Official CCAA Statement
Several agencies have either posted the official new rules to their website or they have notified their clients of them. They are:
documents for them:
The CCAA first accepts and reviews adoption applications of foreign adopters who are qualified with the following conditions from the day of 1st May 2007, and then makes placement of adoptees with them. Adoption applications of the other adopters who are not qualified will be put into considerations after all the cases of the qualified have already been dealt with.
I. The adopters are a couple of one male and one female with a stable marital relationship. In case that both the husband and the wife do not have any ex-marriage, the length of marriage has to reach two years. In the case either the husband or wife has ex-marriages (not more than 2), the length of the current marriage has to reach 5 years.
II. Both the husband and wife have reached the age of 30 and are under 50. For adoption of special needs child, both of them should have reached the age of 30 and are under 55.
III. Both the husband and wife are fully healthy physically and mentally, and do not have the following conditions:
1. AIDS;
2. Mental handicap;
3. Infectious disease within infective stage;
4. Binocular blind or binocular parallax or monocular blind and with no ocular prosthesis;
5. Binaural hearing loss or language function loss; adoption of special needs children who have identical conditions will be exempt from this limitation;
6. Afunction or dysfunction of limbs or trunk caused by impairment, incompleteness, numbness or deformation; severe facial deformation;
7. Severe diseases which require long term treatment and which affect life expectancy, like malignant tumor, lupus erythematosus, nephrosis, epilepsy, and ect.;
8. Post-surgery of major organs transplantation, not yet 10 years;
9. Schizophrenia;
10. Medication for severe mental disorders, like depression, mania, or anxiety neurosis and etc. stopped not more than 2 years;
11. BMI > or = 40.
IV. Either the husband or wife holds a stable occupation. The family annual income reaches $10,000 for each family member including the prospective adoptee and the family net assets value should reach $80,000. The family annual income does not include welfare income, like relief fund, pension, unemployment insurance, or government subsidy, and etc.
V. Both the husband and wife have received education of or above the level of senior high school, or vocational skills training of the same level.
VI. The number of children in family under the age of 18 years does not reach 5, and the youngest one should have reached the age of 1 year. Adoption of special needs children will be exempt from the limitation of “the number of children in family under the age of 18 years does not reach 5″.
VII. Both the husband and wife have never come under any criminal sanction. And they behave honorably with good moral characters and abide by regulations and laws. Both of them do not accord with the following situations:
1. Have a history of domestic violence, sex abuse, abandonment or abuse of children (even if they are not consequently arrested or criminated);
2. Have a history of taking narcotics like opium, morphine, marijuana, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamines, and etc. and medication for mental diseases, with are able to arouse addiction among human beings;
3. Have a history of alcohol abuse and have given up drinking not more than 10 years ago.
Adoption application will be given consideration on a case by case basis when either the husband or wife has less than 3 criminal records of slight severity with no severe outcomes, and the time for correction of wrong has reached 10 years, or has less than 5 records of traffic law violation with no severe outcomes.
VIII. The adopters are able to have a correct cognition of adoption, and expect to provide a warm family for the orphaned children (or children with handicap and disability) via adoption and to meet the needs of the children adopted for the sake of a good development of them. They have a correct cognition of inter-country adoption as well, and are fully mentally-prepared for the potential risks within inter-country adoption and for the situations of children adopted as potential diseases, developmental delays, post-placement maladjustment, and etc.
IX. The adopters make in the adoption application letter clear promise of being able to accept post-placement follow-ups and offer post-placement reports as required.
X. The fixed number of year or age that appears in this letter shall be dated from the day when the adoption application documents are logged in at the CCAA.
The CCAA expects sincerely to cooperate with you and to provide better services for the adopters and children adopted and to help the Chinese children adopted develop in a family full of happiness, love and understanding. Thank you very much for your understanding and assistance.
