Wait time rumors
Two agencies who were previously telling their people we were about to see a speed up have now started preparing their people for the wait to continue at the current rate of it taking about two months to get through a month.
Several agencies are preparing their people with summer of 2006 LID’s for an 18 to 24 month wait.
Most of the large agencies are now giving wait times of at least 18 months and are warning it could go over that.
A few agencies are still sticking to low wait times, or are saying things will stabilize soon. As I’ve already said, I don’t really believe that anymore.
December 8th, 2006 at 7:46 am
Does it even matter what the agencies have to say at this point? For the past 10 months, I’ve heard nothing from my agency. Nada. Zilch. The only information we get is coming from here, RQ. And from being a faithful reader and watching the stats every month, I knew that our wait would be close to 2 years, not the 6-8 months our agency quoted when they took our first (and 2nd and 3rd) check. Good for the agencies for finally being truthful, but sheesh, what took `em so long?
December 8th, 2006 at 7:48 am
With LID of June 15, 2006 I am not surprised. It does not look very promising for travel anytime soon. I can keep my fingers crossed for a WC with our agency. With Ellie getting older (4 this April) we would welcome an older child.
Hold tight everyone. We are all in this together!
Jeanne
Orlando, Florida
December 8th, 2006 at 8:01 am
I had a call from my case worker 2 days ago to make sure our homestudy was updated and everything was in order! With a LID of 9/26/05 maybe they know something! Maybe we are in the next batch. We also talked about travel and how the process will go. Hopefully it’s a good sign and they will get out the rest of September!!
Jennifer
December 8th, 2006 at 8:09 am
Sounds about what we were all expecting……at this rate, and we are JUST starting the paper work, my son could be 7 by the time she comes home. That is a big age difference. I was also hoping not to move until she came home, but I don’t think that’s a reality now. I can’t see us staying here four more years. Guess we’ll be redoing our home study–and the rest of the paperwork…..
Thanks for the update.
December 8th, 2006 at 8:17 am
waiting4agirl — my son is 7 now and will be 8 by the time we travel. He was 5 when we first applied.
December 8th, 2006 at 8:20 am
Any word on the next batch? The big CCAA meeting is over…maybe we will hear something.
December 8th, 2006 at 8:21 am
If they can get through Oct and Nov in only 2 months each I think that actually would be a speed up. I won’t be suprised at all if we see it take longer to get through those 2 months.
December 8th, 2006 at 8:41 am
This is what our agency tells us since we were papercasing for China (LID may 06). They don’t tell anything else, just sticking to the 18-24 months :-(
I’m not happy to read it here also, but what can we do…. Maybe this can give us a little bit relaxation in our minds and body’s?
Hang in there eveyone!
December 8th, 2006 at 8:41 am
My agency had been quoting us 15 months and yesterday told me that a 2 year wait is more realistic now.
December 8th, 2006 at 8:50 am
TWO YEARS!
If we had only known then what we know now.
My little girl could have been coming home from China with a brother or sister!!!
We could have organized another adoption in between the two years of waiting.
My friend who is adopting from VN is now waiting for number two. And she started the process in March of 06!!! She has her baby home already.
December 8th, 2006 at 8:53 am
RQ–Do you think the latest change in thinking by agencies has anything to do with news received from the Big CCAA Meeting?
December 8th, 2006 at 8:55 am
My agency isn’t quite as bad as anonymouswait’s but still. They say things like it’s just over 14 months and we could see it being 15 months soon. I feel like shouting at them, thanks for the news flash! They say nothing about what will happen, could happen, expected to happen. Nothing. I’m so frustrated some days! Thank goodness for RQ. Otherwise I would be completely in the dark if I were just listening to my agency. I’m glad other agencies are being upfront with their clients.
December 8th, 2006 at 9:16 am
Hi RQ
Any word on the December 8th meeting? I doubt they will tell us wait times are going to decrease, but it would be good to know if they feel they will stabilize a little. I am doubtful about this if most agencies are saying that the wait time will go to 18 -24 months (which I believe).
