We really don't know when R & S will be able to come home, but our best guess is sometime in June. (Note: to protect the children, we're not going to use their full names on the blog.)
Here's a recap of the process to date:
Here's a recap of the process to date:
- Apply to adoption agency - September 2011
- Begin homestudy - October 2011
- Homestudy complete - March 2012
- Officially register with the Ministry of Justice in Bulgaria - June 2012
- Wait to be matched with a child or children.
- Update homestudy - July 2013
- Wait some more.
- Receive a referral - January 8, 2014
- First trip to Bulgaria to meet the children - February 23 to March 1, 2014
In between the first and second trip, there are several things that have to happen before we can bring them home. First, we have to receive an I800 approval and Article 5 approval. Those are both from the U.S. government (one from Immigration, one from the U.S. Embassy in Sofia), approving R and S to immigrate from Bulgaria to the U.S. We received both of those approvals very quickly, thanks to our agency, which seems to be very on top of all the paperwork and the process.
Next, we wait for the Bulgarian Ministry of Justice to approve the adoption. Hopefully that will happen by mid-April and before any Easter holidays. Then, we have to get court approval in Bulgaria to adopt them. Once the court decree is issued (hopefully mid-May), we can schedule the trip to bring them home!
There is much to do to get ready - fundraising, getting the house ready, and just preparing the family for this huge change. So, we're keeping busy, but we do still miss them and are very thankful for the opportunity to Skype with them every Friday.
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