Bulgaria Adoption

What Is a CIS Approval?

Submitting USCIS Form I-800A

What Adoptive Parents Must Do:

1. Complete Form I800A

• This is the official application to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
• It asks about your background, finances, family situation, and overall readiness to adopt.

2. Submit a Home Study

• A licensed social worker prepares a detailed report on your family, living environment, health, income, and motivations for adoption.
• This is a mandatory part of your I-800A application.

3. Fingerprints & Background Checks

• Every adult in your household must complete fingerprinting and FBI background checks.
• USCIS will not approve your application without this clearance.

4. Gather Supporting Documents

• Birth certificates, marriage license (if applicable), proof of citizenship, financial records, and medical clearances.
• All must be official and up to date.

5. File with USCIS & Wait for Approval

• USCIS reviews your file, may ask for additional information, and then issues an approval notice (Form I-797).
• This approval confirms you are eligible and suitable to adopt a child under Hague Convention rules.

Additional Sources:

• USCIS instructions for completing I800A
• Saint Mary Adoptions Guidelines for completing I800A 
• Saint Mary Adoptions Guidelines for completing Supplement 3 
• Saint Mary Adoptions Guidelines for completing I-800
• The fees USCIS charges to review your application

Submitting USCIS Form I-800A

How the ASP Supports You: 

1. Guidance & Checklists
   Your ASP provides a step-by-step checklist of every form and document you need, so nothing is missed.
2. Home Study Services
   Either directly or through a partner, the ASP arranges for a licensed social worker to conduct your home study and ensure it meets both U.S. and Bulgarian requirements.
3. Document Review & Preparation
   The ASP reviews your I-800A packet to catch errors before it goes to USCIS, reducing the risk of delays.
4. Fingerprint Scheduling
   They help you schedule biometrics (fingerprinting) appointments and track completion.
5. Communication with USCIS
   If USCIS issues a Request for Evidence (RFE), your ASP helps you respond promptly and correctly.
6. Next Steps After Approval
   Once approval comes in, the ASP guides you in preparing your dossier (set of documents sent to Bulgaria) and moves you into the matching phase.

Step 1: Child and Family Registration

1. Children’s Registry
• When a child in Bulgaria becomes legally eligible for adoption (after being relinquished, abandoned, or after parental rights are terminated), they are entered into a national adoption registry.
• Bulgarian families get first priority for adoption (domestic placements).
2. Intercountry Registry
• If a Bulgarian family is not found within 6 months, the child’s name is transferred to the intercountry adoption registry — where foreign families, including U.S. adoptive parents, may be considered.
3. Adoptive Parent Registry
• Meanwhile, your adoption dossier (your packet of approved paperwork and home study) is sent to the Ministry of Justice.
• The MOJ reviews it and adds your family to the list of eligible foreign adoptive parents.

Step 2: Matching Process

1. The MOJ’s Intercountry Adoption Council reviews both registries — the list of children and the list of approved parents.
2. They look for a match based on factors like:
• Child’s age, gender, and special needs.
• Family’s preferences and ability to meet the child’s needs.
• Number of children already in the family.
3. Once the Council identifies a possible match, they prepare a referral — which includes:
• The child’s background and medical history.
• Photos and sometimes video.
• Social and psychological evaluations.

Step 3: Referral Review & Acceptance

• Your agency will send you the referral packet to review with medical and psychological professionals.
• You have the right to accept or decline the match.
• If you accept, the MOJ begins preparing your invitation for travel — the 5 to 7-day pre-adoption visit.

Step 1: The Bulgarian Court Approval

Once you’ve completed your 5-day visit in Bulgaria and confirmed in writing that you want to proceed with the adoption, your case moves into the Bulgarian court system.

What Happens in Court

• The Ministry of Justice submits your adoption file (dossier, your written consent, and all Bulgarian child documents) to a regional court.
• A judge reviews everything to make sure the adoption is legal, ethical, and in the child’s best interest.
• The court will issue a final adoption decree, which legally makes the child your son or daughter under Bulgarian law.
• This decree changes the child’s name (if applicable) and officially lists you as their parent(s).

You are not usually required to attend the court hearing in person — your agency’s Bulgarian attorney and in-country representative handle the legal proceedings on your behalf.

Step 2: Legal Documents Issued After the Court Decree

Once the adoption is finalized in Bulgaria, several new official documents are prepared:

1. New Birth Certificate
• Issued in Bulgaria with the child’s new name and your names listed as the parents.
2. Bulgarian Passport
• Allows your child to legally travel to the United States.
3. Adoption Certificate / Court Decree Copy
• The official judgment confirming that the adoption is final.
4. Medical Report
• Updated by a local doctor before the visa interview, required by U.S. immigration authorities.

