Process Overview

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It takes approximately five to six months to complete a Home study, obtain CIS (immigration) approval, and prepare a dossier. At this time, only children with special needs and older children are available for adoption. The waiting time for referral can be as long as two to three years after dossiers have been submitted to CCCWA. The children ranges from age one and half to thirteen years at the time of referral. Travel takes place approximately three to three and a half months after referral, depending on the process of immigration, US Consulate in Guangzhou China, and the Central Authority in China, the China Center for Children’s Welfare and Adoption (CCCWA). Families are required to travel once only. 
If only one parent can travel, the traveling parents must prepare a Power of Attorney for the other parent. 
In-country representatives will help the families throughout their two week stay in China.

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Criteria for Potential Adoptive Parents (PAPs)

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• PAPs should be at least 30 years old, and the age difference between the PAP and the adoptee should be not more than 50 years. When a couple adopts, the age difference is based on the age of the younger parent.
   

• Couples should have a stable marital status, meaning neither PAP should have more than 2 divorces in their history. If both PAPs have never experienced divorce or only have 1 divorce, they should have been in their current marriage for at least 2 years. If either party has had 2 divorces, they should have been in their current marriage for at least 5 years.
   

• Couples must be in good physical and mental health and both individuals' Body Mass Index (BMI) must be under 40.
   

• PAPs must have a minimum of a high school diploma or equivalent.
   

• Couples must have a minimal annual income of at least $10,000 per person in the home, including the future adopted child. Family net assets must total at least $80,000.
   

• Couples must have no criminal record or history of domestic violence, sexual abuse, child abuse or substance abuse.
   

• PAPs should have enough time and energy to take care of the minors in the house, including the prospective adoptee. If adopting as a couple, the number of minors living in the house should be 5 or fewer; if adopting as a single parent, the number of minors living in the house should be 2 or fewer. The youngest child in the house should be at least 3 years old.
   

• PAPs are required to submit all post placement reports as required after the adoption, typically up to 5 years.

• In principle, the PAPs should adopt only 1 child from China at a time.
   

• If submitting a second adoption application, there should be a 1 year interval between the second adoption application and the previous one (from the registration date of the previous adoption to the current adoption application date).

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Children Available for Placements

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Children waiting for permanent loving homes are cared for in orphanages accredited by the China government or in foster care homes as they wait to be matched with their forever families.

 

Children in the China Waiting Children’s Program may be:

• Abandoned or orphaned children of either gender 

• Aged 1 to 13 years

• Children with special needs

  • The most common special needs include cleft palate and lip, limb difference, albinism, congenital heart disease, hepatitis B, burns, scoliosis, deafness, vision problems, anal atresia, intersex, development delay, Down’s syndrome and cerebral palsy. 

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Costs/Fees Explained

 

The placement and country fees to adopt from China total roughly $28,000-$32,000. Fees may vary based on travel, transportation and number of Post Adoption visits required by the CCCWA and Adopt International.

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Does not include document certification fees. If the family has requested a change or made an error in their documentation after it has been certified and/or authenticated, there will be an additional fee.

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Travel expenses including hotel, food and all transportation are not included and will be paid directly by adoptive family.

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Does not include Home Study or post placement fees. These will be determined by your Home Study agency.

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Immigration fees are not included. The application currently costs $720 plus $85/person for fingerprint clearance. Every other renewal is free.

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Visa application fee and medical test in-country are not included.

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All expenses in China are subject to change. These fees are beyond the control of Adopt International.

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