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To LID or not to LID? That is the question.

Home/Archives forChina
feel free to call us Call WIAA(801) 334-8683 Email WIAAinfo@wiaa.org

To LID or not to LID? That is the question.

The gift of love is a wonderful thing.  We are eternally grateful to each and every one of you who choose to give the gift of love to children all around the world.  We know it’s not easy.  We know it’s emotionally draining.   And, we know it’s not cheap.  But, we also know that it’s worth it.   On February 14th, we are announced our inaugural “Thrifty Thursday”.  For a limited time we will be discounting our fees.  Will you let us help you, give the gift of love to a child in need?  Sign up today.

Discount Details:

  • Discount starts February 14th, 2019 and ending on April 14th, 2019
  • Discount will be in the total amount of $1,000. $500 off the application fee and $500 off the program fee.
  • Discount applies to Bulgaria and China only.
  • Application and application fee of $500 must be paid to Wasatch International Adoptions on or before April 14th, 2019.
  • All discounted contracts and discounted program fee must be received by Wasatch International Adoption no later than May 1st, 2019.

With clients recently completing their adoptions in China, we have several slots waiting to be filled.  Slots are limited, so act fast!

Eligibility requirements can be found here.

“Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.”
― William James

Thank you for your interest in our China program.  Change has come to adoptions from China.  Change can be scary.  But, change can also be good.  A Chinese law regarding Non-Governmental Organizations inadvertently led to the dissolution of all agency and orphanage relationships known as the one-to-one program.  The change has led to agencies being able to advocate for a much broader range of Chinese children.   This has also allowed you, the prospective adoptive parents, to be more liberal in choosing which agency to work with.  We pride ourselves in our dedication to you, the prospective adoptive parents.  If you come with us, you will have a dedicated program manager assigned to you.  He or She will help you through every step of the adoption process.

“Nothing endures but change.”
― Heraclitus

You may be asking yourself, with all the changes in China how do I proceed with an adoption?  The answer is simple.  Just start.  Recently, it was popular for adoptive parents to identify a child and then start the process.   Sure it was popular, but was it the best way?  Was it worth the long months of waiting to get paperwork done knowing that the child you wished to adopt spent more time out of your family?  Was it worth the rush to hurry to get paperwork done and completed in the required timeframe set by China?  Was it worth our emotional health?  Was it worth stressing about getting financing in a short amount of time?  Was that wait worth it?  The answer of course is YES!  But what if I told you there was a different way?  What if it was even a better way?  There is a different way, and yes it is better.

“A bend in the road is not the end of the road…Unless you fail to make the turn.”
― Helen Keller

What is this new better way you ask?  The answer is simple, you probably already know it.  You need to start now!  If you really want to adopt a child from China, why wait?  You don’t need to have a child in mind to start.  Talk with your spouse about what kinds of special needs you can parent.  Study. Research.  If you’re religious, pray.  Have faith in the adoption process and just start. But how do you get started?  Easy, follow these steps below:

