Chinese Adoption Regulations
Chinese adoption has become increasingly popular since the late 1990s in America, partially due to the large number of infant girls available. As a result, the wait for a healthy baby has gotten longer, and the requirements as set forth by China have gotten stricter. Most of the rules took effect on May 1, 2007. Still, the country is known for its long history of ethical adoptions, and the program continues to gain in popularity.
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Marriage and Divorce
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Couples must have been married at least two years before adopting, and if either person has been previously divorced, the couple must have been married for five years. The marriage must be between a man and a woman. Single women are not allowed to adopt from China, nor are single men.
Age Restrictions
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Parents who want to adopt may not be younger than 30 years old at the time of the initial application, and they may not be older than 50. Special-needs children may be adopted by parents who are as old as 55 years.
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Health Restrictions
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Chinese regulations require that prospective parents be "physically and mentally fit," which refers to weight as well as a good health history. Parents cannot have a BMI of over 39.9. Neither spouse may have AIDS, any infectious diseases, any history of mental diseases, be blind in even one eye, have any hearing loss or be otherwise physically handicapped. The definition of "otherwise physically handicapped" is sometimes made on a case-by-case basis.
Education and Income
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One or both of the prospective parents must have stable, verifiable employment and a high school diploma. Together, they must earn a minimum of $10,000 annually per each member of the family, including the adopted child. For example, a family of four adopting a Chinese baby must earn a minimum of $50,000 annually. The parents must also be able to prove assets in the minimum amount of $80,000.
Travel
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One parent must travel to China to pick up the baby. The trip, which includes a formal ceremony to hand the baby over to the new parent as well as a medical checkup, may take over two weeks. In addition, the country requires regular updates from the adoptive parents, including pictures, for the first year of the child's new life in America.
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Resources
- Photo Credit www.filly.ca
