How to Adopt from China
“I can see God’s hands all over our journey–from the very day we first spoke out loud about adopting a child. He placed a special person in our lives who led us to All God’s Children International. The agency ushered us step-by-step through the process–and helped prepare our hearts and minds for what was to come. It surprised me how much the people we worked with wanted to know us, wanted to celebrate with us, wanted to be friends with us! We’re just in awe at how the past 18 months have unfolded and feel so blessed to be Charlie’s parents.”
ADVOCACY EFFORTS
We meet with our partner in China each month. We remain fully committed to our families in the process of adopting from China. Our team recently participated in informational and advocacy meetings with the U.S. State Department and the National Council for Adoption.
SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES
Our team recently invited all families in the process of adopting from China to a support call. We will continue to offer support calls and encourage families to reach out to the team any time they have questions or would like to talk.
PROGRAM UPDATES
We have not received any updates at this time, but we will reach out with any news as soon as we receive them.
CHINA ADOPTION OVERVIEW
Since 1994, Christian Adoption Agency, All God’s Children International has served orphaned children in China by elevating care and has placed over 800 Chinese orphans with their forever families.
We place children throughout China through China’s shared list of waiting children. As an International Adoption Agency, AGCI welcomes many returning families; 24% of China adoptions were returning AGCI families.
- Most children available for adoption are between two and four years old.
- 75% of children available for adoption are boys.
- From 2015-2017, the majority of children home were under 2 years old.
- In 2017, 89% of AGCI China families completed their overseas adoption in less than 2 years.
- China has grouped their waiting children into two categories:
- Special needs children. These children often have a single medical condition and are often between six months and 5 years old.
- Special focus children. These waiting children typically have more than one medical condition or a more complex health condition and their adoptions are sometimes expedited. Additionally, special focus orphans can be placed with adoptive families prior to dossier completion. These children are between six months and 14 years old.
- Timeframe: 6-18 months. Timeframe is from registered dossier to completion. Adoption timeframes are dependent on family’s openness to medical conditions, gender, and age of child.
- Complete a FREE Pre-App to view waiting kids.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO ADOPT FROM CHINA?
Age of Parents
Parents between the ages of 30 and 55 years old are eligible to adopt a child from AGCI’s China program. If a couple, the youngest parent must be no more than 50 years older than the adopted child.
Marital Status
Couples must be married at least two years prior to beginning the adoption process. If either parent has been divorced, China requires that there have been no more than two divorces per couple.
Single Applicant
Single women 30 to 55 years old who provide a single status form are welcome to adopt. The age between the child to be adopted and the applicant can be no more than 50 years.
Education
If married, both parents must have a high school diploma or equivalent, and one must have a stable occupation. Single applicants must have a high school diploma and childcare experience, or be employed as a nurse, doctor, teacher, psychologist, counselor, or in a related field.
Body Mass Index
Applicants must have a body mass index of less than 40.
Children in Family
Families with no more than five children in the home are welcome to adopt from China. Single applicants with no more than two children in the home are welcome to adopt. The youngest child in the home should be at least three years old at the time dossier is submitted to China.
Income
Married couples interested in adopting a child must have a positive net worth of at least $80,000; single applicants must have a positive net worth of at least $100,000. Family income should reach a minimum of $10,000 per family member, including the adopted child.
Criminal History
Applicants interested in adopting a child cannot have a history of felonies and no more than three misdemeanors in their lifetime.
Medical History
Applicants with a past or current diagnosis of a life-threatening or communicable disease or other condition that impairs their ability to parent and/or the quality of life of a child are ineligible. Applicants must be considered to be free of mental health conditions that impair their parenting. Any mental health condition must be well controlled, and an applicant must be endorsed by their doctor as suitable to adopt. A psychological evaluation is required for all applicants.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO ADOPT FROM CHINA?
The approximate cost to adopt from China is $30,260. Cost does not include home study, airfare, lodging and other fees associated with travel.
There are so many ways to fund your adoption! You can learn more about AGCI specific grants, adoption loans, and employee benefits and more on our How to Fund Page!
AGENCY FEES
APPLICATION: $350 This non-refundable fee covers the cost of a review of your application to confirm your eligibility for your program and address any potential challenges with you, your social worker, and our in-country staff. (Due at application)
U.S. AGENCY: $8,500* The agency fee covers AGCI’s cost to facilitate your adoption with agency and government officials in both the United States and foreign country. Processing expenses for AGCI include, but are not limited to, personnel costs, administrative overhead, operational costs, staff training and education, state. federal, and international licensing and accreditations, communications and insurance. (1/2 due with completion of contract and 1/2 due six months after contract)
PROGRAM FEE: $2,500* This fee provides care for orphans around the world and allows AGCI to provide the medical, emotional, spiritual, and developmental care that every child deserves. (Due with completion of orientation)
POST-ADOPTION SERVICE: $2,800 This fee allows us to provide post-adoption support services to your family and process post-adoption reports. (Due with completion of referral packet)
*If adopting siblings, agency and orphan care fees increase.