  1. Become clients of Wasatch International Adoptions
    • We have dedicated staff who will be assigned to your case; you will never be left alone. We can help you to achieve your goal of a successful adoption.
  2. Start your home study
    • If you’re a resident of Utah we can provide the home study for you. If you live outside of Utah we can recommend licensed agencies in your state of residence you can complete the home study.
    • Think about the special needs you’re willing to consider in an adopted child. The home study preparer must make a recommendation in the home study, and USCIS must issue an approval for your adoption to take place.
    • What if you change your mind in the middle of the adoption or find a child with different special needs? Easy, home studies can be updated.   Until the adoption is finalized, nothing is etched in stone.
  3. Complete your dossier
    • You can be completing your other paperwork necessary for an adoption in China while preparing the home study.
    • Unlike the other way, you are not in as much of a hurry to meet the 6 month deadline for China. If your background clearances take time (which they can), or if USCIS is slow in processing immigration forms, or whatever the delay may be, you are in control.
    • If you need to take 8 months, take 8 months. If you want to quickly get done, quickly get it done.  There is no set amount of time in this regard.  However, if you take too long some documents may need to be updated or renewed.
  4. Submit your dossier to China
  5. Wait
    • With a completed dossier registered with China, your waiting child specialist will have the ability to access what China calls non-special focus children on your behalf. Non-special focus children typically have more mild special needs and tend to be younger in age.
    • You may still choose to adopt a child from the shared list, special focus children, or children assigned to any agency’s personal lists.
  6. Be Matched
    • Once a child that meets the needs you are willing to take is identified, matching takes considerable less time. You get your Letter of Acceptance (LOA) within a matter of weeks.
  7. Travel and Complete the Adoption
    • With the LOA signed and returned it’s a matter of 2 or 3 months until you can travel to complete the adoption.
    • With the quick turnaround you have less time to worry about the child and how they are doing in the orphanage. You will be excited that the process moved quickly in the end.

In the end, you can control the process much better by just starting.   You can go at your own pace.  This helps reduce the stress of adopting.  It reduces the stress of worrying about the child.  Once matched the process will go by so fast you won’t have much time to worry, you will just be glad it went so fast.

Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

china adoptions

Filed Under: International Adoptions Tagged With: China, China Special Needs, International Adoption

Miracle Monday

Miracle Monday - February 4th 2019


My husband and I already had three wonderful children, all adopted from China through Wasatch, when we came across the profile of a lovely little girl on the shared listing.  We knew immediately that she was meant to be part of our family and began working with Wasatch to make it happen.

Within nine months, we received our Travel Approval and were ready to go.  Because our two little ones would not do well on such a long journey, we decided that my husband would stay with them at our home outside Houston, Texas, and our older son would travel with me to adopt his new sister.  My mother, who lives in California, would accompany us, as well.

On Friday, January 11, my son and I boarded an early flight from Houston to Los Angeles, with a perfectly legal, properly authenticated power of attorney (POA) in hand.  We were brimming with

Miracle Monday - February 4th 2019

excitement.  Upon landing at LAX, however, my excitement quickly melted into shock when I received an e-mail from the local coordinator, stating, “We were just informed last night that the adoption affairs center in Shanghai is rejecting the validity of your power of attorney.”  My heart sank.

I tried not to let on to my son that there was any cause for concern.  But, my mother, who had been waiting outside our gate, could tell that something was wrong as soon as she saw my face.  Too distraught to give her a proper greeting, I simply whispered, “I just found out that the adoption bureau in Shanghai is contesting our POA.  I don’t know if we can even go to China.”

With no further word from me, my mother dutifully fed and entertained my son, as I sat immobilized during our nearly four-hour layover, e-mailing, texting, and calling my husband, Wasatch, and the local coordinator, trying to figure out what to do.

Should we turn around and go home?  Should my husband get on the next plane to Shanghai?  Should my mother change her flight to go to Houston, to watch our other two children instead?

As the flight to Shanghai began boarding, my husband and I decided to proceed as previously planned, except his mother, who lives in New York, would be “on call” to watch our younger children in Texas, in case he had to travel the next day.

When I landed in Shanghai on Saturday night, the local guide informed me that there had been no change in the adoption official’s position on our POA, despite the best efforts of Wasatch and the local team.  She advised that we would likely know more on Monday, which was our scheduled “Gotcha Day”.

Although I knew there was nothing I could do to fix the problem, I spent all Sunday overwhelmed by stress.

Monday came, and I was terrified.  I worried about taking custody of this young girl, only to have some local official refuse to finalize the adoption.  It would be devastating for us both.  Wasatch and the local contacts, however, assured my husband and me that the adoption would ultimately take place.  It was just a matter of time and, in the worse case scenario, we would just have to extend the guardianship period until the adoption could be complete.  The Wasatch team had established our trust during our three prior adoptions, so we followed their advice.

