Chinese Children Adoption International  - Adopting a Child From China

The government office responsible for adoptions in China is the Ministry of Civil Affairs, specifically the CCAA. Your adoption agency must submit adoption applications, along with dossiers, directly to the CCAA (in other words, your agency shouldn't use an intermediary). Once the application for adoption is approved, the CCAA will then match the application with a child whose paperwork has been forwarded to the CCAA by a provincial Civil Affairs Bureau. Once a child is identified, the CCAA will send a letter of introduction about the child, photographs, and a health record of the child through the U.S. adoption agency to the prospective adoptive parent(s). To finalize the adoption, the prospective adoptive parent(s) need to travel to China to complete the process.

Adopting a child from China

American parents do not have to travel to Beijing for approval. The CCAA will have already forwarded a copy of the adoption approval notice to the province where the child resides. Americans adopting in China commonly meet with a notary in the provincial capital for an informal interview. (A Chinese notary is not the same thing as a Notary Public in the United States; a Chinese notary is an official with broad-ranging responsibilities.) A translator supplied by the Child Welfare Institute is usually present at the interview. Questions commonly asked of the prospective adoptive parent(s) include:

• Why are you adopting a Chinese child?
• Do you have any children now (either adopted or birth)?
• What is your family background?
• Why do you not have children?
• How can you assure us that the adopted child will be well treated?

After the interview is completed, the actual adoption and completion of the contract (including making a fixed "donation" of around $3,000 to $4,000 to the Children's Welfare Institute - this donation is NOT a bribe, but is required for the adoption and completion of contract), take place.

Children Available: Healthy girls, infants through 6 years old. Older children and special needs children (both boys and girls) are also available for adoption from China.

Parent Requirements: Parents must be at least 35 years old. Single adoptive parents (both women and men) are eligible to adopt from China. However, the total number of applications from singles is strictly limited and according to the official CCAA Web site, adoption by homosexuals is "not welcomed." Furthermore, single adopters may be asked to sign an affidavit stating that they are heterosexual.

Travel Requirements: Travel is required for one parent, although both parents are strongly urged to travel. One trip is required; the trip length averages two weeks.

Time Frame: From the time you fill out your initial application until you bring your child home averages about 18 to 20 months. Adoption of older and special needs children usually takes less time.

Number of Children Adopted by Americans in 2003: 6,859

Additional Information: The children available for adoption from China are in orphanages. Post placement reports and supervision are required for one year. Bear in mind that adoption is a sensitive subject in China.

Credits: The International Adoption Guidebook, © Mary M. Strickert