HOME STUDY AND POST-ADOPTION*
HOME STUDY SERVICES: $2,500 These fees cover our services in preparing and completing your adoption home study, including any applicable social worker travel costs. (Due with completion of orientation)
POST-ADOPTION REPORTS: $400 per report; $225 per report for each additional child. These fees cover the cost for AGCI to provide post-placement visits and reports upon arrival home. (Due with completion of referral packet)
*These fees may vary if payable to your home study agency for families living outside of AGCI’s licensed states.
NON-AGCI HOME STUDY REVIEW: $400 Any home study written by one of AGCI’s cooperating agencies will be reviewed by AGCI to ensure it meets all AGCI, USCIS, Hague and sending country criteria. Home study and Post Adoption service fees are paid to your cooperating agency. (Due with completion of orientation)
CHINA COUNTRY FEES & EXPENSES
These fees cover the cost of facilitating an international adoption in China. These fees include, but are not limited to costs related to personnel, administration, training and education, legal fees and communications associated with government and agency authorities, government fees, and care of your child prior to the completion of your adoption. (Due with completion of dossier and referral packet as indicated on fee schedule)
China: $12,100*
*Adoptive families have the option to make a voluntary orphanage donation. The donation amount is determined by the family and is paid directly to the orphanage after the adoption registration is completed in China.
ADDITIONAL & THIRD PARTY EXPENSES
| Adoptive Parent Home Study Education: | $300 |
| Adoptive Parent Referral Education: | $600 |
| Accreditation Monitoring & Oversight: | $850 |
| FBI Fingerprinting: | $85 per adult |
| USCIS & Immigration Related Fees: | $775+ |
| Notary Services, County & State Authentication: | $250+ |
| Document Authentication and Translation Fees: | $400-$3,600 |
| Re-Adoption: | $500-$1,500 |
| Travel Expenses: | $3,000-$15,000+ |
TOTAL COST: The approximate cost to adopt from China is $30,260. Cost does not include home study, airfare, lodging and other fees associated with travel.
Fee Disclosure: All fees paid to AGCI are paid in advance of service. AGCI fees are non-refundable and may not be waived. If services are terminated and a refund is due, all refunds will be processed within 60 days of withdrawal and/or closure of the adoption file upon receiving the Adoption Termination Contract.
“The thing I enjoyed most about working with AGCI was the relationships that I have gained through AGCI. I don’t mean just with other adopted families, but relationships with the directors and case managers and in country staff and anyone at all connected to our journey. I feel like AGCI does such a wonderful job cultivating those relationships. Even though I live in Illinois and have never met many of these people, I feel like I have gotten to know them so well during the whole process. And you don’t get that from other agencies. I know because I called many of them before deciding to choose AGCI and many didn’t even call me back. AGCI was prompt in returning calls and emails and scheduling meetings. Even during the longer waiting period when there wasn’t much to be done they would check in and just say, “hey, how’s it going?” and “we haven’t forgotten about you–we’re with you.’” –VanHolten Family
HOW TO ADOPT A CHILD FROM CHINA
Complete home study and then submit dossier.
Wait to be matched with your child and then begin the referral process! Through our special focus program, you can accept the referral of a waiting child during your home study and dossier process. Once the information on the child is received, you will have two weeks to make an informed decision about accepting the referral.
Once the CCCWA officially approves your family–-the CCCWA will then issue a travel approval to finalize your adoption!
Travel to meet your child and finalize the adoption! The first week will be spent in the capitol of your adopted child’s province where they will receive their passport. Once finalized, your family will travel to Guangzhou, China to complete your immigrant visa process. In-country travel typically spans 12-14 days.
Welcome home! AGCI and China require post-adoption reports prepared by a licensed social worker to be submitted on 3, 6, 12, and 24-month anniversaries of your child’s arrival into the U.S. Then reports submitted on the 3, 4, and 5 year anniversaries can be completed by the parents. Parents are also required to complete their state’s re-adoption process. AGCI is here for support throughout your child’s life—connect with us at anytime for ongoing support services!
CHINA ADOPTION TEAM
CHINA IN-COUNTRY TEAM
Our China in-country team consists of a wonderful individual – Susan. She works out of Beijing with the central authority, the CCCWA, to facilitate adoptions, assist with travel between appointments, and work directly with adoptive families. She has incredible compassion for helping unite vulnerable children with their forever families. You will also be supported by friendly, dedicated guides and drivers throughout your entire trip
IN ADDITION TO OUR CHINA ADOPTION PROGRAM, AGCI IS WORKING TO INTERVENE FOR ORPHANS IN CHINA THROUGH THOUGHTFUL PROGRAMS THAT HELP BUILD HAPPIER, HEALTHIER FAMILIES!
Provide
In the past year, 580 orphans received elevated care through AGCI’s holistic model of care, caretaker training, and facility improvements to orphanages.
POLICY
6,000 children in the Fujian province now have educated and equipped orphanage staff to determine their eligibility, care for their medical conditions, and facilitate their adoptions.
“God had a child that He knew was going to be for us. It’s kind of amazing because we were not open to cerebral palsy. That wasn’t on our list. When it came down to it, we were open to a lot more than we put down on the paper. Julia’s been such a blessing to us and she feels loved in our home and that’s the important thing.” –Joy and Justin Kobylka
CONTACT US TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ADOPTING FROM CHINA!
