post adoption report! To Christ the glory for 2 less orphans!
30 Months from Start to Finish
As we all know 2020 shocked all of us and caused several delays on multiple levels. Their path wasn’t always easy, but they kept their eyes on the outcome, instead of the difficulties, and now they have their family!
A waiting child Bulgarian adoption in the middle of Covid, in around 30 months, is something to be grateful for!
Check out their timeline below.
This Family’s Bulgarian Adoption Timeline
| – Waiting Child – | ||
| Step 1 | MOJ Application | 1 Month |
| Step 2 | Finish Home Study | 8 Months (covid) |
| Step 3 | Get CIS Approval | 3 Months (covid) |
| Step 3.5 | Home Study Update | 4 Months |
| Step 3.5 (Part 2) | Home Study Update | 4 Months |
| Step 4 | Dossier Submitted to Bulgaria | 4 Months (covid) |
| Step 5 | First Trip | 1 Month |
| Step 5.5 | Home Study Update | 4 Months |
| Step 6 | Pick Up Trip | 1 Month |
| Total | 30 Months | |
* A Home Study Update may be required for multiple reasons. One reason that applies to everyone is that USCIS’ approval is for 15 months. It has to stay current in order to finish your adoption. However, there are circumstances that may trigger an update, such as change of residence. To learn more about that, schedule a free consult with an adoption specialist by texting “free consult” to to 704 527 7673.
See Other People’s Timelines
We have a few other families who are happy to share their stories and their timelines. To see how long it took them to adopt, please see:
or Lori’s story
or Ana’s story
Crowdfunding with us!
Crowd funding has become very common. Our agency can try to help you with the logistics of fundraising with your family and friends by helping you share your story. Over the years we have seen adoptive parents raise money through their local churches, family and friends to pay for their adoption fees – owed to the agency for its services. We may be able to assist you with this. For further info, please call us, or email us. nick@saintmaryadoption.com
Note: Please note that the agency differentiates between money owed for its services and donations made above and beyond the money owed for its services. If you, or someone on your behalf, wish to make a donation, above and beyond the fees you owe, that donation will be used by the agency for general support of its operations. Adoptive families CANNOT donate toward their own expenses. The agency has in place procedures in place to ensure that donations (above and beyond the fees owed) do not influence child placing decisions in any way.
Roll With The Punches
Being asked to provide a document, but unable to because your local service is closed down due to covid can be challenging. As we’ve done adoptions for over 22 years now, we know that the process will throw some challenges at you even if theire is no world pandemic. Though it may be hard at the time, we’ve never had one of our parents call us once they’re done to say, I wish I didn’t do it. Its all forgotten at the end, similarly to how birth pain is forgotten.
We’re thankful to this family’s home study agency, Nightlight who did a tremendous job helping the family roll with the punches and updates necessary to bring their kids home.
We are also grateful to the Bulgarian Central Authority and US Embassy in Sofia who processed things quickly once paperwork was submitted, despite covid dealys.
Trip 1 – Visit Children
The pictures you see from our family’s trip is only possible after the family completes all necessary paperwork including an approved home study, a CIS approval and a completed dossier.
With Bulgarian adoptions, adoptive parents get to go visit their child before giving consent to move forward to the step of finalizing the adoption. You can think of this as your “bonding trip”. During this time, parents have the full attention of our social worker who is standing by to offer advise and counseling to ensure a smoother beginning of the relationship. A preparation on this topic is covered in the home study, but the first trip is putting the theory to practice.
How Can I Afford The Cost?
We can help you with crowdfunding!
With our agency, which we believe is unique, the cost of the adoption becomes due on your own timetable, not ours. We call this a "floating fee structure".
We also offer 39 month financing which lets you make a fixed monthly payment for 39 months. Some of our parents love this option because it lets them spend less money before they can qualify for grants. Apply for the our agency's "Catherine Grant" - worth $500.
Getting the adoption tax credit also helps parents with the cost of international adoption.
Post Adoption Pics
We love to see happy families when they share pictures with us from their post adoption reports. Bulgaria requries 5 post adoption reports. These are at 2 weeks, 6 months, 12 months, 18 months, and 24 months.
We share the joy in sharing a few of these pics with you as we celebrate this family whom we believe God put together through adoption. Enjoy!
Succes Stories
Learning about the process by seeing how different families went through each step can be a good learning experience for future adoptive parents. We've shared several stories, each with real timelines, and steps, as they happened in real life to real families.
Christian and Sandra's Story
Finished adoption in 27 months.
Monica and Manny's Story
Finished adoption in 25 months
Jeremy and Jessica's Story
Finished adoption in 20 months
Stacy and Sam's Story
Finished adoption in 18.5 months
Gabe and Jessica's
Adopted 2 Year Old
Ana' Story
Finished adoption in 20 months.
Paul and April's Story
Finished adoption in 28 months
Mike and Megan's Story
Finished adoption in 30 months
Daniel and Alexandra's Story
Finished adoption in 36 months
Waiting Children
Sara
To see waiting children, please fill out this form.
Penelope
To see waiting children, please fill out this form.
Joey
To see waiting children, please fill out this form.
Understanding the Cost
With our agency, which we believe is unique, the cost of the adoption becomes due on your own timetable, not ours. We call this a “floating fee structure”.
We also offer 37 month financing which lets you make a fixed monthly payment for 37 months. Some of our parents love this option because it lets them spend less money before they can qualify for grants.
Getting the adoption tax credit also helps parents with the cost of international adoption.
Bulgarian Orphanages
See this blog with 3 separate adoptive parents share their thoughts on what the orphanage is like?
See Lori’s Interview from 2017.
Continue Your Research
We are humbled to have over 25 years of experience with Bulgarian, Polish and Serbian international adoption. We also help parents adopt children with special needs such as Down Syndrome. Continue to learn about the process and your options by checking the links below. If you have any questions, we offer a FREE, No-Obligation Consult. The consult is a great place to start your research.
Text us or call us with any questions. 704 527 7673.
Learn More About Home Study Process
When Should I Start The Home Study?
Difference Between Home Study and Adoption Agency?
Why Do I Need an Accredited Agency?
"One Less Orphan" Stories:
Monica and Manuel’s Adoption – 25 Months
Christian and Cassie’s Adoption – 27 Months
Jeremy and Jessica’s Adoption – 20 Months
Samuel and Stacie’s Adoption – 18.5 Months
Daniel and Alexandra’s Adoption – 36 Months
Paul and April’s Adoption – 28 Months
Mike and Megan’s Adoption – 30 Months
More
See our verse of encouragement
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