Adoption from China: a Primer
Here is a brief breakdown of the major milestones in our process to become parents through adoption. In parentheses is the date we completed the step.
At the bottom you'll find a short list of some of the commonly used terms. I will continue to add to this list as needed, but I can't promise it will always be alphabetized.
Process:
Definitions
CCAA
China Center for Adoption Affair
Dossier
A collection of papers, or other sources, containing detailed information about a particular person or subject, together with a synopsis of their content (source). As the definition implies, the dossier represents the sum total of our 5 1/2 month effort to convince every authority imaginable that we are worthy to adopt a child. Each of the documents had to go through a complex set of certifications to make them acceptable to the foreign court. Dossier preparation is one of the agency's services.
Home Study
A home study, also called an adoption study, is a written description of you and your family prepared by an adoption agency or private adoption professional. It is used to determine which child would best fit into your home. The home study process should be an educational and enlightening experience for the prospective adoptive family.
You can expect some or all of the following to be part of the process.
Our child's name, photo and medical history. Prior to overnighting it, China usually faxes the package to the agency, at which point we are contacted and asked to come in as soon as possible to review. We only have a week to agree to accept the child. The amount of information contained in the package varies from child to child and from orphanage to orphanage. We have seen a fairly complete referral with half a dozen pictures, an actual birth date (pinned to the child's shirt by her birth mother), and quite detailed medical and personality information to a spartan one with only a single black and white mug shot with spotty medical history and no information from the care giver. We will be taking whatever medical information we are provided to a Chinese colleague of Michelle's who will translate the report and look for anything unusual. We might also take the translation to a pediatrician that specializes in reviewing foreign medical reports for international adoptions.
Travel Invitation
This basically refers to the visa process required for traveling to China.
At the bottom you'll find a short list of some of the commonly used terms. I will continue to add to this list as needed, but I can't promise it will always be alphabetized.
Process:
- Applied to adoption agency (12.5.04)
- Pre-adoption group meetings (01.19.05 & 01.29.05)
- Home study meetings (03.22.05)
- Complete dossier for China (12.20.04 to 5.01.05)
- Home study report (03.25.05)
- Letter of application andcommitmentt
- Birth certificate
- Marriage certificate
- Letter of health
- Certificate or letter from local police (stating that neither applicant has criminal record)
- Letter from employer
- Letter of assets
- Proposed guardian information and assets
- Passport copy
- BCIS Form 171-H (Notice of Favorable Determination)
- Authentication of dossier (04.26.05 to 05.15.05)
- Dossier sent to China (sent beginning of May, logged in at CCAA May 17, 2005)
- Referral receive from CCAA
- Travel to China
- Adoption decree issued, new birth certificate and Chinese passport issued in provincial capital of child's current residence
- Travel to US Consulate in Guangzhou for exit interview and to obtain visa for baby to enter the US
- Return to US, child receives automatic US Citizenship upon entry to US
Definitions
CCAA
China Center for Adoption Affair
Dossier
A collection of papers, or other sources, containing detailed information about a particular person or subject, together with a synopsis of their content (source). As the definition implies, the dossier represents the sum total of our 5 1/2 month effort to convince every authority imaginable that we are worthy to adopt a child. Each of the documents had to go through a complex set of certifications to make them acceptable to the foreign court. Dossier preparation is one of the agency's services.
Home Study
A home study, also called an adoption study, is a written description of you and your family prepared by an adoption agency or private adoption professional. It is used to determine which child would best fit into your home. The home study process should be an educational and enlightening experience for the prospective adoptive family.
You can expect some or all of the following to be part of the process.
- interviews with the parent/s individually and together (if a couple)
- group meetings involving several applicant families (many agencies do this)
- autobiographies written by each parent
- a home visit
- medical reports from your physician
- references from friends and associates
- proof of employment
- investigations into any criminal record, including the state's child abuse registry
- participation in adoption information training classes
- personal finance information
- copies of tax returns
- why you want to adopt
- your readiness to parent
- your family's values
- your hopes and expectations for the adoptive child
- your family's strengths and weaknesses
- how your family handles crises and change
- where you'll get support or professional help, if needed
Our child's name, photo and medical history. Prior to overnighting it, China usually faxes the package to the agency, at which point we are contacted and asked to come in as soon as possible to review. We only have a week to agree to accept the child. The amount of information contained in the package varies from child to child and from orphanage to orphanage. We have seen a fairly complete referral with half a dozen pictures, an actual birth date (pinned to the child's shirt by her birth mother), and quite detailed medical and personality information to a spartan one with only a single black and white mug shot with spotty medical history and no information from the care giver. We will be taking whatever medical information we are provided to a Chinese colleague of Michelle's who will translate the report and look for anything unusual. We might also take the translation to a pediatrician that specializes in reviewing foreign medical reports for international adoptions.
Travel Invitation
This basically refers to the visa process required for traveling to China.
posted by Andrew at 11:01 PM
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