Factsheet

DISCLAIMER: The following is intended as a very general guide to assist U.S. citizens who plan to adopt a child in Bulgaria and apply for an immigrant visa for the child to come to the United States. Two sets of laws are particularly relevant: 1) the laws of Bulgaria govern all activity in Bulgaria including the adoptability of individual children as well as the adoption of children in country. 2) U.S. Federal immigration law governs the immigration of the child to the United States. The information in this flier relating to the legal requirements of specific foreign countries is based on public sources and our current understanding. It does not necessarily reflect the actual state of the laws of Bulgaria and is provided for general information only. Moreover, U.S. immigration law, including regulations and interpretation, changes from time to time. This flyer reflects our current understanding of the law as of this date and is not legally authoritative. Questions involving foreign and U.S. immigration laws and legal interpretation should be addressed respectively to qualified foreign or U.S. legal counsel.

PATTERNS OF IMMIGRATION OF ADOPTED ORPHANS TO THE U.S.: Recent U.S. immigrant visa statistics reflect the following pattern for visa issuance to orphans

ADOPTION AUTHORITY IN BULGARIA:
Ministry of Justice
Slavyanska Street # 1, Sofia 1000
Tel: (359 2) 923-7303 (Bulgarian only)
http://www.mjeli.government.bg/ (Bulgarian only)

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR ADOPTIVE PARENTS: Prospective adoptive parents may be married or single. Adoptive parents must be at least fifteen years older than their adoptive children, but no more than forty-five years older. There are no Bulgarian age minimums or maximums; prospective adoptive parents are expected to comply with their home government’s age requirements (For the U.S. prospective adoptive parents must be at least 25 years old; there are no age maximums).

Credits: U.S. Department of State