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:rolleyes:
Just wondering here for those that know the "new workings of the system" if we have to make a first trip or can it be waived in special circumstances? If not how long does the first visit have to be?
Thanks Vicki
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Vicki .... as I understand it you can not do the first trip, but the problem is that you may have serious issues with USCIS. In order to immigrate your new child into the U.S. you have to have seen the child prior to the adoption. What my agency told me is that I can go for the first trip and then have someone else bring my child over after the court date (not an option for me!).
Actually, USCIS doesn't require that you see the child before the adoption...there are two different kinds of Visa's, one for children who have been visited before the adoption and one for those who did not visit before the adoption...the only difference is that with the first, citizenship is automatic, as soon as the childs feet hit US soil...with the second, you must file for citizenship.
USCIS does not require a pre-adoption visit...some parents dont even go for the pick up trip in the countries that allow escorts.
The ministry's requirement under the new laws states that you must spend 5 days with your child. These can only be working days(weekdays). So you fly out from US on a friday and arrive in Sofia the afternoon Saturday. Travel to your orphanage Sunday and start the visitation Monday. We were there every day and on Friday we went in 30 minutes early(8:30am) and left at 11:30am and took a 2 1/2 hour drive back to Sofia where we had all our paperwork translated and signed and legalized and also deposited are second payment by 5 pm. You will get a certificate from the Orphanage director that states that you have spent the mandatory time with your child and then the process begins again(waiting for the Minister's signiture to get a court date.............)
We then flew back Saturday am and arrived saturday pm and I believe that is the fastest it can be done. If both parents see the child prior to adoption then you get a visa that allows immediate citizenship on arrival to american soil. If one or none see the child than the child comes in under a gaurdianship and you must finalize the adoption in your state. This is not a Bulgarian rule but a US rule.
But in Bulgaria they are wanting parents to come 1st and witness the child and have no secondary regrets.