The Process
The process to adopt from China begins the same way that all international adoption begins. There are four steps or milestones in the process... The first step is often referred to affectionately as The Paperchase to get your homestudy and dossier completed, then comes The Wait (although you tend to be waiting alot at various stages) followed by The Referral and Travel to China.

The Paperchase - Once you have identified your adoption agency, you must file an I-600A form at the Bureau of Immigration Affairs also known as INS. The I-600A form is the advance processing of an Orphan petition. The I-600A must be submitted with a completed home study and documentation of citizenship and marriage. The home study is completed by a social worker from your adoption agnecy if they are licensed in your state (You can work with agencies that are not licensed in your state, but you WILL have to use a state licenced social worker). In order to adopt from China, there are 4 required visits to complete the home study. If the social worker approves you, then you have 'passed' the home study and the social worker has recommended that you should be allowed to adopt. Home studies are required for domestic adoption as well, although each country sets it's own rules on number of acceptable visits. The social worker interviews each prospective parent and visits their home to evaluate the ability to be a parent. While we both were a bit annoyed at the intrusive nature of this part of the process, we do understand that it is done to protect the children. After the home study is submitted to Immigration, all you can do is wait for approval. You cannot adopt or complete your dossier without the INS approval. While you are waiting for your INS approval to come through, you can gather the rest of the paperwork for your dossier, working with an adoption agency to help you complete the complex process.

The INS approval is usually the last thing you are waiting for. The INS approval will be sent to you via form I-171H or I-797C. After you have compiled all of your documents for your dossier, your completed dossier is sent to your adoption agency. The entire dossier process takes between 2 and 5 months.

The Wait & Referral - After your dossier is submitted, you wait again! This time, the wait is longer. Your dossier goes from the adoption agency to the China Center of Adoption Affairs (CCAA) in China for final approval. Once final approval, you are matched with a child - the Referral. Currently, the wait between dossier submission and referral is about 6-8 months.

Travel to China - Once you receive your referral, you send back your acceptance for your child, and your agency will start working on your travel arrangements. The biggest arrangement to make is the appointment with the U.S. offices in Guangzhou, China. It is at this appointment that your child will receive their final permission to return to the U.S. This appointment is at the end of your trip. The adoption trip is about 2 weeks in length, although you will usually receive your child by the 3rd day.