Miracle Monday - February 4th 2019

Before all this drama, I had daydreamed about meeting my new daughter.  I envisioned embracing her and proclaiming, “I am your mother!  I will give you a good life and love you forever!”  Given the cloud of doubt cast by the Shanghai official, however, I was purposefully reserved when the moment finally arrived.  Trying my best to hold back my emotions, I calmly introduced myself and

described to my new daughter the composition of her new family and the layout of her new home.

(Afterwards, I would come to feel robbed of what should have been a more-tender moment in my daughter’s and my lives.  But, it was some comfort to be able to bond with her vicariously through my son, who—blissfully unaware of the POA issue—could not stop hugging her, holding her hand, and exclaiming, “I love you!”, in Mandarin, the entire day.)

As the sun began to set, we finally received word from the local official of a way forward:  First, my husband would have to issue, in duplicate, a new, notarized power of attorney, using the precise wording provided by the official.  Then, he would have to Fed Ex one original POA overnight to Shanghai.  Next, he would have to have the other original POA fully authenticated and then sent to Shanghai by the end of the month.  Further, Wasatch would have to fax (not e-mail, wire, or mail) a letter in Chinese, vouching for our good character and promising to ensure that the new powers of attorney would arrive by the agreed deadlines.  Under these conditions, the official would allow me to proceed with the adoption, but would withhold the adoption certificate until the new, notarized POA arrived in Shanghai.

As soon as he could, my husband met with a notary and immediately sent one original POA to Shanghai via Federal Express.  He then drove over three hours to Austin to have the other POA authenticated at the state level and then drove back to Houston, to have it authenticated by the Chinese Consulate—a process that would require another week to complete.

Meanwhile, Marilyn Cypers (of Wasatch), and her husband left their grandson’s birthday party early, in order to send out the required fax from her office.  The Shanghai fax number did not initially work, and Marilyn had to e-mail a video, filmed by her husband, showing her trying to fax the document as requested.  Eventually, the fax did go through, but only after several insistent phone calls from Judy, Marilyn’s colleague in Guangzhou.

The next morning, I incessantly checked the FedEx traMiracle Monday - February 4th 2019cking status on my phone.  The package was en route, but had not yet arrived.  I repeatedly texted our local guide, pressing for updates.  Finally, right after we sat down for a late lunch, I got “good” news:  The adoption bureau would allow me to proceed with the adoption that day, but would withhold the adoption certificate until my husband’s first POA arrived.  Once the second, authenticated POA arrived, the bureau would finally “close out” the adoption in their system.

As I signed the adoption documents that Tuesday afternoon, I felt a sense of relief, but I could not quite “let go”.  Until we had the actual adoption certificate, I was not sure whether we would be able to travel to Guangzhou for our U.S. Consulate appointment.  I also worried that my anxiety about the paperwork might come across the wrong way to my new daughter.  I had treated her in a

warm and welcoming manner, but with noticeable reserve—out of an abundance of caution.

My worries continued throughout Wednesday.  The new POA did arrive in Shanghai that morning, but, for whatever reason, the registration official said he

would not release the adoption certificate until Friday.  He knew our flight to Guangzhou was scheduled for Thursday afternoon, so I could not help but question his motives.

Fortunately, our local guide took her duty seriously and promised me that she would retrieve all official paperwork for us and send it to my hotel in Guangzhou.  That way, we could proceed with

our existing travel plans and obtain my daughter’s medical exam without delay.  And she kept her word!

On Friday afternoon, our Shanghai guide texted me that she had recovered all of the necessary documents and that they would arrive in Guangzhou on Sunday.  That Sunday, the hotel manager kindly informed the desk staff to be “on high alert” for the package, given its importance, and they notified me the instant it was delivered.  Finally, a reprieve!  Thank goodness!

Things went well with the remainder of the process in Guangzhou, and my husband was able to send out the authenticated POA in good time.

