Couples between the ages of 30 and 49 are eligible for the standard process. Couples 30-54 are eligible for the China Child of Promise (children with minor, correctable conditions) process. China limits family size to applicants with up to four children currently in the home, although this is flexible with the China Child of Promise process. Income requirements are $30,000 minimum annual income plus an additional $10,000 per child living in the home (not including the child to be adopted), and a minimum $80,000 net worth (total assets – total liabilities). Couples must have been married for a minimum of 2 years. If there are previous marriages, then the current marriage must be at least 5 years in length.

Children adopted from China through the standard process range in age from eight months to three years, on average, at time of placement. Health conditions vary—even healthy children generally have experienced some malnutrition and developmental delay. Children who are older and/or have minor physical conditions are also waiting for families through the China Child of Promise process. Social welfare institutes care for children from China. Some orphanages have foster care systems, while others primarily provide institutional care. Typically, children are abandoned by their birth parents close to time of birth. These children are brought to the local orphanage, which maintains guardianship of the children until they are adopted.

Standard Process: Application through placement is approximately 42-45 months. Current dossier sent to match time frame is approximately 37+ months. Time frame is expected to lengthen. There is an expedited process for applicants of Chinese heritage.

China Child of Promise Process: Application through placement is approximately 12-18 months.

In the standard process the children are 8-36 months at time of placement. In the China Child of Promise process both girls and boys are 8 months to 7 years at time of placement. For prospective parents 45 and older, the possibility of receiving the referral of a child 18 months or older increases. The trend is that as the age of the youngest prospective parent increases, the age the referred child also increases.

You can specify Female, Male, or Either Gender in your home study.

Nearly all children in China available for international adoption are abandoned, usually in or near the city or village of their birth. These children are left in public places where they are sure to be found, such as outside a police station or hospital. When found the police bring the child to an orphanage and conduct a search for the birth parents. If the police cannot locate the parents, the child may become eligible for referral to international adoption. Because child abandonment is illegal, birth parents are careful not to leave any identifying information with the child.

Standard Process: Holts sends the dossiers for prospective parents to the China Center of Adoption Affairs (CCAA) in Beijing. When reviewing your dossier the CCAA will consider the type of child you request in light of the children they have available for matching when they review your dossier. Your dossier will indicate your requested age range, gender, and health preference. The CCAA will then consider your family’s age, specific child request, and children available and will try to match you as closely to your request as possible.

China Child of Promise Process: To be considered for this special expedited process, families must have completed their application, homestudy, dossier and filled out our special Minor/Correctable Conditions Checklist – which indicates you are open to parenting a child with certain physical conditions. In addition, we will need to have the following items from families before they are considered for this process: Prospective Family Letter, Passport photos of husband and wife in jpg format, and a jpg photo of the prospective family. When the China Center for Adoption Affairs releases children’s information to Holt, we have a short time to match these children with families. In order to quickly identify a child who fits the profile you have outlined, we must have your most recent Minor/Correctable Conditions Checklist signed and on hand. Holt is one of a few adoption agencies the CCAA has selected for this option.

China releases children with special health care issues or minor physical conditions, to selected adoption agencies for home finding. Holt is one of the agencies selected by the CCAA to find suitable families for Chinese children with minor physical conditions. When the China Center for Adoption Affairs releases children’s information to Holt, we have a short time to match these children with families. In order to quickly identify a child who fits the profile you have outlined, we must have your most recent Minor/Correctable Conditions Checklist signed and on hand. Children’s physical conditions from China can include; cleft lip and palate, missing digits or hands, clubfeet, orthopedic problems, congenital heart disease, vision or hearing problems, etc. Many of these children are boys. Holt has a great deal of experience and success selecting suitable families for children with special needs.

Children with moderate to major special needs are matched through the Waiting Child Department.

Children live either in an orphanage or with a foster family in a program run by the orphanage, local Social Welfare Institute, or supported by a private agency such as Holt. Holt does work with some orphanages and foster care programs in China, but these activities are separate from international adoption. The CCAA strives to be fair to all agencies in the matching process to prevent conflict of interest. Holt families are not specifically matched to children who have been receiving care through an orphanage or foster care program that Holt works with in China.

All families receive a basic medical report and photograph of their child. Some children are found with a note identifying their birth date, which may or may not be indicated in the information provided by the orphanage. In China, some families are able to meet orphanage workers or foster family members who cared for and know the child. This permission will be up to the provincial civil affairs at time of travel.

Most orphanages and foster care programs have access to medical care, usually at the orphanage. Children usually receive regular check-ups and vaccinations as needed. Acute care is provided at area hospitals.

Yes. China’s adoption law requires that at least one parent travel to China to complete their child’s adoption. While you are in China Holt staff will assist you with all phases of your trip, from logistical arrangements to adoption processing. Our China staff is very experienced working with American families and available on the trip if any issues, concerns, or questions arise.

The only travel arrangements for which you are responsible are the round-trip tickets from your home to China and from China home again. You are welcome to use any travel agent or work directly with an airline to make the arrangements you need for this portion of your trip. Holt can also recommend travel agencies who are experienced with adoption travel to China and understand the unique needs of adoptive parents. Holt contracts with Lotus Travel, inc. to make all other arrangements for you, including intra-China flights, hotel reservations, and ground transportation. Holt staff in Eugene, OR and China is available if you have any questions or concerns about your trip.

Yes, but usually this means going through the program twice. In rare instances twins are available for referral. Holt does not support placing unrelated children at the same time and there is a one year between placement of Children in the home policy issued both by Holt and the CCAA.

Families receive a China Program Adoption Guidebook after their formal application has been submitted. The guidebook walks families through each step of the adoption process. In addition, the China program produces a quarterly newsletter, maintains an e-mail update service, and sends out regular mailings, as well as a quarterly contact e-mail for all families in process. Holt staff members who specialize in various parts of the adoption process are available by phone or e-mail for consultation and advice to help you complete your application and dossier properly, discuss travel, advise you about your referral, and explain post-placement requirements.