China Family Update

last modified: May 9, 2008

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!

CCAA Document Processing - updated!
The CCAA has finished the review of the adoption application documents
registered with our office before December 31, 2006.

The CCAA has finished the placement of children for the families whose adoption
application documents were registered with our office before January 12, 2006.

Trent Gobble enjoying trying on his mom's glasses

Chinese Holiday Schedule for 2008

The annual HFC Chinese New Year party will be on February 9th!  Click here for more details.

Would you like to "meet" our staff?  Click here to see photographs and read biographies of the HOPE for Children staff.

Map of China

Letter from our Director regarding adoption status in China as of December 2007

OFFICIAL China Center of Adoption Affairs policy changes: 12/22/2006

White Swan renovations 2008:  The White Swan has announced that it will NOT be closing in December of 2007 to complete renovations for the 2008 Olympics.  They will begin renovations by floor, which will cause some noises issues during the daytime only.  Each group traveling to Guangzhou for the second part of their adoption trip can stay either at the White Swan Hotel or the Victory Hotel, which offers a suite for less than the cost of one regular room at the White Swan.  Each adoption group will be given the opportunity to choose which hotel they stay in, however, the entire group must stay in the same hotel. 

Important USCIS fee extension information

We have received updated information regarding USCIS's new fee increase and extension of the I-600A that became effective July 30, 2007.  Please see the following link for the official press release regarding the new fees:

http://www.uscis.gov/files/pressrelease/FinalFeeReminder30Jul07.pdf

Also, you may access the USCIS revised fee structure that was published in the Federal Register directly through this link: 

http://www.uscis.gov/files/nativedocuments/G-1055.pdf

The great news is that for those of you who have an approved I-600A that expires after July 30, 2007, you will be able to receive one FREE extension of the I-600A by filing a new I-600A without fee before the first I-600A expires.  If your I-600A expired before July 30th, 2007, unfortunately you will not be eligible for the fee waiver.  The fee waiver includes the cost of re-fingerprinting (biometrics) only for adoptive parents.  If you have additional adults living in your home at the time of re-filing your I-600A after July 30th, the cost will be $80 per adult for biometrics.  After July 30th, the fee will go up to $80 per adult for biometrics, and the I-600A filing fee will increase to $670.  The fee waiver for the I-600A and biometrics is limited to one time and will not apply to subsequent filings.  There will be no fee waiver for the initial filing of the I-600A and home study (before your dossier goes to China) even if you have adopted internationally before.   

If your I-600A expires after July 30, 2007, please make plans to have your home study updated at the appropriate time (to ensure that it is less than six (6) months old at the time of submission to USCIS) and file your new I-600A BEFORE it expires.  You will need to submit one original home study update, copy of your current I-797C approval, original home study, copies of your birth, marriage, and divorce decree (if necessary) along with your I-600A.  If you have any criminal history, you will need to submit an original certified disposition for each arrest (even though you did this when you originally filed, it is required of you again).  No signed statement will be necessary.  Once you receive your new I-797C form, please fax a copy to your adoption coordinator here at HFC for your file.  

Please contact your adoption consultant at HFC if you have any questions.
 

For all waiting families:  Please read the following information on the Shanghai Embassy's website regarding adopting from China:  click here

CCAA News

The CCAA's website is http://www.china-ccaa.org, and you will need to click on the green "English" tab.

REFERRALS / TRAVEL - UPDATE 4/29/2008

Jason and Emily Hendrickson are currently in China!  They received their Letter of Seeking Confirmation of Adopter on March 3rd and their Travel Approval on on Monday, March 31st.

Congratulations to Jason, Emily, and their new son! 

We are currently waiting on January 2006 LID referrals. 

"It is better to trust the Lord than to put confidence in people.  It is better to trust the Lord than to put confidence in princes."  Psalm 118:8-9

Let us pray for all of the waiting families:  their faith, strength, and confident expectation of great things from God even as the waiting time from DTC to referral slowly increases.  

HFC consistently attempts to obtain more specific information about referrals, such as which referrals are coming at certain times, however, we are given very limited information.  Upon occasion, we are informed of the number of referrals being issued and an approximate time that they will be sent to us.  Please continue to be patient and understand that this is a normal, though very challenging, part of the process of an international adoption.

