114 UGLOBAL IMMIGRATION MAGAZINE
After all , I am a scientist by education , so I contacted some immigration attorneys in Europe , and asked them what is the best way to achieve my objectives . Some consultations were free , for some I paid the fee as requested .
After contacting companies and individuals , I began to understand much better the processes and all complexities of achieving my objectives . Then I discovered the Bulgarian citizenship program and contacted Alex Dobrinov from VD & A [ Vasilev – Dobrinov & Associates ]. My questions were answered , I visited Sofia and talked to Alex , and decided to go ahead with the Bulgarian citizenship .
There are three big benefits of the Bulgarian citizenship program for me :
1 . There are no non-refundable donations to the government ; all the money you invest are yours to keep , and you can take them back after two years when the citizenship is granted .
2 . All your children , of any age , even older than 18 years old , are eligible and can apply for Bulgarian citizenship once you receive yours .
3 . The process of receiving full citizenship can be pretty short , in theory 18 months ( 1.5 years ), practically , 2.5-3 years .
As for the investment selection , I chose the safest option , the Bulgaria 3,125 % 26 / 03 / 2035 Bonds , XS1208856341 .
After March 2021 , by making changes to the Citizenship law , the Bulgarian government removed the bonds option , and created new ones ( mutual funds , stocks , etc .), so , it is better to contact VD & A Alex Dobrinov and discuss with him what options are now available . My reasoning for selecting the government bonds was really simple : I don ’ t want to wake up every morning and check how my company , investment project , stock or the mutual fund is doing , I just want to go out and ride my horse .
How long was the process to acquire the Bulgarian citizenship / passport for you and your family ?
Let me give you my timeline :
July 2018 : I contacted VD & A and received all consultations , we signed the contract .
August 2018 : I flew to Sofia and opened the Bank account ( need to be in person ).
September 2018 : Transfer 520,000 euros to the bank , bought Bulgarian bonds .
October 2018 : Received certificate from Bulgarian Investment Agency that the investment satisfies conditions for permanent residency .
November 2018 : Applied and received Type-D visa from the
Bulgarian consulate in Los Angeles .
December 2018 : Flew to Sofia to apply for permanent residency permit ( need in-person interview ).
February - March 2019 : The Permanent Residency Permit is approved and issued ( must receive in-person ).
March 2020 : Another transfer of 530,000 euros to the bank , purchased additional bonds to double the investment .
April 2020 : Scheduled appointment with the Ministry of Justice for my citizenship application ; due to COVID-19 all appointments were cancelled - bummer !
September 2020 : Appointment at the Bulgarian Embassy in Washington D . C . for the interview and to submit the documents for the Bulgarian citizenship .
November 2020 : Ministry of Justice in Sofia received documents from the Embassy and started processing ,