Miracle Monday - February 4th 2019

As soon as my daughter and I passed through her secondary screening at Immigration Control in San Francisco on January 24, I could finally breathe.  Six days later, we received confirmation that the Shanghai bureau had closed this case.  Everything was finally done!

Now that our family is together in Texas, everyone is very h

appy and doing well.  We feel like things are as they are supposed to be.

This would not have been the case if the Wasatch team an

d their Chinese counterparts had not “stepped up to the plate”.  At no time did my husband or I ever feel that any of them had “dropped the ball”; to the contrary, perhaps the only comfort we could find during this ordeal was in knowing that Marilyn and her team were truly doing their very best.  From the folks in Utah, to the coordinator in California, to the locals “on the ground” in Guangzhou and Shanghai—and, of course, my wonderful husband—everyone did what was needed, and when it was needed, to help make our family complete.

Thank you, Wasatch!

 

Filed Under: International Adoptions Tagged With: China, China Special Needs, Miracle Monday

China Country Update April 2018

China Country Update - April 2018


“The more things change, the more they stay the same” – Alphonse Karr

You may have heard about all the changes to how adoptions are processed in China. Even though the changes may seem significant, rest assured the changes are not as dire or as drastic as they seem. China has had a reliable adoption program for a number of years. We continue to believe that China is a strong option for people who wish to adopt internationally.


The Changes

In an announcement from the China Center for Children’s Welfare and Adoption (CCCWA) dated July 18th, 2017, CCCWA terminated the One-to-One Program, Journey of Hope Program and the Summer/Winter hosting program. CCCWA allowed agencies to continue to have children assigned to them through December 31, 2017. Children who were once assigned to individual agencies through these programs are now available to all agencies. This creates opportunities for more agencies to advocate for special needs children in China. We expect the number of available children to increase each month.

In an announcement from CCCWA dated December 7, 2017, CCCWA terminated the required orphanage donation fee. Traditionally the fee was 35,000 RMB or approximately $5,600. This fee was paid as part of your foreign fees to complete the adoption of your child. Under the new CCCWA guidelines, families are no longer required to pay this fee as part of their adoption expense.

The donation shall be made on a voluntary basis, the donors shall have the right to decide on the quantity, purpose of use and form of donation, and the two parties shall make a donation agreement. Adoption agencies shall not coerce or induce adopters to make donation to child welfare institutions against their wishes. If such a case happens, CCCWA will suspend the cooperation with this adoption agency.”

Under these new guidelines adoptions from China have become less expensive for adoptive families.

In an announcement from the Department of State, Office of Children’s Issues dated March 16th, 2018 the DOS provided guidance for what they term “soft referrals”. Under this guidance (listed below) families must have a completed home study before the child can be held for adoption. Children assigned to individual agency lists can no longer be held exclusively by that agency. Agencies may request any agency to transfer any file to them, provided they have a home study or LID ready family.

Department of State Guidance

Soft Referral that occurs before a PAP completes a home study:
This more common type of soft referral involves ASPs matching an eligible/adoptable child to a PAP who does not have an approved home study, in a manner that removes that child from consideration by other families that the Central or competent authority may wish to consider. This is sometimes referred to as “holding” the child.

 

Country of Origin Activities:
Generally, country of origin authorities will only approve referrals of a child deemed eligible for intercountry adoption to a PAP who has been found eligible and suitable to adopt. In exceptional circumstances, those authorities may determine that it is in the best interests of the child to “hold” the child for adoption by a PAP who has not yet completed a home study, even when other PAPs with valid home studies are waiting for a referral. This may occur when, for example, the PAP is the child’s relative or has specific experience with a child’s unique special need.

 

The Department of State has no role in determining what the Central or competent authorities of the other country should or should not do in this situation. This guidance, however, relates to the roles of U.S. ASPs in the use of soft referrals. Regardless of the actions of a foreign country, some actions by U.S. ASPs may be incompatible with U.S. laws and regulations for accredited or approved ASPs.