December 8th, 2006 at 9:16 am
~ Some Thoughts for those Waiting ~
I was at a local FCC Waiting Families meeting last night and it made me realize how very important it is for us to have a support system in place. It may be locally with fellow adoptive families or it may be through being part of a virtual community such as this one. The form or nature of the support does not matter. What does matter is having others around you that truly understand what you are going through.
For me, especially as a single, this RQ community has been a life line. The total time for me from starting paperwork until I get home with Isabel Grace will be 26 months. (And I know some of our European friends go through a heck of a lot longer time with their paperchasing). My point is…with these seemingly ever-extending wait-times, it is imperative that we realize that we are not in this alone and that there WILL be times of anger, frustration and numbness. It is normal. It is part of the process. We need to recognize that we cannot do this alone.
I am so very appreciative of the support I have received throughout this journey.
May those of you who have recently joined this group feel as welcomed and cared for as I have.
Laureen
(My baby girl is one TODAY!!!)
http://www.babysites.com/sites/laureenmary
December 8th, 2006 at 9:26 am
Two years for folks with Summer ’06 LID. Sheesh, what a wait!! We knew it was there– glad to know the agencies are finally catching up with the RQ site (insert major eyeroll here)!!!
Our agency has been saying for many months now that, “the current wait time is “X†and we expect that the wait time will continue to grow beyond this point.†Frustrating, but at least they are honest.
DH and I had originally thought we would have our daughter by Fall of ’06 and would be ready to apply for another child in the Spring of ’07. Now we likely will not be able to apply for a second Child from China until Spring ’08 and what will the wait look like then??
I don’t think we will be up for that kind of a wait. We’ve been casually exploring adoptions from Vietnam and Ethiopia. I don’t think a second adoption from China will be in the cards for us.
Is anyone else getting as irritated by Christmas music as I am. Sometimes I hear the happy songs on the radio and I just want to SCREAM! And Oh boy do I need to snap out of it. We’re hosting Christmas at our house this year.
I’m sorry but my “Ho ho ho” is being held-up in China.
LID 12/20/05
December 8th, 2006 at 9:51 am
As the time passes into December, I get more and more Scrooge-like. I suppose it doesn’t help that the stores have been decorated since BEFORE Halloween; that Christmas is now equated with the ‘thrill of the bargain hunt;’ and that with a LID of 9/26/06, I will have to suffer through more Christmases without our daughter than I expected. Sorry for being a downer. It just hit me.
ODC
December 8th, 2006 at 10:00 am
RUMOR QUEEN, PLEASE HELP.
It was just posted that someone heard from their agency that the annual meeting (CCAA) revealed NO MORE SINGLES AFTER MAY 2007… can you look into what this means exactly????
I hate to jump on the rumor bandwagon, but am curious if you have heard anything remotely like this… THANK YOU.
A concerned 07 slot future mom to Macey!!!
krj
December 8th, 2006 at 10:04 am
Our_Chinese_Dream-
You are not being a downer; you are justifiably disappointed in yet another Christmas without your daughter. I pray that your referral (and you HAVE to be next!) comes swiftly.
Calamity4e Says:
“(insert major eyeroll here)!!!” LMAO. As a 9th grade teacher, I watch the rolling of more eyeballls on a daily basis than the local opthamologist. (what do I expect of my “PUPILS”?) [he he]
Laureen
December 8th, 2006 at 10:07 am
Dear Santa,
Last year I wrote you a letter telling you of our LID 12/7/05 and saying how great it would be for you to get us our daughter by 12/25/06. Well here it is 12/06 and we are still MONTHS away from this becoming a reality. I hope your reindeer attack you…you fat creep! Christmas BAH HUMBUG! Disclaimer: before you jump down on me for this comment please read this post tongue in cheek.
December 8th, 2006 at 10:10 am
Disclaimer: please read the following post tongue in cheek
Dear Santa, last year we were happy with an early Christmas gift of our LIB 12/7/06. We wrote you and asked that our daughter be with us for 12/25/06. Here we are 12/06 and still we are many months away from seeing our daughter and bringing her home. Well Santa, I hope your reindeer attack you…you fat creep! Christmas BAH HUMBUG!
