• Couples or singles 30 years of age or older, with or without children are qualified to adopt a healthy child according to the revised Chinese Adoption Law - implemented April 1, 1999.
• According to the new revised adoption law, only one child can be adopted at a time unless they are siblings or twins.
• Singles and persons previously divorced are permitted to adopt. Single applicants must state they are heterosexual.
• If married, a stable marriage must be evidenced with the ability to financially care for the child.
• The age of the children referred by the China Center for Adoption Affairs corresponds to the age of the parents (parents over the age of 45 are likely to be assigned a toddler, parents over the age of 50 are likely to be assigned an older child). 
• Income requirements: a minimum of $10,000 per person that will be living in the home.
• Most babies/children being adopted are girls—about 95%. Boys are available. Healthy and children with medical special needs are available. CHI has a list of Waiting Children (older children age 5 and up, and special needs children) that are available for adoption.
• Most of the children come from welfare homes/orphanages, a small percentage from foster homes.
• Referrals are taking approximately 12 to 16 months after CHI receives all required papers, and documents are submitted to the China Center for Adoption Affairs in Beijing.
• You will make a journey of love to China approximately 2 months after receiving referral. This is a wonderful experience, and we highly encourage both parents to travel. Family may have only 1 to 2 weeks advance notice before receiving final/confirmed travel date.
• Most parents will travel in a group of five to fifteen families.
• We will make all inside China travel arrangements for the group including hotel, plane, train, etc. We will put you in touch with a travel agency who can make your arrangements for the transpacific flights.
• You will be met and assisted the entire time by one of our China Coordinators. All our Coordinators are quite caring and knowledgeable about the whole adoption process.
• You will have about 12-14 very special days there before returning home with your child.
• The adoption is completed in China.

PROCEDURE

1. Fill out the application which can be downloaded in our forms section.
2. We will send you a China Adoption Guide - or you may download online - which gives step by step procedures. Your personal CHI Adoption Consultant from St. Louis office or local branch will counsel you through every step in preparing your paperwork.  You have 24 hour per day access to CHI Family Net® which contains all forms and instructions with direct contact to all organizations involved.
3. When your Dossier is finished (Your paperwork) we will send it to our staff in China who submit it to the China Center for Adoption Affairs.
4. They will identify a child for you. The time for this will vary.
5. That is called a Referral and a picture and medical and all available information will be sent.
6. Upon your acceptance of the referral, CHI will notify the CCAA who will give you travel approval. You will travel approximately 2 months after your receive your referral.
7. All travel arrangements and appointments will be made for you.
8. You will be met by and assisted by our staff in China until the adoption is completed.
9. You will return home!  after about 12 to 14 days in China.

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   COST

   1. The estimated total cost of the Adoption but not including travel is: $11,920.
   2. The estimated total cost of adoption and travel for two is: $17,120.

   This does not include CIS application fee, local home study, fees for certification and authentication from Chinese Embassy, or post-placement reports.

   Steps 1-2-3  to adopting in China

   Receive  the Adoption Guide to all Programs and the China Profile