CURRENT WAITING TIMES - UPDATE 12/13/2007

Letter from our Director regarding adoption status in China

Many families have inquired as to the future of the China program, specifically regarding the waiting time between dossiers getting logged in until receiving referrals.  While there is no new information on this topic, we do not anticipate the wait decreasing any time soon.  The last non-special needs referral we received on August 2, 2007 took 21 months from the time the family's dossier was logged in on November 16, 2005.  We have many indications based on how slowly the CCAA is processing referrals (approximately 2-4 days' worth of dossiers logged in per month) that the waiting time for referrals is going to increase beyond 21 months.  We understand that waiting is very challenging, however, we have no control over the wait and the variance therein.    

Receiving travel approvals (TA) after sending acceptance letters:  15-30 days.

IMMIGRATION UPDATE - VERY IMPORTANT

Families residing in all states of the U.S.:  if your home study is older than six (6) months by the time you submit it to USCIS with your I-600A form, payment, and supporting documents, it must be updated. 

WAITING FAMILY MEETINGS - new meeting on the South side of Atlanta (see #3 below)!  Please note that these meetings are held by families and groups independent of HOPE for Children.  The posting of information on our website is just to let families know of the support groups' meeting dates and times. 

1)  East side gathering for waiting families

The group formerly known as Third Friday is now called Hand in Hand, Education and Support for Adoptive Parents.  In the past, most of the families who attended our gathering were families who had already adopted or were in the process of adopting internationally.  Now we are focusing on the area of post adoption.  Hand in Hand is for any adoptive family, domestic or international.  We want to be able to learn as much as we can so that we can better help our children as they come face to face with different issues, no matter where they were born.   

Please mark your calendars now for Friday, April 18th.  Hand in Hand will meet in the Vance's home at 7:30pm.  This group is open to all adoptive families, domestic and international. Childcare is provided and donations will be graciously accepted. For more information, please see www.hihadoptionsupport.org.

About the April 18th meeting:  Many adoptees face the issue of reconciling their identity through their adoptive and birth families. Hand In Hand will be meeting this Friday night to watch and discuss the documentary entitled "First Person Plural." It has won several awards including one at the Sundance Film Festival. This should be enlightening to all adoptive parents.

Location address:

Ron and Kim Vance
1700 Presidents Dr.
Lawrenceville, GA. 30043
770-962-2073                                                                                                      

Questions?  Please contact Sue Mathis, suemathis@bellsouth.net, or Kim Vance, 770-962-2073. 

2)  West Side First Friday Gathering:  North Metro Church

www.firstfridayschina.com

First Friday's May Newsletter

True to its name, this meeting is held on the first Friday evening of every month, and
its purpose is to offer a place for families (single and two-parent) to come and find support during their adoption process.  Dan and Susan Chapman host this event, and families in any stage of adoption, from just gathering information all the way through post-adoption, are welcome to attend this free event.  They offer free childcare during the meeting.  Families from any agency (or with no agency yet) are welcome to attend. 

Have you adopted already and are looking for other families to connect with?  Are you hoping to share your adoption experience with others?  Please come to this gathering and bring your kids!  Meeting families who have adopted before is a source of tremendous support for families who are currently in the adoption process.  Each meeting includes live music, dynamic speakers, inspirational real-life adoption testimonies, and the inside scoop on all things adoption. 

Information is as follows, and please feel free to tell anyone you think may be interested in adoption about this gathering:

Next meeting:  Friday, May 2, 2008, 7:00pm                                                

North Metro Church Campus (www.northmetro.org), 2305 Barrett Parkway NW, Marietta, GA 30064

Contact:  Dan and Susan Chapman, 678-574-9596 or chapmansk@bellsouth.net
No need to RSVP

3) South Side Third Friday Gathering: Christ Our Shepherd Lutheran Church

Friday, April 18th, 7:00 PM 

Christ Our Shepherd Lutheran Church
101 Peachtree Pkwy N., Peachtree City, GA
On the corner of Peachtree Parkway and Highway 54

Contact: Bruce and Karen Ladman, karen.ladman@gmail.com,
www.ladmans.blogspot.com

The meeting will be held on the second floor in the Fellowship Hall.  Refreshments will be provided as well as children's activities. 

