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Did you know? China is the leading country for international adoptions by Americans.
TakeawaysYou must be at least 30 years old to adopt from China.American families may adopt only one Asian child per year.Less than 10% of any agency's applicants can be single.It was easy for Angelina Jolie and Meg Ryan to adopt from Asian countries, so why wouldn't it be easy for me? Well, let's think about this for a minute. Ms. Jolie and Ms. Ryan have an endless amount of capital, clout and connections to aid in their quest to adopt from Asian countries - the average American citizen does not. They are also very heavily armed with the knowledge they need to avoid the many land mines associated with adopting from Asian countries thanks to a team of the best researchers, lawyers and consultants money can buy. Oh, and Ms. Jolie also happens to be a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador. This is not to say that America's sweetheart and ambassador Jolie don't have to follow certain rules, but having certain extras, well, it certainly helps.
While adopting from Asian countries isn't impossible by any means, it can be very challenging if you enter into the journey with your eyes closed. Everything looks easy on TV, so it's best not to use the media as your measuring stick. What you'll need in order to have a successful adoption from an Asian country is drive, determination, patience, strength, realistic expectations, finances and most importantly, knowledge.
Americans interested in adopting from Asian countries such as China, the leading country for international adoptions by Americans, can expect to go through a lengthy process consisting of a significant amount of paperwork, home study programs, background checks (including fingerprints) and various approval processes before receiving a referral from the China Center for Adoption Affairs. The referral includes the name and birth date of the potential adoptee, a photograph and a medical report.
Americans hoping to adopt from China should be 30-55 years old, in good health (mentally and physically), approved by the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service and they must also take part in a home study process that meets the requirements of China and the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service. Approval by the INS may be obtained by completing INS form I-600A. In addition, potential adoptive parents must work through a non-profit agency that is registered with the Chinese government-there are no exceptions to this rule. Adopting through a lawyer, facilitator or independently is not allowed.
There are no exceptions to the age minimum (30), but if you are 50-55, you must be open to accepting a child over the age of three. Singles may have a tougher time adopting as less than 10% of any agencies applicants can be single. American families are permitted to adopt only one child per year and gay and lesbian applicants are not accepted at this time.
The list of notarized documents that should accompany the application includes but is not limited to: salary and employment verification, home study report, medical reports, marriage certificates or divorce decrees (if applicable) and any other applicable forms or reports, etc. Once these documents are submitted to China, the wait time for a referral is typically no less than a year. If the potential parents are Chinese-American or a child has extreme special needs, the wait time may be less.
Once a referral is received and accepted by the potential adoptive parents, they are then required to travel to China for anywhere from 10 days up to two weeks to complete the process which includes completing the child's paperwork (adoption visa, etc), completing a medical exam and touring the child's province. Once the adoption visa is granted by the U.S. consulate, the family is free to return to the U.S with their new addition. The final step in the adoption process is a series of post placement reports that must be submitted to China by a social worker of the non-profit agency that handled the adoption. At this point, the technical aspects of the adoption are over, but the emotional aspects have just begun.
Adopting a child in America is a serious commitment in itself. But, adopting from Asian countries is a bit more challenging. It requires more research, a serious time commitment to the long process and of course, there are many other issues to consider once the child arrives in America. Embracing the child's roots is extremely important. This can be done through educating them (and yourself) about Asian history, culture, language, etc.
The positives of adopting from Asian countries far outweigh the negatives as there are thousands of success stories dating back to the early 1970s when this practice became increasingly common. Whether it's China or South Korea, the Philippines or Vietnam, do your research before considering adoption-you'll be successful in your efforts in the long-run. User-generated content powered by Associated Content | Publish your own Content |
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