If you are an American living in China, is it easier to adopt a baby than if you lived in the USA?

Question

My husband and I plan on moving to China in 4-5 years to take over his father's company.

I am an American, born and raised. Hubby was born in China but has been an American since he was a teenager.

We would like to adopt a baby from China. Does anyone know if it is an easier process if you actually live in China? We don't plan on living there forever, only a few years, so we will still be Americans with American passports.

It seems like it might be easier because we would actually be there to pick up the baby, give the required donation, etc.

On the other hand, it could be more difficult, because any baby we adopted would end up being an American when we moved back home, and would have to be approved for an American passport, etc.

Does anyone have any experience at all with this? Would we get preferential treatment because hubby is Chinese?

Serious answers only, please. Thanks!

Answer 1

Good question.  I know that there are procedures for Americans living abroad to adopt internationally (presumably from the country where they are currently residing).  It's often used for military families who adopt from the country where they are stationed.

I don't know if you are planning to have the child have US citizenship; if you plan to permanently reside in China or not.

I would suggest talking to a reputable adoption agency that has a program with China.  They should have a better understanding of the laws involved.  

Good luck!

Answer 2

I can't speak directly about China but I can tell you that it was much easier for me and my wife to adopt when we lived in India.  It took us about 6 weeks and only cost about $800 US.  I mention the money only because if I did it from home it would have cost closer to $30 k.  

In our case we had to abide by the countries adoption laws which meant that we had to be living in country for at least a year before we could adopt.  After that it was just a matter of getting the paperwork done through their courts.

I had a buddy who did the same thing in China so I would assume it's very similar.  Why not contact the counselor office at the Embassy there and ask them for any info they may have?

Answer 3

Before I answer I want you to understand that in 4 or 5 years the answer might be completely different. China is changing faster than almost anyplace on earth -- and the whole world is changing pretty fast. It may well be that there will be no international adoption from China by that time, because more and more families have enough money to keep and legitimize their "over quota" children, and more and more Chinese families are adopting. There is a lot of talk that the "One Child Policy" may be eliminated, as well. I'm sure you understand that it would be best for the kids if they could stay with their original families, or at least grow up in China in a Chinese family.

If they are still doing international adoptions at that time, then I think your family would be a great one for a Chinese child! The child would have a parent and extended family that were Chinese American (and Chinese in China, probably) and could raise them to understand the complicated interplay of Chinese and American culture and could help them to cope with the racism they will face.

Under current rules you would definitely get preferential treatment because your husband was born in China (same if he were born in Taiwan or Hong Kong or if both his parents were born in China). We have friends who are Chinese American who adopted when we did, and their wait to adopt their second child took 18-20 months. Our other friends who are not of Chinese heritage and applied at the same time may have to wait 2 years more.

The rules are different, and probably easier, if you apply when you are living in China have been officially residing in China for at least a year. See these links from the Chinese Center for Adoption Affairs for more details (not all the details, as these are rather hard to interpret, but since everything might change anyway, they are probably close enough):

http://www.china-ccaa.org/site/infoconte...

http://www.china-ccaa.org/site/infoconte...

Hope this helps! You can email me if you have more questions, though I am by no means an expert!