December 8th, 2006 at 10:12 am
Christmas is so sad this year. DH and I were just talking last night about how much we are not in the Christmas spirit. (Up until now he’s been so laid back about the wait, but I think it finally hit him last night). Another Christmas is coming and going without having our baby home with us.
Will this wait ever end????
Linda
LID 10/7/05
December 8th, 2006 at 10:15 am
wunone16:
I second your comment about Santa!!!
Linda
LID 10/7/05
December 8th, 2006 at 10:29 am
Just recieved word that there were several things to come out of the CCAA meeting.
1- there are 2x the number of dossiers then childeren.
2-effective May 1st 2007 the following apply:
-Married couples only.
-Age between 30-50.
-only healthy parents.
-BMI must be under 40.
-net assest over 80,000.
-must have high school education or higher.
-no more than 5 childeren at home.
-fee increases for adoptions.
They also said wait times will not shorten and more likely will get longer.
They are obviously tightening the requirements to slow things down.
December 8th, 2006 at 10:35 am
Happy Birthday, Isabel Grace! She sure is a cutie:)
My very big China-only agency continues to post 14-16 months re. the wait on their web site. HELLO!!! I am very disappointed. This wait is beginning to impact my interpersonal realtionships–if I don’t hear what I want to hear I hang up the phone on people. People I work with! Good thing Christmas break is coming up.
LID 11/16/05
December 8th, 2006 at 10:42 am
nievedog123
Is this official, official? $80,000 net? holy cow. No singles?! I always thought I’d get Emily a sister one day. ugh. OK. This is still just a rumor. Pass the salt. I need a grain or two (or the carton it comes in!)
December 8th, 2006 at 10:44 am
And what does that mean NO singles AFTER May 2007? If you’ve already received a slot to paperchase, are you just cut off in May if you’re a single? That makes little sense. I want the whole truth. And again, it’s a rumor.
krj
December 8th, 2006 at 10:45 am
I think we will be lucky if Oct./Nov. only take 6 months to get thru! If there is a speed up coming (and I don’t believe there is) I feel it would have to be after the Oct/Nov referral’s are completed.
My “Ho ho ho” is with Calamity4e’s in China!!!
December 8th, 2006 at 10:48 am
Well I can’t say that I am surprised by the news out of the meeting as supplied bu nievedog123.
Have been busy parenting the last few months and havent had a chance to post, but I suppose I am going to have to let go of my optimism that eventually things might speed up when/if we are ready for #2.
Hang in there everyone. The wait is hard…oh so very hard…but at least we have RQ and each other…people that understand!
December 8th, 2006 at 10:52 am
I do not want to be negitive, but I think it is alittle worse then I posted. I condensed the letter to get it out for everyone. I’m sure as the day goes on more and more will filter through and we will get all the info.
I am sorry - this really has been getting harder for us this last month and our LID is not till May 2006. We have sooo long to go.
Sorry but I think this is not going to turn out to be a rumor.
December 8th, 2006 at 10:53 am
nievedog123~ WOW!!! if all of those new requirements turn out to be true what will all those who tell us “don’t pay any attention to the rumors” have to say??? We’ve been getting wind of this kind of rumor for months.
Our family would not be prevented from adopting with the implementation of any of those restrictions (thankfully) but gosh I hope that’s not true –it would certainly prevent the creation of many wonderful families.
It will be interesting to see…
December 8th, 2006 at 10:54 am
My first two trips to China were at ages 51 and 53. OOPS, looks like they don’t want me back…..are you kidding me? Age 50 limit? This is when I really got alot smarter as a parent.
December 8th, 2006 at 10:55 am
Hey. You can’t just put worse than what you posted and leave us hanging! Come on, I’m freaking out here!
RQ, please step in (if you are free right now. I realize you actually work for a living) Anyone else confirming/conflicting with nievedog123 info?
December 8th, 2006 at 10:56 am
If you have a log in date prior to May 1, 2007, then are you exempt from the new rules? Or will these rules to apply to everyone already in the system?