The CCAA is responsible for the interpretation of this letter. Agencies should direct any specific questions to China Centre of Adoption Affairs
December 22nd, 2006 at 2:32 pm
Well at least we have it in their actual words now so we can let our minds rest from all of the wondering!! Thankyou for posting that so quickly RQ!! Happy Holidays everyone….
December 22nd, 2006 at 2:37 pm
Hope this doesn’t post twice–not sure my first comment went in.
My question regards the opening phrase describing the May 1 application of the rules. Do you think this means that the new rules will only applied to those dossiers logged in as of May 1? Or do you think it means all dossiers reviewed as of May 1 will have these new rules applied? I had hoped it would spell out more clearly the idea of “grandfathering” in those of us logged in before that date.
Thoughts?
momtobe
December 22nd, 2006 at 2:42 pm
momtobe, that’s my question too!
December 22nd, 2006 at 2:45 pm
I’m with Momtobe. I find the wording of the date confusing. They sort of make it sound like if they haven’t finished the placement of a child with you by May 1, then you would be…delayed. Not OUT, but just delayed until all the “perfect” dossiers were matched.
Did anyone else take it that way?
December 22nd, 2006 at 2:56 pm
I’m feeling sick. We are LID 1-26-06 and the suggestion that the new rules might be applied to us is terrifying me. I was treated for depression related to infertility and stopped medication and suffered for it just so I could say on my application that I was not currently being treated. But I hadn’t been stopped two years. Please someone tell me I should calm down. I’m 42 and childless and don’t think I can take an unhappy ending.
December 22nd, 2006 at 2:59 pm
As a Lid 11/18/05 we will be cutting it real close. I hope like
we have heard that we will be grandfatherd in. I hate to
think I will have waited 18months by then and then have
to wait longer to a better looking dossier than mine. I
know we meet all the requirments other than being
married before and less than 5 years it will be almost be
4years when we get our referral. I was also wondering
my hubby will be 50 in the late part of summer 2008
Will we still be able to go the NSN route? We would
be submitting our paperwork a few months prior.
http://www.ost.redthreadkids.org
December 22nd, 2006 at 3:00 pm
I agree that the wording is very confusing. It would seem that if you are not through the review room and you did not meet all the new rules, then you would be replaced at review time by someone with a LID after May 1 that did meet all the new criteria. Let’s just hope that they are trying to say that anyone already logged in will be “grandfathered” in. I would really like to see clarification on this one as it could make a big difference to a lot of people.
December 22nd, 2006 at 3:00 pm
If the new rules were going to affect those who are already logged in, then why wouldn’t it say effective immediately or a date in January. Most agencies have said these rules will go into effect May 1, 2007 and I am inclined to think that is what is meant in this official statement.
As far as questions being asked of people in the review room - this is not new. It may be a coincidence that the issue iin question iss one of the “new restrictions”.
Just my take on it.
Jo-Anne
December 22nd, 2006 at 3:00 pm
Our agency says they asked the CCAA directly and NONE of these new rules will apply to anyone logged in before May, 2007.
December 22nd, 2006 at 3:02 pm
volinwaiting~
Who can really interpret this fully, but I think we’ve heard consistently that these rules apply to only those dossiers logged in May 1, 2007 and after, so hopefully we can rely on that and you can rest assured you won’t be scrutinized under the new regs. Hopefully your agency can give you absolute confidence of this.
Merry Christmas everyone!
CJ
LID 10/10/05
December 22nd, 2006 at 3:03 pm
Volinwaiting, I know your pain tooo well. I am sorry
hang in there. We have all waited so long. I sure
hope that we will be grandfatherd in. I had my dh
read it he said it sounded like we are.
December 22nd, 2006 at 3:07 pm
I think that because it says “The CCAA first accepts and reviews………from the day of May 1, 2007″, it implies that anything that they receive and/or review after may 1, would have to adhere to the new polcy. Otherwise wouldn’t they just say that any applications reviewed after may i, 2007. I think that this totally follows what some agencies have been stating about getting your dossiers ready to be DTC by the end of March. Just my guess though!!
