China Adoption

China is one of the countries in the world where adoption is deemed legal. The country, in fact, has its own adoption program which has long been considered as one of the most reliable and stable adoption programs available in the world. Also, it’s worth noting that the citizens of China have elected to adopt since the year 2000, and recent statistics have shown that about 7,906 children from the country were adopted by the US citizens just last year, 2005.

There are a lot of important things involved in China adoption program. In the first place, it’s important to know that the ones responsible for China adoption is the Ministry of Civil Affairs, or the CCAA, in particular. Also, in China, the children available for adoptions are mostly girls, usually infants through 6 years old. Perhaps one main reason for the girls’ availability for China adoption is that they are less valued in Chinese society. The baby boys are more valued than baby girls are they carry on the ancestral name and that the inheritance laws pass property on to sons who are also responsible for taking care of the aged parents. With this fact, it’s no wonder then that most couples in China just abandon their baby girl, and considered them available for China adoption. It’s no doubt heartbreaking, but that’s the reality.

In terms of requirements for parents, it is stated under the China adoption law that parents who are allowed to adopt are those who are at least 35 years old. This does not cover couples, but single adoptive parents are also considered eligible to adopt from China. Nevertheless, it’s pretty hard to determine still if how many singles have considered China adoption as the number of applications from singles is strictly limited. Homosexuals are even banned from adopting, but for singles, the floor is open for them to ask and sign an affidavit stating that they are heterosexual.

Travel is also available for China adoption. However, it is very necessary to note that travel is only required for one parents, as opposed to other countries that require couples to travel. This does not, however, end the chance for both parents to travel and create a bond with the child, as the China adoption program strongly encouraged parents to travel. In addition, one trip is only required and the parent(s) is only allowed to stay and bond with the child for a length of about two weeks.

The process involved in China adoption is just so simple, with all those requirements mentioned above. What usually happens when considering an adoption from China is that the parents are required to submit an application for China adoption, directly to the CCAA. Your agency can do this for you. Then, once the application is approved, it is the CCAA also that will match the application with a child whose paperwork has been forwarded to the organization through a Civil Affairs Bureau. If the right child is identified, the organization will send you a letter stating a background of the child, including a health record and photographs. After which, the parents are encouraged to travel to China and meet the child. That completes the China adoption process.

Today, the children available for China adoption are found in orphanages. And, before a couple can finally own the child, post placement reports and supervision are needed for about one year.