Your agency’s Bulgarian team collects, translates, and authenticates each of these documents so they’re valid for use in the United States.

🇺🇸 Step 3: Documents Prepared for the U.S. Side (Immigration & Visa)

After the Bulgarian adoption is finalized, your agency and its U.S. partners help you complete the immigration paperwork required to bring your child home:

1. USCIS Form I-800
• Confirms that the child qualifies as a “Convention adoptee” under the Hague Adoption Convention.
2. Article 5/17 Letter
• Issued by the U.S. Embassy in Sofia, confirming that your adoption meets Hague requirements.
• This letter must be received before you can finalize the adoption or take custody.
3. U.S. Immigrant Visa (IH-3 or IH-4)
• After the court decree, the child’s visa is processed at the U.S. Embassy in Sofia.
• This allows the child to legally enter and live in the United States.

How Your Adoption Agency Helps You Succeed

Your Hague-accredited agency is your guide, translator, and advocate throughout both the Bulgarian and U.S. legal processes. Here’s how:

Before Court

• Prepares and submits your full dossier to the Bulgarian Ministry of Justice.
• Works with an in-country attorney who represents your family during the court hearing.
• Tracks your case through the Bulgarian court system and provides regular updates.

After Court

• Coordinates the issuance of all new Bulgarian documents (birth certificate, passport, decree).
• Ensures all translations are certified and meet both Bulgarian and U.S. standards.
• Schedules and manages your U.S. Embassy visa appointment in Sofia.
• Helps you complete the I-800 and visa forms correctly to prevent delays.
• Confirms your child’s travel documents are ready for the trip home.

After You Return Home

• Guides you through post-adoption reporting (six reports over three years).
• Offers ongoing support, referrals, and community connections for adjustment and parenting resources.

In Simple Terms

• The Bulgarian court legally finalizes your adoption.
• Your agency’s legal team in Bulgaria handles the paperwork and communication with the judge.
• The U.S. side ensures your child’s immigration and citizenship paperwork are properly completed.
• Your agency keeps everything organized and ensures nothing is missed — so your child can come home smoothly and legally.

What Are Post-Adoption Reports?

After you bring your child home from Bulgaria, the Bulgarian Ministry of Justice requires your adoption agency to send regular updates on how your child is doing. These reports help show that your child is safe, healthy, and adjusting well to life in your family.

How Many Reports and When

Bulgaria requires six post-adoption (or post-placement) reports to be submitted over three years, following this schedule:

• Every six months after you return home — for a total of six reports.

For example:

• Report #1 – 6 months after arrival
• Report #2 – 12 months after arrival
• Report #3 – 18 months after arrival
• Report #4 – 24 months after arrival
• Report #5 – 30 months after arrival
• Report #6 – 36 months after arrival
• St. Mary Adoptions also requires a report at 14 days – as an agency policy to help the parents right away as they arrive home.

What the Reports Include

Each report gives an update on your child’s:

• Physical health (growth, medical checkups, nutrition)
• Emotional and social adjustment (bonding, attachment, behavior)
• Education and development (school or preschool participation, milestones)
• Family relationships (interaction with parents, siblings, and community)
• Photos showing your child in family settings (e.g., home, school, outdoor activities)

How the Adoption Agency Helps You

Your Hague-accredited agency will guide and coordinate every step of the post-adoption reporting process.

Here’s how:

1. Reminders and Scheduling
• The agency will remind you when each report is due.
• They will schedule a social worker visit (either in person or virtual) to gather information.
2. Social Worker Visits
• A licensed social worker helps you prepare each report.
• They’ll visit your home, talk with your family, and write a summary of how your child is adjusting.
3. Translation and Submission
• The agency arranges for your reports and photos to be translated into Bulgarian.
• The reports are then sent to the Bulgarian Ministry of Justice through your agency’s partner in Bulgaria.
4. Ongoing Support
• If challenges arise (behavioral, emotional, or developmental), your agency can connect you with post-adoption counseling, resources, and support groups.

Legal Clarification

These reports are required by Bulgarian law, but you do not have to re-adopt your child in the United States.

• Bulgaria’s adoption process is final and legal under both Bulgarian and Hague Convention law.
• The child is already your legal child when you leave Bulgaria.
• The post-adoption reports simply help Bulgaria confirm that your child is doing well — they do not affect your parental rights or the legal status of the adoption.

In Simple Terms

• You’ll submit six short reports over three years.
• Each report is prepared with your social worker and reviewed by your agency.
• Your agency takes care of translation, communication, and delivery to Bulgaria.
• These reports keep Bulgaria informed and show the lifelong care and love your child receives in your family.