Our Daughter From China

This Blog shares our journey to bring home our daughter from China. It tells something of her story and of our story with her.

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

At A Glance: The Barker China Program


The Process in a Nutshell from Barker Foundation

Adopting from China
At-A-Glance

Who can adopt from China?
Married couples, 30-45 years of age for an infant; up to 55 years of age for an older child
Single women eligible in very small numbers (only 8% of adoptions from China can be with single women)
Families with children already in the home

Children available for adoption
Children usually 8 months of age and up at the time of referral
Not placing siblings, except in the case of twins (which is rare)
Mostly girls available, although boys are available as well
Children in orphanages or in foster care (although children in foster care are typically moved back to the orphanage for a week or two prior to placement)
Toddlers and pre-school aged children also available

Process
Apply to The Barker Foundation
Complete pre-adoption group, homestudy
Complete dossier for China (Barker takes care of all the steps of authentication, including through the Chinese Consulate)
Authenticated dossier sent to the China Center for Adoption Affairs (CCAA)
Referral received average of 12 months after dossier submitted to CCAA [NB: currently quite a bit longer!]
Family travels to China approximately 8 weeks after accepting referral; stay in China an average of 2 weeks
Adoption decree issued; new birth certificate and Chinese passport issued in provincial capital of child's current residence
Family travels to US Consulate in Guangzhou for exit interview, and to obtain visa for baby to enter the US
COME HOME! Begin 6 month post-placement period (China also requires a 12 month report)
Child receives automatic US Citizenship upon entry to United States
Other information about Barker's China program
Families travel as a group with other adopting families
English-speaking guides in China to help families navigate through the system there

Active support group for families adopting from China (Families with Children from China)
Barker's Director of International Programs is an adoptive parent of a child from China