FAQ regarding China Adoptions

Inquiring minds want to know:

Q: Why are there so many children in orphanages in China?

A: A few decades ago, China experienced a huge population growth without nearly as much growth in their food production. The Chinese government developed strick population control regulations which limited the number of children each family may have. This has come to be known as the 'one child' policy; however, in many provinces in China it would be more realistic to call it the 'one boy or two children' policy. There are stiff fines and penalties imposed on families who do not follow this policy.

In 1992, the Chinese government passed a law ratifying international adoption. China adoption is noteworthy for its orderly adoption process—all aspects of adoption cost and timing are governed by Chinese Center for Adoptive Affairs(or CCAA). No private adoptions in China are permitted.

The average age of a child adopted from China is 11 months. The majority of children from China are girls, made available for adoption because of China’s population control policies. Babies are typically left in public places, at a police or train station, suggesting that the birthparents wanted them to be found and cared for. Many adoptive parents see this as evidence of the birthparents’ love for their baby.

One child adopted from China was found with a note that said: "In our countryside the thought that man is more important than woman is very popular. I myself don’t have the strength to overthrow it."



Q: Why are so many girls abandoned?

A: Because of culture and tradition, male children are often perceived as having more value than female children. Traditionally it is the responsibility of the male child to care for his parents when they are no longer able to work, while the female child would marry into another family and care for them. Because of the strong cultural preference for sons, and the government-imposed limitation on the number of children each couple may have, female children make up nearly 95% of the occupants of Chinese orphanages.


If a couples first child is a boy, they will usually keep him. If the couples first or second child is a girl or a child with some disability or abnormality, that child may be abandoned.

Q: Why adopt from China and not the US?

A: The main answer is-that is where God is leading us! When I was in my teens I had the idea in my head that I would one day have a little raven haired beauty from China. Once we found it would be very difficult to have children on our own, the answer was easy!

The other reason- Adopting through the foster care system in the U.S. can be a long, agonizing process(3-5 years as oppossed to just over a year), as the main goal of foster care is to reunite children with their parents. Children in Chinese orphanages are without parents, and unless they are adopted will remain institutionalized until they reach young adulthood. They may then take a job working in the orphanage, or leave to make their way on their own.

Q: How long does it take to adopt from China?

A: There are so many factors that go into the process, which involves many individuals, several government branches, agencies and two world powers. Even averages are hard to give as the process can change and issues such as SARS can dramatically change things. However, recently the China Center for Adoption Affairs has committed themselves to increasing the speed with which referrals are made. So to give you a guesstimate at the length of the process we'd say anywhere between 14 months to 18 months from initial application to having your child in your arms.

Q: Do you have to travel to China?

A: Yes! China requires for the parent(s) to travel to China. The trip is normally between 12 and 14 days in length, with a week in the child's home province. At this time there is plenty of paperwork to fill out, and lots of bonding to do with your child. Then you travel to Guangzhou, where the US Consulate is located. Here your child is given a quick physical, their papers are looked at and they are given a visa to enter the US. Most people travel in a group of about 20. Our agency, CCAI, has a bilingual staff member who travels with the group and will take care of everything for us!

Q: When is the adoption final?

A: When you adopt from China, the adoption is completed in the child's province. In domestic adoptions and some international adoptions there is a period where the child is at risk - a time when the child is placed with you but the adoption has not been finalized. When adopting from China this is not the case.

Q: When does the child become a US Citizen?

A: The minute they touch US soil. Thanks to some new laws and regulations, children (those under the age of 18) who enter this country with their legal guardians immediately become United States Citizens. We also plan to readopt in the United States.

There is an amazing book called The Lost Daughters of China by Karin Evans if you want to learn even more!