While no two adoptions are the same, there are some major differences between the traditional adoption program (to adopt a child with no known medical conditions) and the Waiting Child Program.

Time Frame

While the traditional China adoption wait time is currently over three years, the average wait time between submitting a Medical Condition Checklist ( MCC) and receiving a potential child referral in the Waiting Child Program is about 12 months. This timeline will vary tremendously based on a family’s openness to age, gender, and special needs. In general, families who desire to adopt a boy, an older child, or a child with more significant special needs will wait shorter, and families who desire to adopt a girl under 2 or 3 with more minor special needs will wait longer.

Qualifications

In both adoption programs, families must be approved by CCAI, recommended by their home study agency to adopt a Chinese child, and approved by United States Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS), as well as meet all the qualifications set by the China Center of Adoption Affairs (CCAA). However, for families adopting through the Waiting Child Program, the CCAA will offer extra flexibility on a case-by-case basis for applicants between the ages of 50 and 54, as well as for applicants with more than four minor children in the home.

Adoption Expenses & Fees

CCAI agency fees are the same for both adoption programs. If a Waiting Child is identified prior to dossier submission, the CCAA fee is $630 ($420 less). (If a Waiting Child is identified after dossier submission, the CCAA will not refund the difference in fees.) In addition, Waiting Child families must pay an $80 “information processing service fee” to the CCAA at the time they are ready to travel. Travel costs for Waiting Child families may increase if travel with a group cannot be arranged.

Paperwork

In addition to dossier and immigration paperwork common to both programs, Waiting Child families will compose a one-page “Letter of Intent” at the time they accept a child referral. A home study addendum may also be necessary.

Acceptance Letter

In the traditional adoption program, families will sign a “Letter Seeking Confirmation from Adopter” (Acceptance Letter or LOA) at the time of match. For the Waiting Child Program, the CCAA will generate this Acceptance Letter as part of their official procedure to match the family to their child. Depending on the status of the dossier in China, this letter will arrive anywhere from one to several months after a family accepts a Waiting Child.

Travel Approval

For families adopting in either program, the CCAA will issue the Travel Approval several weeks after receiving the signed Acceptance Letter. In either adoption program, families typically travel approximately 5-9 weeks following submission of the Acceptance Letter.

Travel

CCAI’s first preference is to group families (from either program) traveling to the same province in a travel group, which remains together throughout the adoption trip. Families will not only benefit from the support of a group, but may also save on travel expenses. Waiting Child families may travel at different times or to different places than traditional program families, so while they should be prepared to travel without the support of a group, they will always be accompanied by a CCAI representative.