Adopted by Sophia Bush

Chapter 12

A/N I am not a lawyer so please don't take my writing as 100% correct, I have done as much research as I can. hope you enjoy the next chapter.

Sophia's POV

The taxi screeched to a holt outside of the solicitor's office. The building looked old and tired and in dire need of refurbishment.
Jesse hopped out of the taxi and opened the door for me.
He turned to face me and said
"Look, whatever happens in here, I will stand by you and if it comes to it fight for Caitlyn"
I gave him a smile and reached for his hand. I was starting to feel really nervous.
As we approached the door I dropped a text to Marina, asking how Caitlyn was.
  I took a deep breath and walked in. The inside of the solicitors office was very grand unlike its exterior.
"How can I help you?" Yelled the receptionist from the other side of the room.
Jesse and I approached her
"I'm here to see Mr Howard"
"He is just in another appointment at the moment, he shouldn't be too long. Would you like to sit over there until he calls for you?"
"Okay, thanks" I said slightly annoyed I couldn't be seen straightaway because the situation was time sensitive.
  As soon as I sat down my leg started to bounce violently up and down.
Within seconds Jesse gently clamped his hand on my knee to stop the movement.
"Look it will be okay, he's just going to talk us through the adoption process and then we can go through the motions and Caitlyn should be a part of the family in no time!"
" I know, it's just I'm worried if he wants us to send her back"
"It won't come to that" Jesse interjected

"Miss Sophia Bush"
The receptionist called.
We made our way to Mr Howard's office and came face to face with his oak door.
Knocking lightly it wasn't long before he called us in.

"Ah Sophia, how are you?" He said as he sat down.

" I'm okay, how are you?"

"good, now lets get down to business, eh. What would you like to discuss?"

Jesse looked me in the eye as he squeezed my hand

"Basically, I found this girl on the street. She had run away from her abusive mother at the airport. And I want to adopt her" i managed to get the words out.

"Well that is quite a predicament you're in Sophia. Where is this girl from?"

"She's from the UK and she's 15 years old" I mumbled

"Okay so you have two options available to you for adoption... The first option is wait until she is  18 and it will be easier for her to be adopted. And the second option is to go through with the adoption now."

I felt Jesse squeeze my hand again it was reassuring to know that I wasn't alone in this "Honestly I think the second option is the one we want to pursue."

"Right okay I will talk you through the adoption process, First of all you will need to obtain a home study from some authorised to complete a Hague adoption home study. If that goes well, then you will need to Apply to USCIS before adopting the child from another country. Would you like me to stop for a moment?"

"Yes please" I was starting to tear up

"Okay, and once USCIS approves the application, you have to obtain a proposed adoption placement."

"You will then have to file a petition with USCIS before adopting the child, to have the child to be found eligible to immigrate to the united states based on the proposed adoption."

"At this point it won't be long until you can adopt the child or option custody of the child in order to adopt the child in the united states, then you will need to get an immigrant visa for the child and then bring the child to the united states for admission with the visa."

"I'm sorry to tell you that the girl that is living with you must go back home in order to start the adoption process"

I couldn't breathe and I blacked out