IMMIGRATION NEWS FOR GEORGIA FAMILIES

USCIS is currently issuing fingerprint notices as well as approvals (I-797C forms) within approximately 30 days of receiving all necessary documentation.  If you have waited longer than 30 days, please notify us so we can inquire about the status of your approval.   

COMMUNICATION

Please let me know if you would like to be a part of the HFC Paperchase Yahoo Group, an online community comprised of HOPE for Children families who are in some phase of waiting between working on their dossier paperwork and traveling to China.  If you are not a part of this group but would like to be, please email Chrissy Alberi, chrissy@hopeforchildren.org so she can send you an email invitation as soon as possible.  Many families enjoy the sense of community through this group with other HFC families all over the U.S. as they work on their dossiers and wait for their referrals. 

Bret and Holly Cade

WAITING CHILD PROGRAM - Please click here to find out the latest information on our Waiting Child program. 

NOTE:  Please see the Waiting Child China page here for updated information on the CCAA's regulations regarding additional health examinations for waiting children.

For general information about our Waiting Child Program, please click here, or email Aisha Cooper.  

SINGLE ADOPTIVE PARENTS

We are no longer accepting applications for single applicants due to China's recently changed policy concerning the ceasing of adoptions for singles from China.   

TRANSLATING REFERRALS AND MEDICALS

HOPE for Children does not currently provide translation resources.  For those of you still waiting for your referral, please go ahead and secure a translator for when your referral comes.  This person must be able to read and write Chinese as a full written translation is required.  Please expect to pay between $100 - $300 for a full written translation.  Please see below for suggested list of translators or consult your Adoption Consultant if you have any trouble finding a translator.  

SUGGESTED LIST OF TRANSLATORS FOR REFERRAL/MEDICAL PAPERWORK*

1.  Caroline Hwang --  website, www.referraltranslate.com, or email:   referraltranslate@gmail.com.

2.  Thomas Wong -- myerwong@ca.rr.com; (310) 391-2967    

*HOPE for Children, Inc. employs neither of these people.  This is just a list of suggested translators; you may choose anyone you wish. It does not matter what state the translator resides in because he or she may use faxed copies of the information to translate so long as it is readable.  Prices typically range between $100 - $300 for a full written translation of medical information within a referral.

HAVING YOUR REFERRAL AND MEDICAL INFORMATION REVIEWED BY A PROFESSIONAL

Once your referral has been translated, we highly recommend that you have all of the information given to you reviewed by a pediatrician or an international adoption medicine expert. 

One resource is the International Adoption Center (IAC) at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC).  They can assist you in making an informed decision by evaluating medical histories and photographs of your referral(s), preparing you for your trip, and providing medical support through 24-hour telephone access to the IAC while you're abroad.  If you would like to contact IAC, you may email Barbee Sjodahl at  Barbee.Sjodahl@cchmc.org, or call her, 800-344-CHMC (2462), ask for extension 62877, option 2.  IAC accepts in and out of state clients.

TRAVEL AGENCY INFORMATION

NEW as of April 2008:  HOPE for Children is now working with Delight Travel*, a very reputable, full service travel agency out of Washington State. You may contact Delight Travel for all of your international ticketing needs and Guangzhou hotel arrangements. In addition to their competitive rates, Delight's customer service is top-notch. 

If you would like to book a pre-adoption tour of Beijing, Shanghai, or any other city, Delight Travel will be able to meet all of your needs. You may refer your questions about travel insurance and temporary travel cell phones to one of the associates at Delight.  Also, you may choose not to use Delight Travel; however, it is very important that you at least consult with a travel agent who is experienced in international travel.

HOPE for Children does not book your flights to and from China. We will take care of booking your flights from your child's province to Guangzhou. Please see Delight's contact information below as well as further details of what HOPE for Children arranges for your trip to China.

Delight Travel (DT International)
4208 198th Street SW #202
Lynnwood, WA 98038

Phone: 1-800-328-6638

Email contact: info@delightravel.com or asiatvl@aol.com 

*Delight Travel will be taking care of the following details for your trip:

1. Chinese visas                                                                                                       2. International flight
3. Pre- or post-adoption tours/hotels
4. White Swan Hotel or Victory Hotel in Guangzhou
5. Air ticket for Guangzhou/Hong Kong if families are return to the U.S. from Hong Kong 

*Important! When booking your flights from China back to the U.S., please note that ALL children must be ticketed for international flights (including the children you're adopting, even if they're under 2 years old - in which case they would need an "infant in arms" ticket). Please inquire with your travel agent for details about this. The child you are adopting must have his or her name printed on the ticket exactly as it appears on your referral.

