1. Orientation: We invite you to meet with an agency representative to discuss the process of adopting from China in detail. This is an excellent opportunity to learn about children available and the process and policies of the China Center of Adoption Affairs, the Agency and USCIS (formerly INS).

2. Application to Family Tree Adoption Agency (FTAA): FTAA will review your application to insure you meet state requirements in addition to the qualifications required by the CCAA. Upon application approval, the homestudy will be initiated.

3. Completion of the Dossier and Filing with USCIS: During the homestudy process you will begin to gather documents needed for your dossier and USCIS.

The dossier is a collection of documents that will be submitted to the CCAA for their review. The dossier serves to provide information about you and contains documents that verify that you have met the regulations and requirements of the CCAA, your state and USCIS.

Upon completion of the homestudy, the I-600A application is filed with supporting documents (including your homestudy) to your local USCIS office for approval to adopt a foreign-born child.

FTAA will assist you with the dossier and USCIS process. We meet with you to explain the dossier process including the documents required and how to authenticate your documents.

4. Review of Dossier and Submission to CCAA: FTAA will review your dossier and will obtain the final seal of the Chinese Consulate for New York State applicants. The dossier is then submitted in accordance with the requirements of CCAA and is translated in China.

5. The Wait for Your Child’s Referral: The time frame from submission of dossier to referral of your child is approximately 24-36 months. As CCAA is responsible for child referrals the time frame may lengthen or shorten based on their process. Given this adoption agencies cannot control the length of time for referral or the decision to provide a referral. FTAA does however provide updates through group emails, which will enable you to track your wait based on those before you. Of course, we encourage you to contact the Agency anytime if you are in need of support while you wait.

6. Your Referral, Travel Approval, and Travel: Your child’s referral will be sent to our office. You will be notified immediately of its arrival and will be invited to pick up your child’s pictures and review the referral. The referral information will be translated and contains medical and developmental information about your child.

Upon acceptance of your child’s referral, CCAA will issue your travel approval letter to come to China to receive your daughter. FTAA will arrange all aspects of your travel to China including flights, accommodations and meals, guides, sightseeing and of course the adoption process itself. We will include you in this process and encourage your input for a trip of a lifetime! You will be in China 12-14 days.

7. Post Placement Supervision: We recognize the importance of post placement support and we will visit you one month, 6 months and 12 months from your return home. The latter two reports are translated and submitted to CCAA.

8. Your Child’s Citizenship: FTAA will assist you in the process of obtaining proof of citizenship, social security and a U.S. adoption decree.

For more information or questions please contact : dianna@familytreeadoption.org