 

Example of Special Focus children from China:
The issue of ASPs making soft referrals to PAPs who do not yet have an approved home study recently came to the forefront in China. We are aware, however, that the issues are not unique to China, and this guidance is applicable for every country.

 

Recently, several ASPs approached the Department to share their experiences related to soft referrals in China. Home study agencies report that some ASPs have pressured them to approve families who have already received soft referrals of special needs children in cases where the home study agency concludes that the PAP may not be suited for the child they wish to adopt. At least one home study agency has reported that it chose to withdraw from preparation of home studies for intercountry adoption from China to avoid this pressure.

 

In addition, the Chinese Central Authority (CCCWA) allows ASPs to request that a Special Focus child’s file be added to an ASP’s individual list for advanced child recruitment. Under China’s procedures, ASPs may engage in recruitment activities for up to three months when searching for an appropriate prospective adoptive placement for that child. Once the CCCWA grants a Special Focus child’s file to an ASP for recruitment, other agencies cannot view the child’s file on the CCCWA system; they and prospective adoptive parents can only learn about the child through photolistings and other similar recruitment strategies undertaken by the ASP whose has the file on their individual list. China has clarified, however, that even though a child’s file is placed on one ASP’s individual list, any ASP who has an interested family can propose a match to CCCWA and request the file be moved to their individual list.

 

ASPs should not reserve Special Focus children’s files for their clients if a suitable family is ready to proceed with a child’s intercountry adoption with another ASP. The Department has received reports indicating that some agencies are restricting referrals of Special Focus children to their current or prospective clients only. If another ASP approaches them with a family that may be a suitable match for that child, the ASP who has the child’s file should not prevent or discourage the other ASP from requesting that CCCWA transfer the file. The Department has received reports that some ASPs have been requiring families to change agencies instead of working within the CCCWA system to transfer the file, or to wait until the recruiting ASP’s three month timeframe has passed. These actions are improper, even if the recruiting ASP has proposed a match for the child, as they prevent CCCWA from considering referring the child to other families and may result in children remaining in institutional care longer than they otherwise would.

 

“Holding” Files:
While the Special Focus system might be unique to China, the issue of “holding” children’s files is apparently not. Numerous reports indicate that, in several countries, ASPs working with families to adopt special needs children are “holding” children for PAPs who have yet to complete a home study. This practice effectively deprives the Central or competent authority of the opportunity to make the decision to place that child with another PAP when such placement may be in the child’s best interest.

 

In short, U.S. accredited or approved ASPs should not take any action to “hold” children for PAPs who have not yet been found suitable in any way that prevents other agencies from referring the child to other families, that prevents or dissuades other suitable families from adopting the child, or that prevents a Central or competent authority from either learning of other eligible families or considering alternative placements. Such actions place the interests of the ASP and PAPs ahead of the interests of children.

The entire guidance can be accessed here.


Silver Linings

On a positive note, more children may be available for agencies to advocate for. Adoptions may have become cheaper with the reduction of a mandatory fee. However, they may still cost the same if you voluntarily pay a large orphanage donation fee. Generally, being required to have a home study or an LID, will greatly speed up the adoption process. Gathering paperwork beforehand will allow the match to go much quicker and smoother. Families can expect to travel within three months after being matched, provided they have an LID.

If you would like to talk more about these changes, or are interested in becoming LID ready, please contact Kathy Junk at kathy@wiaa.org or call the office at (801)334-8683

china adoptions


 

Filed Under: International Adoptions Tagged With: China, China Special Needs, Home Study, Intercountry Adoption, International Adoption

About Us

Wasatch International Adoptions is licensed child placing agency in the State of Utah and provides international adoption programs, birth mother counseling, and domestic adoption assistance. WIA is a non-profit, 501(c)3 organization and we are COA/Hague accredited.

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