December 22nd, 2006 at 3:10 pm
Our large agency refers to it as the new rules being applied to folks logged in as of the May 1 date. So, everyone who’s applications are over there are fine.
That’s their story and I believe they are correct - they had reps at the meeting in China.
The new rules don’t seem to restrictive for most folks to comply with. So, hopefully we’ll all be set for our babies in the New Year!
Happy Holidays everyone!
December 22nd, 2006 at 3:10 pm
Maybe I’m really dense, but what does this mean:
“X. The fixed number of year or age that appears in this letter shall be dated from the day when the adoption application documents are logged in at the CCAA.”
December 22nd, 2006 at 3:11 pm
Volinwaiting: Calm down! You’ll be fine! There will be a happy ending! They just have problems expressing themselves clearly in english, I’m sure you already logged in will be fine!
December 22nd, 2006 at 3:12 pm
In laymans terms: I believe that anyone logged in before may 1, should be fine and the new rules apply to those dossiers accepted and reviewed after may 1….
December 22nd, 2006 at 3:14 pm
I think gonnagetkayli is right, it is confusing to read though
December 22nd, 2006 at 3:15 pm
chanting…I do believe in holiday miracles….i do believe in holiday miracles……i do believe in holiday miracles
December 22nd, 2006 at 3:16 pm
I agree the following statement is a bit ambiguous and should be clarified asap by an agency. It is probably translation.
….accepts and reviews adoption applications of foreign adopters who are qualified with the following conditions from the day of 1st May 2007, and then makes placement of adoptees with them. …..
Basically this says you are subject to new rules if you are lid after 5/1/2007 and it also says you are subject to these rules if you are reviewed after 5/1/2007 even if you are lif before that.
I think this is a translation anomaly, but someone at some agency needs to clarify this or we will all start losing a bit of sleep.
Another thing that bothered me was this
….Adoption applications of the other adopters who are not qualified will be put into considerations after all the cases of the qualified have already been dealt with. ……
This statement could indicate an end to the “one line concept” for adoption from China. This statement concerns me more than the ambiguity above.
Will they take all “perfect” applicants and move them to the front of the line or start a preffered customer line? Will some perfect applicants be more perfect than others based on a point system???? Positive points you are above acceptable and negative points for items below acceptable.
This is a scary concept because given the number of applicants, we compete against each other and are subject to being pushed back or knocked out of line right up to the date of referral due to a more perfect applicant.
Scary Scary Scary!!!!
This needs clarification also.
No big surprises with the list, but still too many loopholes for me to feel warm and fuzzy
December 22nd, 2006 at 3:20 pm
Thanks Mamman and others. My dh thinks I read and worry too much, so it helps to have some of you give me the friendly, calm down “slap in the face.” As long as there is hope, I am fine. We are out of the review room, so maybe that helps too.
December 22nd, 2006 at 3:22 pm
Greetings..this is my first post to the site but I’ve been a lurker for some time now :) My agency just told me yesterday that the new rules apply to families that are logged in May 1, 2007 and beyond. They are notifying families that are in the paperchase to get movin’ to beat the May date. So all that are logged in…you can breath a little easier…those paperchasing…hurry, hurry :)
-Blessings! (LID 5-19..waiting for CCAA to directly match us with a waiting child..we could be in this next batch..ahhh!!!)
December 22nd, 2006 at 3:23 pm
Well, as a single parent and thereby less perfect I am pretty used to that kind of treatment. I would translate it as: children with special needs (most likely) that are not placed with the perfect parents will then be placed with other applicants. But with whom? The single mother? The couple divorced more than twice? Is there some kind of “ranking list” for those that do not meet the criteria?
December 22nd, 2006 at 3:27 pm
I just talked with my agency. I feel much better. This
refers to people that dont have the paperwork in by
05/01/07. I needed to clarify this or I would been a
total mess the rest of the holiday season. I wish their
words were easier to understand.