*HOPE for Children will be coordinating all of your arrangements during your adoption trip, including but not limited to; inner China flights, ground transportation, hotel arrangements in your child's province, facilitating all adoption paperwork through the bilingual guide(s) who will be with you through your trip, shopping, sightseeing, and other various arrangements during your adoption trip.  The cost for these reservations/arrangements is included in your Inner China fee (billed to you by HFC shortly before you depart from China). 

IMPORTANT REMINDERS BEFORE YOU TRAVEL

A.  All waiting families need to check on the following dates for possible expiration before travel: (1) Passport validity (MUST have at least 6 months left before travel in order to obtain a visa without encountering possible problems or delays), (2) USCIS approval (18 months from date of approval on your I-797C form, a.k.a USCIS approval/I-171H form, is the expiration), (3) USCIS fingerprint approval (expiration date is 15 months from the date you had your fingerprints taken initially, expiration date is printed on your I-797C form), and (4) Home study (in the state of GA, home studies are valid for one year, and if a child is not placed in your home during that year, your home study will need to be updated; for all other states, please contact your home study caseworker to ascertain the date of expiration for your home study). 

It is imperative that all three of the aforementioned items are valid for at least 30 days AFTER your anticipated travel dates.   

B.  USCIS fingerprints must be redone 45-60 days (no more and no less) before you travel.  If you are unsure of whether or not your fingerprints will be valid when you travel, please contact your adoption consultant at HFC to inquire about approximate travel dates.  PLEASE NOTE that the cost to have USCIS fingerprints redone is now $80 per adult (18 years and older) living in your household.  Please read the "Important USCIS fee extension information" at the top of this page for information about the fee waiver before re-filing your fingerprints and I-600A form.   

Process for Georgia USCIS refingerprinting:

1.  Mail a copy (via some form of traceable mail) of your I-797C form to your local USCIS office, with the required fee ($80 per adult living in your household) and a brief letter of request for refingerprinting due to the impending expiration.  Very important:  if you have ever been arrested, you will need to send an original certified copy of disposition for each arrest, a typed statement including details of mitigating circumstances surrounding each arrest, what you learned from each incident, and sign in blue ink, and a new local police clearance (signed only, not notarized).  Even though you sent some of these items in with your I-600A and home study, USCIS requires that you send them in again.

2.  Georgia families, please send your fingerprint request to:

USCIS Adoption

P.O. Box 450368                                                                                                       Atlanta, GA 31145

Phone: (770) 508-1683

3.  Payment can be in the form of a personal check or money order (personal check is recommended). 

4.  You will receive a new I-797C or I-171H in the mail showing the updated fingerprint expiration date within 2-4 weeks after your fingerprinting appointment.  Please fax a copy of this new form to your adoption consultant at HFC and keep the original for your trip to China.

C.  Obtaining visas for your trip to China - updated

Visas are required for travel to China.  As mentioned above in the "Travel Agency" section, Delight Travel will be able to obtain your visas for you.  You may also choose to use another visa service of your choice; however, you must make sure they are reputable before doing so.  You will need to supply Delight (or the visa service of your choice) with your actual U.S. passport (one per traveler with at least 6 months' validity left on it), appropriate payment, one extra passport photo per traveler, one visa application per traveler (to be supplied by Delight or other visa servicel), and Chinese passport (for any child who has been adopted from China and is traveling back to China for the first time).  You should obtain your visas immediately after receiving your referral ("Letter of Seeking Confirmation of Adopter").     

QUESTIONS ABOUT CERTIFICATE OF CITIZENSHIP?

www.jcics.org/Certificate.htm, go to the Parents Tab -> Frequently Asked Questions -> Now that I have my child home, what do I need to do? -> Obtaining a Certificate of Citizenship for your child.

New:  Once you obtain your child's Certificate of Citizenship, you must take it to your local Social Security office so they can change your child's citizenship status in the computer from "Resident Alien" to "Citizen".  Otherwise, your child's citizenship status will remain "Resident Alien" in the Social Security system.  We recommend that you physically go to your Social Security office instead of mailing in the Certificate of Citizenship. 