December 8th, 2006 at 11:03 am
I just posted a question on APC –huge audience– to see if anyone else has received this kind of info. Trying to confirm (well I hope it isn’t confirmed) or at least find out what agency, if true, sent this out.
December 8th, 2006 at 11:03 am
It said the rules took effect for all LID’s after May 1st 2007. These are new rules which do not effect families in the system with LID’s already.
That is how I read it.
December 8th, 2006 at 11:04 am
Nievedog123
Thanks for the info. A couple of questions (or to RQ if she has the detail).
Age restrictions - does the 30-50 apply to BOTH mom & dad?
The assets…is that net of mortgages?
December 8th, 2006 at 11:04 am
If this is true…then UGH! I just keep holding on thinking that some goods news has to happen….but it NEVER does.
I was wondering something…when the CCAA says that there are 2x the # of dossiers compared to paper ready “babies”…does that mean “babies” or children? Cuz, would think they could come up with something to shorten the wait. Like, we have many children at the age of X that are paper ready vs this amount of Y babies and if your interested in switching to the X age we have them avaiable. Do you know what I mean. Not unless, there just aren’t any children/babies available and there is NO need for adoptive parents any longer in there program. I just don’t think that all the IA SWI’s are empty with NO children.
When we signed for the China program, we were under the impression that there were so many babies in China that needed homes…..but, apparently that need is gone? SO, were is the need(if any) concerning the orphanges? Do you understand? I hope I am saying this right!
December 8th, 2006 at 11:05 am
HELP THE SINGLES RQ, we are all on the verge of cardiac arrest…
krj
and yes, i know you have a life outside of this site! thanks for any help you can give us
December 8th, 2006 at 11:06 am
These are big changes. I think if the CCAA announced changes at the meeting, these are official changes. We will all hear from our agencies very soon about this. For those of us affected (I’m a single who just started paperchasing and am right now wigging out that my USCIS office is taking 3 mos. minimum to process the I-600A) we will get specific instructions from our agency.
December 8th, 2006 at 11:10 am
Hi there..
Am trying again as it isn’t coming up.
RQ, Nievedog123
Can you clarify on the age thing…do both parents have to be under 50 or just one?
December 8th, 2006 at 11:15 am
I can confirm what nievedog123 posted.
Sorry.
December 8th, 2006 at 11:17 am
If this comes up 3 times, my apologies but RQ everytime I post it doesn’t appear.
Assuming these aren’t backdated, we thankfully will be okay. However I have a good friend starting out whose husband is over 50. Any clarification on whether one parent can be over 50?
December 8th, 2006 at 11:20 am
Am living up to my name…nothing I am posting is coming up - are there problems with the blog?
Anyways can anyone clarify on the over 50 issue…can one parent be over 50?
December 8th, 2006 at 11:23 am
Any news on new rules for those of us already logged in?
December 8th, 2006 at 11:25 am
I guess I am a little confused. This letter came from your agency? I didn’t see any new letters posted on CCAA.
December 8th, 2006 at 11:32 am
There are more than enough children waiting in Chinese orphanages, young and old, but most of them have special needs. I think that will be the future for the Chinese adoption program> less healthy babies and more SN children.
Does anyone know if the possible new rules include the SN program?
December 8th, 2006 at 11:37 am
RQ we need your POV!
December 8th, 2006 at 11:39 am
Perhaps we need not panic yet. Perhaps the CCAA is once again petitioning for these changes, and the Ministry of Civil Affairs will once again turn down the CCAA… according to a very well informed adoptee, these singles rumors come out on average SIX times a year and not one rumor yet has come to fruition- in terms of closing the doors. So, despite my initial panic, I have calmed down and let logic take over. We don’t know anything for SURE yet…
Let’s all hold hands and hang in until we do know.
Still would love to hear RQ’s spin on this though….
krj
December 8th, 2006 at 11:41 am
I am so used to being disappointed by this whole process, I’m almost numb to the new negative rumours.