December 22nd, 2006 at 3:30 pm
Flowerpower, I believe that a single parent has the strength and courage to carry on one set of shoulders what most families need two for. My mom was a single mother for most of my life and myself and many others are amazed by her….now if only the CCAA knew this……
December 22nd, 2006 at 3:49 pm
Overflowingpsalm235
did you say you are LID 5/19 and waiting for a baby in this batch?
December 22nd, 2006 at 3:50 pm
Oh, I see, for a waiting child. Sorry. Didn’t understand.
December 22nd, 2006 at 3:50 pm
flowerpower,
I hope your statement about being less than perfect was tongue in cheek due to your frustration with these new regs.
I ahve sen single moms juggle life in ways that boggle the mind.
don’t be so hard on yourself.
December 22nd, 2006 at 4:01 pm
gonnagetkayli and anxiosly waiting, thank you for those kind words. Anxiously waiting, I was kind of referring your post on being scared by the idea of the “perfect” applicants so I was being tongue in cheek.
December 22nd, 2006 at 4:04 pm
As a single parent of a beautiful 5 1/2 year old girl from China, and waiting for daughter #2, happily logged in as of January 10, 2006, I believe the following is true for single people: China will not be an option for single people after May 1st at all. The wording does seem to indicate some kind of possibility that “less than ideal” applicants could be considered after all “ideal” applicants were accepted. Bottom line: China will not be an option for single people. In my opinion, it just would never be practical to be what China considers a “less than ideal” applicant and to put yourself in a position where you are floating out there hoping something good happens.
December 22nd, 2006 at 4:17 pm
Is there a link where this is available on China’s website?
December 22nd, 2006 at 4:19 pm
I am VERY confused. We are LID 11-05. I am taking it if dh and I decided to go back for baby #2 seeing as though I have anxiety issues we “could” be considered after they find “ideal” parents. This makes no sense at all. Dh and I are are thinking our daughter might be any only bc of these new restrictions. Maybe the CCAA will change rules again someday and make it more easier for all of us to adopt. Dh and I wanted to complete our family with another daughter or two from China I guess that won’t be happening. Basically being told your dream is a no go is cause for issues to become more advanced if you will. Well I guess they will have to up my anitdepressant for sure now LOL!! Although sadly that will probably be the case :(
December 22nd, 2006 at 4:19 pm
twinangel, you’re more than welcome to look and see, and if you find one please let us know.
December 22nd, 2006 at 4:20 pm
I agree with lovepumpkin. I dare to guess that most agencies will not take applicants that do not meet the “preferred” criteria. Can you imagine the problems that would cause for all parties. I’m not trying to be a downer, just realistic. I don’t think there will have to be a list or ranking system for people who don’t meet the “preferred” criteria because I don’t think agencies will let it get to that. Just my opinion.
December 22nd, 2006 at 4:20 pm
I forgot to add my agency had said these rules will take effect on May 1 2007. So I guess we all should be ok right now????
December 22nd, 2006 at 4:22 pm
My take on the preferred thing is that this is their way of making sure they are taken care of if they ever reach a point of not having enough applicants. Or, if a waiting child hangs out on a list for six months with no LOI then they could accept a LOI from someone who doesn’t meet all of the requirements.
That isn’t coming from any agencies and I could be way off base, but it just seems to me that they are creating a way to allow more applicants if this narrows it down too much.
December 22nd, 2006 at 4:32 pm
Our agency, { Removed by RQ }, is saying that as long as your LID is before May 1st, the old rules will apply after May 1st LID the new rules will be applied.
Michelle
Note from RQ: Please do not name Agencies. If you have not read the rules, please do so before commenting.
December 22nd, 2006 at 4:38 pm
meechelle; You probably forgot, but one of RQ’s rules is:
no agency names please.
December 22nd, 2006 at 4:41 pm
RQ - I searched high and low–was hopin’ you might have something I could share with my adoption group. There’s a post on the 20th in Chinese, but nothing in English.
