The China program is a well-established international adoption program. IAN maintains a positive relationship with the China Centre for Children's Welfare and Adoption (CCCWA) which is the central authority that works with orphanages all over the country to advocate for the orphans of China. China maintains files of children who are available for International adoption through the Shared List. The Shared List is an electronic and secure listing of special-focus and non-special-focus children, who have either medical, developmental, or cognitive needs. China only allows agencies to have access to the current waiting children on the list.
Parent Requirements
Residency
There is no residency requirement in China.
Citizenship
The U.S. Department of State requires Prospective Adoptive Parents (PAPs) to be U.S. citizens in order to immigrate a chlid to the United States through the intercounty adoption process.
For married PAPs, only one parent must be a U.S. citizen.
Single adoptive parents must be U.S. citizens.
Age Requirements
PAPs must be at least 30 years of age.
If married and over 50 years old, the difference in age between the younger parent and the child cannot be more than 50 years.
If single and over 50 years old, the difference in age between the parent and child cannot be more than 45 years.
Marital Status
Married couples are defind as one man and one woman.
Couples with no history of divorce or couples with only one party with one divorce must be married for at least two years to be considered.
If one party has two divorces, the current marriage must be at least 5 years. If either party has more than two divorces, the couple will not be considered.
Heterosexual single women may adopt special-focus children.
Income
At least one member of the couple must have stable employment.
The family's annual income must have a minimum of $30,000 plus $10,000 per child (including the children to be adopted).
The total value of the family's assets must be at least $80,000.
Single women applicants must have an income of at least $20,000 plus $10,000 per cihld and a net worth of over $100,000.
Health
Adoptive parents should have good health and should not be suffering from any contagious or terminal disease or such mental or physical condition which may prevent them from taking care of the child.
China requires that adoptive parents have none of the following conditions: AIDS, mental disability, blind in either eye, hearing loss in both ears or loss of language function (unless adopting a child with hearing or language loss), severe facial deformation, severe disease that require long-term treatment and that may affect life expectancy, including malignant tumours, lupus, nephritis, epilepsy, etc., major organ transplant within ten years, schizophrenia, severe mental disorders requiring medication for more than two years, including depression, mania or anxiety neurosis, and body mass index of 40 or more.
Some mental disorders will be accepted if the disorder is minor and well-controlled by medication. Parents with severe hearing loss or loss of language may adopt a child with the same condition.
Other
Neither spouse may have a significant criminal record, and there can be no evidence of domestic violence, sexual abuse, abandonment or abuse of children, use of narcotics or any potentially addictive medication, and/or alcohol abuse unless he/she can prove they have been sober for 10 years.
Both parents must have a high school education or vocation training equivalent to a high school education.
Children In Need
Children become available for adoption in China due to extreme economic hardship on the part of the birth parents, or due to the social stigma of being a single parent in China. Children are from a wide range of China’s diverse cultural and religious backgrounds.
Age
Children between the ages of 8 months to 13 years are available for adoption.
Gender
While gender preference can be indicated by adoptive parents, parents are strongly encouraged to be open to a child of either gender. In the waiting child program, 40% of the children matched are females and 60% are males.
Health
Most children adopted from China are considered special focus with a degree of special needs. Special needs may vary from minor to severe and a wide variety of needs are seen. It is important to note that if the child is older, the child may still have minor medical and developmental delays due to institutionalized living.
Adoption Process and Timeline
At present, the China adoption program is heavily impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. Thus, China has temporarily paused all adoption processing. IAN is committed to continuing adoptions from China, but, at this time, it is not possible to estimate when China will reopen for adoption and the length of time an adoption from China may take. Timeframe is only an estimation and will vary per adoption.
1
Choose an Adoption Agency
Choose an accredited Adoption Service Provider (ASP) who is licensed, such as IAN.
2
Apply to be found eligible to adopt
First complete an approved home study. You will have to hire an external agency if you do not reside in Colorado. IAN will be able to provide you recommendations. If you reside in Colorado, IAN will be your home study agency as well. (2-3 months)
After home study approval, apply for U.S. Immigration approval. (3-4 months)
Once you receive U.S. Immigraiton approval, submit Dossier to CCCWA.
3
Accept Child Referral
CCCWA will present a Child Referral to IAN for the PAPs. PAPs can accept or decline the Child Referral.
4
Obtain Necessary Approvals to Immigrate the Child into the U.S.
5
Travel to China and bring the child home
After you receive a Visa in the child's name, you will be able to bring the child home.
6
Post Adoption Visits and Reports
There is a requirement from China to submit Post Adoption reports at regular intervals. Visit "Post Adoption" to learn more.
Travel Requirements
Prospective adoptive parents are required to travel to China to take custody of the adopted child. At least one trip of 14 days is required.
Cost Estimates
It can vary from $35,000 to $55,000. Not all the costs will necessarily apply and all fees can change at any time. To receive IAN's China fee agreement and schedule, click on "Contact a Coordinator" and fill out the contact form.
Additional fees charged by Chinese authrities in connection with foreign adoptions may vary depending on the province where the child is adopted. However, for each adoption, there are standard fees that adoptive parents must pay.
The authentication/legalization of documents by the Chinese Embassy or Consulate in the US fees
The CCCWA Fee
Dossier and translation fee
Fees for issuance of the Chinese-notarized certificate approving the adoption, birth certificate, and abandonment certificate may vary based on province.
Individual children's welfare institute - where the child lived prior to adoption - may charge donation to the institution and a fee for caring for the child.
Ready to start or have questions? Our coordinators are here to help!
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