China Adoption

[Great Wall China Adoption] [Waiting Child Photolisting]

About China Adoption

The People’s Republic of China is one of the world’s most ancient civilizations with a recorded history of more than 5,000 years. Butting against the Pacific Ocean in East Asia, China has a vast territory richly endowed with natural resources. Its capital, Beijing, is not only the nation’s political center, but its cultural, scientific and educational heart, as well as a key transportation hub. China began its international adoption program in 1991, and it has become one of the most trusted and sought after international adoption programs in the world. In fact, American families choose to adopt from China more often than from any other country. As of 2008, more than 66,000 Chinese orphans have been placed with American Families. Many families choose our China adoption program because it provides a stable, predictable and corruption-free process.

Governance of Chinese Adoptions

The China Center for Children’s Welfare and Adoption (CCCWA), located in Beijing, is the governing authority responsible for placing children into China’s international adoption program. This government run program ensures that children receive adequate care in welfare homes while providing parents with a stable international adoption process. Children of All Nations is directly accredited by the CCCWA.

If you would like more information about our China program, our adoption consultants are standing by to help! Call us today at (512)323-9595!

Children Available

Chinese children are orphaned or abandoned for a number of reasons, which include poverty and in some cases the government’s restriction on parents having multiple children. These children remain in orphanages until they are placed with a family for adoption. When selecting a child, consider that you may adopt the following from the children currently available in the orphanages:

• Children from the ages of 0-13 with minor to severe special needs
• Healthy older children between the ages of 10-13

China’s Waiting Children

Many of these children have very minor and correctable needs and will require families to have their LID (Log In Date), so be sure to get started and prepared today by filling out a GWCA formal application.

Families interested in the Waiting Child Program can view our photo listing, where we provide a brief profile for some of the children who are waiting for a family. In order to view the photo listing, please request our free China Information Guide.

China Adoption Requirements

In addition to the USCIS requirements for prospective adoptive parent(s), China has the following adoption eligibility requirements. If you have concerns or questions, please contact us for a free case-by-case consultation regarding your China Adoption.

• Citizenship: One adoptive parent must be a U.S. citizen.
• Age: Both parents must be between the ages of 30 and 49 to adopt from China. Couples and single women between the ages of 30-55 are eligible for China’s Waiting Child Program. Older couples may be considered on a case-by-case basis.
• Marriage Status: Married couples are eligible to adopt from China. First marriage couples must be married for at least two years; neither spouse can be divorced more than twice – for marriages with previous divorces, must be married for at least five years. Single women are eligible to adopt from China’s Special Focus Adoption Program, and other guidelines apply.
• Income: $10,000 annually per person in household, including future adopted child; for example, a married couple with no children living the home must earn at least $30,000 annually; families must show a positive net worth (assets vs. liabilities) of at least $80,000. Single women must have a net worth of $100,000.
• Criminal History: Applicants with a criminal history of child abuse, violence or domestic violence, drug charges or any felony arrests are not eligible to adopt.
• Education: Both parents must have high school diplomas (or the equivalent).
• Religion: Spiritual beliefs must not prevent your child from receiving medical treatment of any kind.
• Previous Children: Families with biological children and/or adopted children may still adopt from China and can submit their dossier to China when the biological child turns one year old or upon the one-year anniversary of their previous China Adoption; families with five or more children are eligible to adopt through China’s Waiting Child Program.
• Health: If either parent is not in excellent health, acceptance to adopt from China is on a case-by-case basis. For more information about health factors that affect eligibility, contact a CAN consultant.

China Adoption Eligibility requirements are subject to change per CCCWA’s adoption laws. CAN updates these guidelines as necessary.

If you would like more information about our program, our specialized adoption consultants are standing by to help! To have your questions answered, call us today at (512)323-9595 or email us.

Adoption Timeline

China’s current healthy child adoption process can take a minimum of 6 years. If adopting through China’s Waiting Child program, you will see a shorter referral wait of 1-12 months depending on the time the families take to complete their dossier paperwork, preferences for age, gender, and special needs; please consult CAN for current processing times for your adoption from China.

The Process

For detailed information regarding the process for adopting from China, please visit our process page on our GWCA site here!

Orphanage Information

Great Wall China Adoption works with all welfare homes authorized by the CCCWA. Unlike other international adoption programs, the CCCWA carefully considers each child’s temperament and personality before matching them with a family. The CCCWA officials thoroughly review each family’s dossier to determine the traits and characteristics of the family. The officials try to match children and families that have similar traits and temperament. It is important to keep in mind that neither the parents nor the adoption agencies select the child.

Child welfare homes (orphanages) and international adoption agencies must meet very strict eligibility requirements to be approved by the Chinese government to place children in adoptive homes. Only the welfare homes and adoption agencies that meet or exceed the government’s strict guidelines are approved to place children internationally. Only agencies with a China program started prior to 1997 are officially registered with the CCCWA to place children.

China Adoption Resources