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After witnessing the plight of Chinese orphans and the vast number of needy children in China eligible for adoption, our hearts were moved to provide them with “Living Hope.” Hard work, compassion, and ongoing teamwork with our Chinese affiliates worked together in supporting the international adoption process. From this endeavor, Living Hope Adoption Agency was born in April of 1994.
Throughout the years, we have provided homes for Chinese children who need a future, and we have done it with a level of care and compassion that goes well beyond one’s expectations. Our devoted staff is available to assist you throughout the process, from the application process to returning home with your child.
The average waiting time for a child referral is constantly changing. Please call our agency for the current time frame. Our agency will assist and guide you through each step of the adoption process including: obtaining necessary documents for Chinese government approval, obtaining a home study assessment, applying for immigration approval, travel planning, receiving your child in China and completion of the adoption process both in China and in the U.S.
Central Authority: The China Center of Children’s Welfare and Adoption (CCCWA) oversees all adoptions.
Children Available: Currently, most adoptions occur through the Waiting Child Program. Both boys and girls are eligible for adoption in this program and are between the ages of 12 months and 13 years old. They may have minor correctable special needs or may have needs that require surgery or ongoing medical care.
Travel: After a referral and travel approval is granted by the CCCWA families make one trip to China lasting about two weeks and the adoption process is finalized in country.
Requirements
requirements for china's pre-adoptive families
Please read through the lists of requirements below to see if you qualify for adopting from China. If you have any questions, please call or email us at info@livinghopeadoption.org
Age Requirements
- Both adoptive parents must be at least 30 years of age when your dossier is logged in to the China Center for Children’s Welfare and Adoption (CCCWA).
- If both adoptive parents are over 50 years old, the age difference between the youngest parent and the adopted child should be no more than 50 years. The age difference between a single adoptive mother and the adopted child should be no more than 45 years.
Income Requirements
- Joint income must be at least $10,000 per household member, including the adopted child.
- The family must have a net worth (assets – liabilities) of $80,000 or more.
- Single women are eligible to adopt if their net worth is $100,000 or more.
Marriage Requirements
- The minimum amount of time that couples must be married before adopting is 2 years.
- If either person has been divorced, the couple must be married for at least 5 years.
- Each spouse can have no more than 2 divorces.
- Single females are eligible to adopt through the Waiting Child program. Restrictions may apply. Contact our office for more detailed information via phone or email at info@livinghopeadoption.org.
Health of the Adoptive Parents
- Prospective adoptive parents must have a clean bill of health. Special medical conditions will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Please call our office to discuss your specific situation.
- Both prospective adoptive parents must have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of less than 40.
Citizenship Requirements
- At least one of the adoptive parents must be a U.S. Citizen in order for LHAA to facilitate your adoption.
Prospective adoptive families and orphans must also meet the eligibility requirements of China, Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS), and their respective state laws.
FAQs
what are the qualifications for adopting a child from china?
Please review the Chinese Adoption Requirements page to read the list of requirements that qualify you to adopt from China.
how long does it take to adopt a child from china?
Families can receive their child’s referral at different stages of the process, depending on their individual circumstances. However, once a family is approved for a child and has received their “Letter of Seeking Confirmation” or LOA from China, you can expect to travel approximately 6-8 weeks later.
do you facilitate china adoptions outside of pennsylvania?
Yes! Requests frequently come from other states.
do you perform home studies outside of pennsylvania
Living Hope is capable of performing home studies in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Florida with a 3 hour radius of our office locations. If you reside outside of these three states, we will assist you in locating a home study agency after you have applied and contacted our agency.
what if i already have a completed home study?
Please contact us for more information at info@livinghopeadoption.org
can i adopt more than one child at a time from china?
This varies on each family's circumstance as well as the child/children they desire to adopt. Please contact LHAA for more information regarding this.
What ages are available? are boys available?
Typically, children available for adoption in China's Waiting Child Program are between the ages of twelve months and thirteen years old. Both boys and girls are available for adoption. Please call our agency today to receive updated information on children currently available in the program.
what is a "waiting child"?
The CCCWA classifies children as part of the Waiting Child Program for various reasons. Some children have physical, emotional, developmental or medical needs. Being an older child can also qualify a child for the Waiting Child Program.
What kind of special needs do Waiting children have?
The special needs of the children in the Waiting Child Program vary. We would be happy to provide families with a list of the special needs we often see. They include physical, emotional and developmental needs. Each family determines for themselves which needs they are equipped to care for when adopting a child.
how can i find out about children currently in your program?
If you know you want to adopt a waiting child, and would like to hear about the available children waiting for families, you must first apply to Living Hope Adoption Agency. Once your application is approved, you will be contacted about the children on our Waiting Child List.
In order to protect the privacy of the waiting children and our families, Living Hope Adoption Agency has implemented a secure site for families to view the available children. Please contact us to view the list of waiting children eligible for adoption.
how do i know if my family can meet the needs of a child with special needs?
It is important to have the child’s medical information reviewed by a specialist. We are not medical professionals, so it is your responsibility to make sure you fully understand the child’s special needs, and what their care will entail. As you consider the care and planning that goes into adopting a child with special needs we highly recommend you consider discussing your options with a hospital’s International Adoption Health Team who can be found at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
must i travel to china and for how long?
Rather than chaperones bringing your child to the USA, China does require you to travel there to receive your child. Only one parent is required to travel; however both are encouraged to go. The trip takes approximately 14 days. However, optional sightseeing can add three days to the trip. Family members or friends may also travel along as a source of support.
More FAQs
Who will handle my travel arrangements?
Living Hope Adoption Agency organizes your international and domestic flights, lodging, ground transportation within China, all adoption paperwork pertaining to travel, and any optional sightseeing.
Will there be assistance in China? Who will I be travelling with?
Our facilitators will escort your group throughout the entire trip. They are very familiar with the people, language, customs, and China adoption process. Adoptive families travel individually with our facilitators and sometimes with other families depending on how many LHAA adoptions are occurring simultaneously.
will my child be a united states citizen?
All immigration paperwork is completed prior to travelling to China. After the adoption process is completed in China and a family returns to America the child automatically becomes a US citizen when landing in America. A citizenship certificate will be delivered to your home within two months of your homecoming.
do i need to be a us citizen to adopt a child through living hope?
At least one of the parents must be a US citizen for the adoption to be processed through our agency.
if i was ever arrested, do i need to disclose it on our application?
When an adoptive family applies to the United States Immigration, the FBI will locate all past arrest records. If an arrest was not disclosed on the original application, it will jeopardize the family’s approval with Living Hope Adoption Agency, their home study agency, and US immigration.
what are my first steps in the adoption process?
Review our China Program Requirements. If you meet them all, check out our fee schedule and fill out and sign our adoption application. Send the application to Living Hope Adoption Agency along with a photo of you and your family (or just you if applicable) and the application fee. We will process your application and if you are approved, we will forward you a contract. You will then sign and notarize the contract and mail it to Living Hope with the contract fee. Upon receipt of your contract fee we will forward you an adoption workbook and you will begin the adoption process.
Waiting Child Program
Waiting Child Program
China Waiting Child Program consists of children with mild to severe needs, ranging in age from 12 months to 13 years old. The children in this program typically have some level of physical, emotional, and/or developmental delays. If you feel open to providing a home for one of these wonderful children and are interested in learning more , please contact Jill McCourt (jmccourt@livinghopeadoption.org)