FAQ . . .

Received this email today with some question/answers that alot of you ask us about . . .

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why has the wait from LID(log in date) to referral increased over the past year and a half?

A: At a meeting held in December 2006 the CCAA announced that the number of dossiers received at the end of 2005 and through 2006 had increased over 200% from previous years. With this increase there are more dossiers for families than paper-ready children available for adoption, causing the wait time to increase. There are literally thousands of dossiers at the CCAA awaiting a referral and while there are undoubtedly enough children available in China, not all orphanages or children are registered with the CCAA for adoption. Unfortunately, there are extremely rural orphanages that lack the resources needed to register with the CCAA. The CCAA is working to register more orphanages; however, this is a lengthy and complicated process. America World is praying diligently and working to find new ways to see all orphanages become registered with the CCAA to allow all adoptable orphans to be placed in forever families.

Q: What is the current wait time from LID to referral? How long does America World anticipate the wait will become?

A: Families are currently waiting roughly 19-20 months from the date their dossier is logged into the CCAA for a referral. Since the fall of 2005, the wait time has continued to increase each month and it is possible that this pattern might continue over time. In sharing this with families, America World’s desire is to be open and realistic about the future based upon the information we currently have, but we know and trust that God is sovereign and has a perfect plan for the future of adoptions from China!

Unfortunately, no one is able to determine exactly how long the wait will become. The length of the wait time is a result of how many referrals for adoptable children the CCAA has currently received along with the number of dossiers logged in from the fall of 2005 through today.

Each month the CCAA reviews the number of children available for adoption. Based on the number of children available they then determine how many log in dates they are able to process. The number of days they are able to process varies based on the number of dossiers logged in each day. If a large number of families are logged in to the CCAA on a particular date, it is likely that the CCAA will only be able to match a few days worth of LIDs. In this situation the wait time typically increases. Conversely when a small number of families are logged in to the CCAA on consecutive dates the CCAA is able to cover a larger range of LIDs, which usually means that the wait time will not dramatically increase.

It is important to note that the CCAA may be referring out roughly the same amount of children in each scenario. Unfortunately, statistics on the number of children available for adoption at the CCAA each month as well as the number of dossiers logged in on specific dates from all countries are not released by the CCAA.

Q: Are families allowed to pursue another adoption or become pregnant during the wait for a referral from China?

A: Currently, the answer to both of these questions is no; however, America World has recently inquired with the CCAA to see if they have considered revising either of these policies due to the increased wait. The CCAA indicated that they plan to meet and discuss their stance on both of these issues as many agencies are asking similar questions related to pregnancy and concurrent adoptions. If any changes are implemented the CCAA will contact agencies accordingly and America World will then evaluate the current policy and let families know of any changes. America World always considers what is in the best interest of the children and the family when making decisions of this nature.

Q: Will the 2008 Beijing Olympics affect the China adoption process?

A: Overall, it does not seem likely that the Olympics will affect the CCAA’s processing efforts. The co-founder of the Chinese Children Adoption International stated that the Chinese Ministry of Civil Affairs concluded “the continuation of China’s adoption program during the Games should not be a problem.” It is possible that the CCAA may close for several days during the Olympics due to high traffic volumes and difficult commuting conditions. The CCAA will inform agencies if they plan to close or alter their hours at all during the Olympics and America World will notify families accordingly.

In regards to travel during the Olympics, America World anticipates that while international flights from the US to Beijing may be full and expensive it will not be impossible to find flights for families to China. Referrals typically come from provinces outside of Beijing. Travel and accommodations in other provinces should not be heavily impacted by the Olympics. America World will do everything possible to make accommodations for families during the Olympics, even if this means tweaking the Beijing sight-seeing portion of the trip. More details will follow regarding travel to China during Olympics as the time gets closer.

Q: With the increased wait, when should families renew the Home Study, FBI fingerprints, and I 171H/797C? Is it permissible to allow these items to expire as long as they are valid for travel?

A:
Home Study Update:
Families will want to consult with their Social Worker on the appropriate time to renew their home study as expirations vary in each state. Some states allow the home study to expire without penalty while other states are more stringent on the timing of the home study update.

If the Social Worker does not state a specific time range required to update a home study, America World suggests waiting to update the home study in adequate time to renew the I 171H or 797C. It is important to note that when submitting a new I 600a (for the renewal of the I 171H or 797C), the home study update must be under 6 months old.

If a family resides in a state with strict renewal requirements, families will need to comply with their particular state’s regulations. This could mean that with the current wait time a family may have to renew their home study more than once.

FBI Fingerprints and I-171H (or 797C):
FBI fingerprints expire at 15 months and I-171H approvals expire at 18 months from the approval date. In America World’s experience, fingerprints and I-171H approvals may expire as long as they have been renewed prior to receiving a referral. Families are encouraged to check with their Social Worker to ensure that this is the case for their particular state.

Families will want to allow plenty of processing time for these renewals. It is generally recommended that families begin renewing the I-171H roughly 4 months from the time a family anticipates receiving a referral. Valid fingerprints and I-171H or 797C approvals are needed at the time of receiving a referral and they must be valid through the duration of travel to China. Families with specific questions about how and when to renew the I-171H or 797C should contact the assigned Family Coordinator.