A: CCAI will provide home studies for families in its licensed states (CO, FL and GA) and will provide a list of "preferred home study providers" for prospective adoptive families in all other states.  CCAI is responsible for ensuring that every prospective adoptive family's home study is completed in accordance with federal, state and Chinese requirements.  Part of this responsibility includes an agreement with the home study provider.  Prospective adoptive families who choose to complete a home study prior to choosing a placement agency assume the risk that the home study will not be in compliance with set regulations and may need to be modified to ensure compliance.  At the time of your adoption application, please notify CCAI of the home study agency of your choice.

A: Yes. When an adoptive family applies to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the FBI will locate all past arrest records. If an arrest was not disclosed on the original CCAI application and the USCIS application (I-800a), it will jeopardize the family’s approval. Non-disclosure of any arrests will result in CCAI closing the family’s file.

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A: For those families who need extra help to complete their dossier, CCAI does offer the option of a Full Dossier Compilation Service for an additional fee. Please contact the Dossier Department at 303-850-9998 for more information.

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A: If a family moves after their dossier arrives in China, the family will need to have a home study addendum written to address any information that has changed since the original home study. This will then be hand-carried to China. If you may be moving during your adoption, please contact CCAI for more information.

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A: Yes, but only rarely. You can request that you be matched with twins and we will encourage you to do so. We will also prepare you for the strong likelihood that twins may not be available and only one child will be placed with you. Currently we have had 30 sets of twins adopted (out of more than 7,900 placements).

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A: Yes. The wait time is usually the same as when requesting a girl, but we will encourage families to be prepared to wait an additional one to two months to be matched with a boy with no known medical conditions.

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A: Yes. Families travel in groups for several reasons. First, groups of 6-12 families are grouped together if their children are from the same orphanage or province. Second, traveling in a group provides adoptive families with emotional support when they go to a country that is so different from their own. Third, traveling as a group, families can benefit from group rates on hotel and airfare. However, if you prefer to travel outside of the group before or after the adoption trip, this can be a possible option for your family.

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A: No. China's adoption law requires that at least one parent (in a married couple) travel to China to finalize the adoption.  CCAI recommends that both parents travel to China whenever possible.

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A: Because we depend on China to issue your final travel notice, you will have about 7-10 days notice before you leave for China. You can generally plan to leave about 5-8 weeks from the time you receive your child referral.

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A: CCAI, together with our staff in China, will arrange your in-China flights, hotels and ground transportation. You will need to coordinate with a U.S. travel agency to arrange your U.S. domestic and international air travel. CCAI networks with a travel agency in the United States that will be able to assist families, should you choose, with the U.S. domestic to international travel arrangements.

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A: CCAI supports you in using your frequent flyer mileage for your international travel. However, because of the short notice of exact travel dates and the need for adoptive families to be in China at specific times, families often find that their frequent flyer mileage program is not flexible enough to accommodate their international travel for the adoption trip.

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A: CCAI recommends that, whenever possible, both parents in a married couple travel to China for the adoption finalization. If only one parent can travel, or if the adoptive parent is single, we recommend that you select a healthy, supportive travel companion. CCAI neither encourages nor discourages taking children on the adoption trip. We recommend that parents honestly assess whether or not their other children will be able to handle the rigors and emotions of the adoption trip. A physician’s statement is required for all travel companions.

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A: Currently, it is an option to wire the Orphanage Fee to some provinces. We understand your concern for carrying this amount of cash to China; however, wiring the funds needed to finalize the adoption is not possible for all provinces at this time. We hope more provinces in the future will follow suit and consider this a safe and available option. The Travel Department will update you with more information about your child's province once you receive your child match. 

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A: Yes. Whenever possible, CCAI arranges for our families to stay in major cities at five-star hotels. Every hotel has doctors and clinics available in case of emergencies. We also contract experienced Chinese pediatricians to act as consultants in many Chinese provinces where adoptions occur.

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A: Yes, you will be required to sign a statement and make an oath at the American Consulate in Guangzhou, China, promising to begin immunizing your adopted Chinese child within 30 days of arriving in the United States.

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A: Your child’s adoption is finalized in China after completing adoption registration procedures (shortly after you receive your child), even if only one parent travels.

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A: If both parents in a marriage are present at the adoption finalization in China, then your child becomes a citizen when s/he returns with you to the U.S. However, if only one of two married parents travel, then your child will become a U.S. citizen after your re-adoption in the U.S.

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A: If one or both of the adoptive parents were born in China (or if one set of the adoptive grandparents was born in China ) you may qualify for an expedited referral. Please contact CCAI about regulations and current timeframes for Chinese descent families.

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A: CCAI helps you connect with various support groups in your area, and we have an Adoptive Parents Council in which you can participate. CCAI operates the Joyous Chinese Cultural Center that makes its curriculum available to families throughout the U.S. and sponsors an annual cultural camp that your child is welcome to attend. CCAI also organizes annual reunions around the country and publishes a bi-monthly newsletter to keep you connected. Last, but not least, our website has helpful resources on adoption and parenting that are available to all parents throughout their adoption. CCAI’s Post Adoption Department staff will join hands with your social worker to provide whatever support you need after you return home with your child.

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A: Following your return home, your family may qualify for up to a $10,160 federal Adoption Tax Credit through the Hope for Children Act. The tax credit is an amount you subtract from your tax liability for adoption expenses, including “reasonable and necessary adoption fees” and travel expenses, etc. Income limits do apply, and the credit may not be more than your total tax liability minus other credits, but the credit may be carried forward over the next five years. For more information, please contact your tax professional.