We’re LID May 2006, and I’m hopeful we’ll have our daughter home before the 2008 Beijing Olympics. I’ve told everyone that we won’t be going to China before summer 2008, so people have stopped asking.
In a way, it feels better having no hope for a speed-up, because at least I feel like I can get on with my life (sort of!) in the meantime.
For those of you single folks out there, I hope the “married couples only” rumour remains just that.
Jackie
December 8th, 2006 at 11:43 am
My two trips to China happened at ages 51 and 53. Now, I find out I am too old to go back. Bologna……..I am a better prepared father now than ever………
December 8th, 2006 at 11:43 am
I’ve kind of made peace with the fact that we will wait at least 16-18 months for our referral… in the beginning I couldn’t imagine it… but at this point, I have no choice but to accept it. I think this is the new normal for China Adoption and we will not ever see 6-8 months for referral again.
So sorry to hear all these scary rumors for singles, it doesn’t seem fair.
December 8th, 2006 at 11:50 am
18-24 months??????? I’m praying that this is just a really bad rumor. Goodness gracious, we went LID when the wait was only 6 months. What in the world happened????
His,
Mrs. U
LID 9-12-05- NEXT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://www.makingahouseahome.blogspot.com
December 8th, 2006 at 11:55 am
Tomorrow is our 1 year ‘anniversary’ of our LID. Do we celebrate or cry?
December 8th, 2006 at 11:59 am
Even the SN program is becoming unpredictable. We signed up with our agencies SN program, having been waiting for four months, have updated our meidical checklist 3x and have watched people in the SN program wait over 60days and longer for their TA. We are open to many minor SN. Our agency hasn’t been getting as many children on the SN list from the CCAA lately. Sometimes, I wonder if they the CCAA are making the IA program look unpredictable on purpose? Everything seems jacked up right now with them. There is NO predictability right now. I may change my attitude in an hour, but I am just really feeling down about the program right now.
December 8th, 2006 at 12:08 pm
Selfishly, the single rumor concerns me the most. I have always wanted a sister for Isabel.
I join the chorus in asking RQ for her perspective.
Laureen
December 8th, 2006 at 12:09 pm
I spoke with my agency yesterday and they stated that it looked like China was going to revise the criteria for parents in an effort to limit the number of dossiers they were receiving. The one thing that was specifically mentioned was that most likely there would be no more dossiers accepted from singles.
December 8th, 2006 at 12:10 pm
“Age 50 limit? This is when I really got alot smarter as a parent.” Westwing, loved your comment. That was a hooter. And so very true. As a genuine late bloomer, I can’t tell you how many times I have been falling down GRATEFUL that we waited to do this until I could do right by a child - that I didn’t inflict my young self on a precious little one.
December 8th, 2006 at 12:11 pm
cmc
earlier today, jggmom noted that Oct and Nov are big months and during that time, the wait may actually increase. With a LID 1/26/06 that would increase the consigned myself to 18 months wait to referral even longer. Can someone else comment to this? And comment to the rumor that there are twice as many dossiers than paper ready babies.
Just to clarify, at what point of LID is the expected wait to referral 20-24 months? With an LID of 1/26/06, I was braced for 18 months (as most others, at the start it was 6-8 months wait to referral), how does it shake out for early LIDs?
The changes (including the rumors on singles, age limits) are only adding salt to a very open wound.
Thank you in advance for answers to my questions
cmc
December 8th, 2006 at 12:15 pm
I have been reading the post of everyone. I truly understand the disappointments, fear, etc. of the new rules and long wait. However, I wanted to encourage everyone to stay focused on the prize of your mission in question and the purpose of the mission. The purpose of the mission is to be parents, to want to parent a child, to provide the health, education and welfare of the child and to promote and maintain their happiness to adulthood. Also, Christmas is a time we are to enjoy with family, friends and count our blessings. Have we forgotten our musterseed faith. Please, encourage each other, focus on the future and the blessings we have and the ones to come. I never had any bio children, so for those of you that do, please count your blessings. I have been very blessed with 1 dd/China and I understand the yurning and desire of those waiting for sometimes the only one they will ever have. Please have a very, very Merry Christmas and remember those less fortunate than us. Blessings to all of us….DW
December 8th, 2006 at 12:19 pm
Please, don’t anybody have a heart attack before the facts are out. I just checked the CCAA’s web site, and there doesn’t appear to be anything new posted. So far, the rumored new restrictions appear to be emanating from only one agency. A few months ago, I was SO SURE bad news was coming for singles, older parents, moderate-income families, etc., and then Civil Affairs shot down whatever it was the CCAA wanted to change with the regs and it all amounted to nothing.
