The People's Republic of China
Please feel free to contact the China Program Director at any time during the initial or ongoing adoption process.
HAPS, in conjunction with the China Center of Adoption Affairs (CCAA), has been placing children from China since 1994. Initially, the process was one of the quickest, with referrals coming within weeks of the dossier's arrival in China. Interest grew rapidly. In 2006, the US processed approximately 6,500 visas for China adoptions. Because of the growing demand, the process of adopting a child from China has slowed, but it continues to be one of the most solid and predictable countries from which to adopt internationally.
Our goal is to make the adoption process as 'pain free' and understandable as possible for our families. Assistance and support are provided through each step of your adoption, including help with the dossier, certifications and authentications in all states, travel preparation and arrangements for the trip to China. We welcome families to maintain ongoing contact with our staff both during and following your adoption and strive to keep you informed of any new or ongoing developments. We are looking for new families for our China Program and we welcome you to the world of adoption.
Our China Program Director is Andrea Lee. She is an adoptive parent of a beautiful daughter from Hangzhou, China. Andrea works closely with our families through all stages of the adoption: in preparing the dossier, referral of a child, travel preparation, the adoption process in China, and follow-up upon returning home.
About the Children: They are mostly girls of different ages. Some boys may be available. The youngest child may be approximately 10 months old, and toddlers and older children are available. Generally, the children are living in orphanages throughout China, with smaller percentages in foster care. A large number of children are abandoned each year due to socioeconomic and cultural factors which are at odds with family planning and population control measures. There is no information available about the birthparents.
Medical Information: A medical and developmental evaluation is completed for each child within a few months prior to the child being referred to a family. A referral, consisting of a medical and developmental report, along with several pictures, will be sent to the family. Children are tested for HIV and Hepatitis B. We place healthy, as well as special needs’ children. In an effort to provide parents with a clear picture of their child, we require all parents to seek the advice of one of the many international adoption specialists in this country. We provide a list of physicians who routinely review medical records in order to give adoptive parents an educated recommendation about the child.
Eligibility: Effective May 1, 2007, the CCAA has instituted new criteria for adoptive families.
Age and Marriage Requirements: Couples must be between 30 and 50 years old (for a healthy child), or between 30 and 55 years old (for a special needs child). One spouse must be a US citizen. The couple must be married for at least 2 years. If you have been divorced and remarried, the couple must be married for at least 5 years. If there were more than 2 previous marriages for either parent, the CCAA will not accept the couple for an adoption. Unfortunately, singles are no longer allowed to adopt from China. China will not accept anyone living an alternative lifestyle.
Financial Requirements: The average annual income should be more than $10,000 USD per person for each family member, including the adopted child. Therefore, there must be a combined annual income of at least $30,000. This means $10,000 for each adult and $10,000 for the adopted child. The family’s net worth must be more than $80,000 USD.
Criminal History: There must be no history of domestic violence, sexual abuse, child abandonment or abuse (applicable even if there was no arrest). There must be no history of using drugs. Additionally, there must be no history of drinking within last 10 years.
Health of Parents: Both parents must be in good physical and mental health. Medical conditions which are unacceptable include, but are not limited to:
- Diagnosis of active hepatitis or aids
- Diagnosis of alcoholism within the last 10 years
- Diagnosis of major depression or other severe mental health disorder
- Diagnosis of cancer within the last 3 years
- Surgeries within the last year
- Limited mobility, including use of a wheelchair, etc.
- Severe diseases that require permanent medical treatment or affect normal life span (such as malignant tumors, lupus, liver disease, epilepsy, etc)
- Major organ transplants within 10 years
- Currently taking medication for severe mental disorders, such as depression, mania, or anxiety within last 2 years
- Weight Index, BMI of 40 or over
Please review other health conditions with the Program Director.
Educational Requirements: Both parents must have received education of the level of high school.
Other Children in the Home: There must be fewer than 5 children under the age of 18 in the household; the youngest child must be at least one year old. If you have recently given birth to a child, you must wait until the child is 12 months old to submit your dossier to China. If you have recently adopted a child from China, you must wait 1 year from date of placement to submit your dossier to complete another adoption from China.
Timeframe: It takes approximately 4 months to complete a homestudy, obtain CIS approval, and prepare the dossier. The Program Director will assist the family in preparing the dossier and will review each document to make sure everything is in order. After the dossier has been sent to China and is processed, the China Center of Adoption Affairs (CCAA) will forward the child’s referral to the agency in approximately 24–30 months. Travel is usually within 6-8 weeks after acceptance of the referral.
Travel: The travel to China is approximately 10-14 days. According to China regulations, at least 1 parent must travel. HAPS will arrange travel (hotels, guides, limited sightseeing, in-country air/rail/auto transportation) and will provide assistance with visas and booking international flights. We work with experienced travel agents in the US and China, and we are happy to provide customized arrangements to suit your individual needs. HAPS utilizes highly experienced guides in China who are well-versed in the adoption process, helping to provide our families with trouble-free, memorable adoption experiences.
