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How do I adopt a child from China?
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This is adoption awareness month and many parents who are hoping to add a child to their family are open to many different options, including international adoptions. China is a country that used to be fairly easy to adopt a child from, but many are now finding it quite complicated to adopt one of the thousands of orphans that are native to this country. The number of adoptions from China was rising for many years but it peaked in 2005 at 7,903 adoptions. It has since been declining and 2008 saw the lowest number in 10 years with 3,911 adoptions. Adopting from China is a long process, but it isn't impossible and the patient and persistent will be rewarded with a beautiful child who may not have otherwise found a home.
Who can adopt?
Since May of 2007, there are very specific requirements for the prospective adoptive parents which include age, marriage status, health status, and education and income level.
Also, as of September 29, 2009, new requirements from the Chinese Center of Adoption Affairs (CCAA) requires that all intercountry adoptions are through both U.S. Hague accredited adoption agencies as well as CCAA-licensed agencies beginning December 1, 2009. For a list of CCAA-licensed agencies in your state click here.
Other Specifics:
- Children ages 13 and younger are allowed to be adopted
- Waiting period is around 38 months from paperwork submission until a referral, then 4-8 weeks after child approval until the parents can go to China, and then approximately 2 weeks in China before returning home with the child
- China is part of the Hague Convention which means that you must follow a certain process summarized as follows (for more information):
- Choose an Accredited Adoption Service Provider
-
Apply to be Found Eligible to Adopt
- Be Matched with a Child
- Apply for the Child to be Found Eligible for Immigration to the United States
- Adopt the Child in China
- Bring your Child Home
A final word from the U.S. Department of State's Intercountry Adoption website's China page:
Chinese authorities are extremely sensitive about the operation of foreign entities in China. Moreover, adoption is also a sensitive subject in China. It is therefore advisable for any person interested in adopting a child from China to act with discretion and decorum. High-profile attention to adoption in China could curtail or eliminate altogether adoption of Chinese children by persons from countries, including the United States, that have caused adoption to become the subject of public attention.
For more info:
U.S. Department of State's Intercountry Adoption
Chinese Center for Adoption Affairs
Families with Children from China support network
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Here is one family's photo log of their experience adopting a child from China:
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