Seems to me this rumor deserves no more than an R1 at this point.
December 8th, 2006 at 12:22 pm
Do we know which agency then? Very curious if it’s the same one that got the last rumor started…
krj
have to agree with CWS though
December 8th, 2006 at 12:22 pm
cmc, if I understand your comment correctly you are saying that with a 1/26/06 LID it was a 6-8 mos wait. This caught my eye because it was Nov. 2005 that CCAA told agencies the wait would lengthen and our agency told us it would be 10-12 mos (and of course it has continued to lengthen). The wait is now 15-16 mos (as of tomorrow our wait is 15 mos) so even if CCAA finishes Sept. this month and takes 2 mos to get through Oct-Jan. end of Jan. will have a 19 mos wait (is my math correct)? I’m not sure its possible for CCAA to always do one month in only 2 mos.
December 8th, 2006 at 12:40 pm
the singles rumor is horrifying. I´m going to hang on the every little hope I have left that it´s not true. I have already been waiting with all my papers ready for 2 years and still have a few months off before I could even send my papers to China due to the 8% quota. It´s bad enough that the waiting time in China looks to be +2 years (from the 6 months when I signed on) but this! I don´t think I will be able to make it before May 1. I´m crushed. Please let it not be true. But I think it is, it´s unfortunatly the easiest way for CCAA to exlude some people.
December 8th, 2006 at 12:45 pm
3tsmom Says:
Even the SN program is becoming unpredictable
I do not agree with you. I have adopted through the SN program 3 times now. the wait for TA has been from 2 to 5,5 months these past years. Most of the SN are not minor anymore. For example: most of the time the CCAA does not consider missing fingers a SN. Neither are corrected SN. But if you are willing to adopt a cleft affected child or a child with missing limbs, the SN program will work for you
December 8th, 2006 at 12:46 pm
This list is not a rumor. It is coming out of the CCAA. These are the new rules.
December 8th, 2006 at 12:50 pm
We’re LID 2/13/06, started paperchasing in 9/05. We were told 6-8 mos for referral as well. Based upon all available info I expect we will receive a referral in Oct 2007 (20 months)–travel around Christmas. This is not my worst case scenario –that would be 24 mos or Feb 2008 referral. My best guess is slightly less optimistic than RQ’s chart from a few days ago had shown–of course she has clearly stated that the chart was not necessarily that accurate.
To the poster above who told everyone to wait and see if these rumors are confirmed, I think you’re absolutely right. They were having a meeting, right? Maybe these were just things that were considered as options? Of course, the fact that there is a date –May 2007– on it does tend to give it some added weight.
If everything else is satisfied, why would a high school grad be required? Does a GED work? Plus, that education requirement seems very US centered–that would be 12 yrs of education in the US — I’m sure the education system of other countries is different re: secondary school.
I’m confused.
December 8th, 2006 at 1:07 pm
I read on some well known big agencies sites that they are accepting singles, wow wonder if anyone should call and see what they say, sometimes it is hard to collect the docs in less than 5 months which woulld be the May 07 deadline…hang in there everyone.
December 8th, 2006 at 2:47 pm
RQ-Have you seen a good number of people considering or actually dropping out due to this news? If so, I wonder how this will effect the polls. Just wondering how news like this effects the drop out ratio. I know we talked about this before, but it wasn’t under a two year drastic wait rumor. Just wondering…
December 8th, 2006 at 2:51 pm
Catharinastockholm-
Please email me throught the contact link on my site. I have info for you as a single!!!
Laureen
http://www.babysites.com/sites/laureenmary