WHY SHOULD YOU READOPT AND WHEN IS IT REQUIRED VS. RECOMMENDED?

NEW:   If only one parent travels (or traveled) to China, you are required to readopt your child in your home state within one year of your child's adoption date.  Otherwise he or she will not be considered a U.S. citizen until the adoption is finalized here in the U.S.  Click here to find out the CCAA's view on adoption finalization (aka readoption).  Once you readopt, you will need to forward photocopies of certain documents to HOPE for Children.  We must in turn forward those documents to the CCAA as proof of your child's adoption finalization and U.S. citizenship.  Your adoption coordinator will make sure to let you know which documents we need before you travel.  If both parents travel and see the child prior to adoption, you are not required to readopt your child here in the U.S.; however, we highly recommend it.  Please keep reading to find out why. 

LOOKING FOR A WAY TO CONTINUE HELPING THE ORPHANS AFTER YOU HAVE ADOPTED?

Half the Sky Foundation was created by adoptive parents of orphaned Chinese children. Their mission is to enrich the lives and enhance the prospects for children in China who are still waiting to be adopted, and for those who will spend their childhoods in orphanages.  www.halfthesky.org

RESOURCES

1.  Domestic adoption is on the rise in China, and you can view an article about it here:  http://msnbc.msn.com/id/8598730/site/newsweek/

2.  Trying to locate an orphanage address?  www.blessedkids.com/index_files/addresses.htm

3.  Growth charts for children adopted internationally:   www.comeunity.com/adoption/health/growth.html

4.  A Child Waits Foundation may be able to assist those in need of financial help in order to complete their adoption.  They provide low interest loans for families who have exhausted other financial options and could not proceed with their adoption otherwise.  For more information click here:  www.achildwaits.org.

5.  Do you live in Los Angeles, California, and need a notary?  One of our adoptive parents, Dave Owens, lives in Lancaster, CA, with his wife and children, and he is offering his notary services for FREE!  You may contact him at home, (661) 946-7989, or via email, dave.owens.i6tn@statefarm.com.

6.  Do you live in the Rochester, New York, area and need a notary?  One of our adoptive parents, Amy Warner, lives in Rochester, NY, with her daughter, and she is offering her notary services for FREE!  You may contact her via email, aswlaw@aol.com.  Amy can also assist you with readoption/domestication in New York. 

7.  The non-profit organization that regulates each adoption in China is the China Centre of Adoption Affairs.  We encourage you to go to their website by www.china-ccaa.org to review China's adoption laws and procedures.  You will also find news and events related to adoption in China.

8.  The American Consulate in Guangzhou can be found online here:  www.usembassy-china.org.cn/guangzhou/cg/index.html.

9.  Joint Council on International Children's Services, www.jcics.org, is the oldest and largest affiliation of licensed, non-profit international adoption organizations in the world.  Our membership includes adoption agencies, child welfare organizations, parent support groups and medical specialists with an interest in intercountry adoption.  This information was taken directly from the JCICS homepage. 

10.  Learning about bonding and attachment is very important to being able to meet your child's needs and to discern what is typical in the adjustment period after adoption from what is not typical and needs more attention.  Please read the following article on attachment issues related to adopted children from China, www.attach-china.org. 

11.  Online journals specific to adoption:  http://JourneyToMe.com.

12.  E-learning course on the Adoption Learning Partners website, Finding the Missing Pieces:  Helping Adopted Children Cope with Grief and Loss.  In this course, adoptive families come to understand the feelings that children have about adoption and learn how to help their child express and deal with those feelings. 

Similar in design to the other courses from Adoption Learning Partners, users are guided through a series of lessons and interactive activities, exploring topics that include:

-Gains and losses experienced by all members of the adoption circle

-Signs of grief in children at various developmental stages

-Situations that may trigger grief responses

-Strategies and resources for support

-Adoption stories that reflect the first hand experiences of adoptive families

The course carries two hours of training credit.  Adoption Learning Partners continues to offer free enrollment, and charge a $25 fee to those who require certificates of completion. 

You can access this great resource via the website, www.adoptionlearningpartners.org.