Any Canadian mamas adopting from China?

[robugmum]

My dh and I are seriously considering an international adoption. I have heard that China has a fairly open adoption policy. Does anyone have any guidance for me about where to start, policies, requirements etc.? I have only read about people from the States so far.

[wemberly]

if you do a yahoo search, you'll find a group of Canadians adopting from China. Many Canadians also frequent the apc board there.

[SunRae]

My dh and I are in the process of adopting from China. We've just completed our homestudy and have to assemble a huge dossier of documents for the Chinese authorities.

The first step is to contact a licensed adoption agency. There are a few in the lower mainland; if you live in Vancouver you should try Family Services Adoption Agency at 604-736-7613. They will send you a package with all the information you need to get started on your decision.

You can adopt from China if you are married or single, but not if you are homosexual. I can't remember the other restrictions, but I don't think there were very many. It is expensive - $20,000 to $25,000 altogether, including the 2-week trip to China (required).

The basic steps are:
1. complete/compile a whole pile of paperwork and legal stuff for the Canadian authorities
2. attend some seminars on adoption
3. undergo a homestudy by a social worker they assign to you
4. complete/compile a whole pile of paperwork for the Chinese authorities
5. get a "proposal" of a child to adopt, go to China and adopt her, stay 2 weeks and then take her home!

Hope this helps,

[Dragon]

I am adopting from China. We just got our referral last week, for a perfectly beautiful and lovely 7.5-month-old girl. We're expecting to travel to get her at the end of November and have her home just before Christmas

SunRae gave you a great list of the basic steps. The first thing to do is start talking to some adoption agencies. Find out how big they are, what kind of pre/during/post-adoption services they provide...get some information packages and do some surfing on the internet, and possibly attend some information sessions. Once you decide which agency to go with, they'll probably tell you the next steps from there.

The dossier isn't all that bad if you keep yourself organized and just get it done. International adoption isn't easy, but it isn't that hard either, especially if you can be organized and methodical about it. SunRae doesn't know it yet, but assembling the dossier isn't the hardest part - the WAITING is the hardest part! Even that is getting easier these days, though, as China has really speeded up the referral process. When we started we were expecting to wait 15 months for our referral. Instead we waited slightly over 8 months, and we'll have our daughter home within 10.5 months after submitting our paperwork to China

[wemberly]

Hooray Dragon!!!

I've been waiting for your referral news. I am SO happy for you. I hope your TA comes through quickly. I hope you'll share your experiences once you return too--I'm eager to hear about your trip.

Congratulations!!!!

[SunRae]

Congratulations, Dragon - I am so excited for you! You'll have your little girl home at the same time my son was born last year. It's a nice time for an addition to the family.

I am very pleased to hear your news that China has speeded up the adoption process. I never could understand why it had to take so long at that end. And your daughter will only be about nine months old! That's wonderful. I'm sure her adjustment to her new environment will be that much easier because she is so young.

It must be REALLY hard to wait, now that you've seen her picture! Ooooh, congratulations again; I'm getting butterflies thinking about your excitement!

Please tell us all about it in the new year, including what it was like in China - when you get a chance.

Best Wishes,

[Dragon]

Thanks, Paige and Rachel!

This is a very exciting time for us. We're just head over heels in love with Quinn's photos, and we have every indication that she is doing extremely well at her orphanage. She seems to have hit every major developmental milestone right on track, and appears to be attached to her caregivers. Although that's going to make her adjustment a little harder at first, it's wonderful news for the long run. Her orphanage appears to be very modern, bright, well-staffed, and clean.

Although I want to scoop my sweet Quinn up in my arms and give her a big hug RIGHT NOW, I don't feel any strong sense of urgency to get over there to her. She's in good hands now, she'll be all right until I can get there and get MY hands on her We're expecting to leave on November 28th, returning on December 12th

[robugmum]

It is so exciting to hear all your stories. I'm happy to hear that the process is getting faster and easier. Thanks so much for all your comments, it sounds like lots of us are from the West Coast. Is there any regular get together that I could maybe meet up with some of you? My dh is still a little unsure about adopting internationally, I would love for him to be able to meet some families who have gone this route themselves

[EFmom]

Dragon, congratulations on your referral! I found the time from referral to travel to be a killer, although the rest of the wait really didn't bother me all that much. It all seems so much more real once you get that picture in your hand.

robugmum, there are a few Families with Children from China branches in Canada. Most FCC groups have events that are open to people who are considering adoption or who are waiting parents. Go to http://www.fwcc.org/contacts.html and look at the section labelled "Outside USA" to check if there is a group near you.