china Adoption program

Adopt International is pleased to introduce its China Program and the China Adoption Process.

General Requirements by The People's Republic of China

China has standardized International Adoption Laws, yet the implementation is in a constant state of change. We do our best to keep our clients informed of changes. The People's Republic of China set the following criteria for adoptive parent/s:

1. Couples must be between thirty to forty-five years of age to adopt a child around the age of one year.
2. Couples between forty-five and forty-nine years of age are eligible to adopt a child around two years of age.
3. Couples must be married for at least two years, if this is the first marriage for both individuals. If this is the second or third marriage for either individual (no more than 2 previous marriages, per individual), the couple must be married for at least 5 years.
4. Couples must be in good physical and mental health and their Body Mass Index (BMI) must be under 40 for each individual.
5. Couples must have a minimum of a high school diploma or equivalent

6. Couples must have an income of at least $10,000 per person in the home, including the future adopted child. Family net assets must be at least $80,000.
7. Couples can have no more than 4 children, under the age of 18 years, living in the home when their dossier is registered by the CCAA. The youngest child must also be at least 12 months old.
8. Couples must have no criminal record or history of domestic violence, sexual abuse, child abuse or substance abuse.

Expedited Case:

The China Center of Adoption Affairs (CCAA) expedites the matching process for families who meet the criteria listed above AND satisfy one or more of the following requirement(s):

1. Parents adopting a child with special or medical needs through the Waiting Child Program.
2. At least one of the prospective adoptive parents was born in China or Taiwan.
3. Both parents of one prospective adoptive parent were born in China or Taiwan.
4. Both parents of both prospective adoptive parents were born in China or Taiwan.

For expedited cases, the prospective adoptive parents are required to submit a legal document to the CCAA to prove of their Chinese ancestry.   

Process:

Most of the children available for adoption are orphans. There is usually no background information or health history on the child. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) requires that children have a physical examination and be certified in good health before a visa will be issued. In order to pursue an international adoption from China, the following must be accomplished:

1. Apply to the U.S.C.I.S. for advance approval to be eligible to adopt a child from another country.
2. Satisfy the laws of the state in which the applicant/s reside. This includes completing an Adoption Home Study by a licensed adoption agency.
3. Satisfy the Chinese Adoption Laws and provide necessary documentation for the Chinese government.

While completing the Adoption Home Study, applicant/s will collect all necessary documentation for their China dossier. This dossier must then be certified and authenticated in the United States. It takes approximately four months to obtain U.S.C.I.S. approval, complete the Adoption Home Study, and prepare a completed dossier for China. The dossier is forwarded to China where it is reviewed for approval, and a child is identified. This is currently taking about 34-36 months, and we anticipate the wait time may continue to increase or decrease. Upon receiving and accepting the child assignment, the family will schedule their trip to China. Adopt International will assist families with their travel plans, as well as help to prepare for this great adventure. The stay in China is generally 12-15 days.

Click here for more informatin on the China adoption process.