Thanks,
Rhonda
December 22nd, 2006 at 4:55 pm
My take on this is that they weren’t able to get the laws changed, so they changed the guidelines and are sending those to the agencies. If they were in a position to be able to post them on the site as new laws/rules then they wouldn’t have had to snail mail this out to hundreds of agencies.
Maybe I’m wrong, maybe it will show up on the site soon. But if so I have to wonder why they needed to snail mail this out. That had to be pretty expensive and could have probably bought a lot of formula for the money spent.
December 22nd, 2006 at 5:07 pm
I don’t understand why people are saying that singles won’t be able to adopt AT ALL from China. There are many many many children with very minor special needs that sit on these lists for AGES without being committed to. Our agency has said they will still accept single aps for waiting children.
December 22nd, 2006 at 5:11 pm
RQ: My guess is that they don’t want to change the laws. If they end up with a surplus of babies at some point and want to start accepting applications from singles, etc., they don’t want to have to undo/redo the laws. This gives CCAA more flexibility.
December 22nd, 2006 at 5:15 pm
overflowingpsalm,
My understanding was that if you had the CCAA match you with a SN, it was the same time frame as a NSN referral. How is it yours is way expedited?? That’s great, I am just so surprised that you would be expecting a referral.
Amy in Seoul,
day 43 waiting for TA for #4
December 22nd, 2006 at 5:19 pm
klem - We were told months ago that they did want to change the laws but that the Ministry of Civil Affairs turned down their request.
December 22nd, 2006 at 5:20 pm
These rules appear to be hard and fast for CCAA and allow CCAA to put people at the end of the line (basically you have no chance of adopting unless the lines shorten) if you don’t have a LID prior to May 1, 2007. My reading of the rules is that they are providing the rules so Agencies can strictly screen applicants under the new guidelines, but the troubling part is that if an agency is more lenient than CCAA, you might be out all of the time and money including agency fees (particularly if it is a China only agency) and not get a child. If the long wait to referral hasn’t scared prospective applicants off–this contingency may!
December 22nd, 2006 at 5:22 pm
I don’t know why everyone is so trusting of what their agency tells them. My agency told me that wait was going to be 14 months, and now I’m looking at 2 years. I think the truth is no one really knows what the CCAA will do with dossiers logged in before May 1 but not reviewed until after. My guess is that they will be more critical and selective. We all just need to keep our fingers crossed.
December 22nd, 2006 at 5:26 pm
oneblessedfamily,
I certainly hope that singles may adopt. I am thinking as an attorney here. I can’t imagine an agency entering into a contractual relationship with a client (and taking their money) for a NSN adoption with just a hope and a chance that someday their application may be deemed appropriate by the CCAA. It seems to uncertain. Now having said that, I can imagine instances where an agency would be willing to submit a dossier on behalf of a single parent where a waiting child is involved, or in the future if the number of applicants had significantly decreased. Again this is all just my speculation. No one knows for sure how each agency will respond to these new guidelines. I am no expert! Just a parent trying to patiently wait for my daughter and finding this forum a great source of comfort along the way! I am also mindful that this is a very sensitive topic and I don’t mean to offend anyone in any way!
December 22nd, 2006 at 5:42 pm
RQ: Sorry, I thought those proposed changes were somewhat different than these. But in any case, I still think the reason that guidelines were issued instead of laws changed was because this makes it easier to adjust in the future–maybe it was Civil Affairs who said they didn’t want to be changing things all the time.
It is all the wording in the first two graphs about priority and perhaps giving consideration to “non-qualified” applicants that makes me think CCAA is trying to leave itself some wiggle room.
December 22nd, 2006 at 5:48 pm
dcm I do not think hte agencys relized the wait would get this long. They gave us estimated wait times badsed on past experiaces.
Also, my agency just finnishe dits singles lottery for 2007. As long as those singles are logged in before 5/07 they will be treated under the old guidelines. I do not htink my agency would take their money if they did not beleive 100% that the CCAA would stick to the old guidelines for those logged in before 5/07.
December 22nd, 2006 at 5:57 pm
I’ve been a lurker, but just checked one of our Canadian agencies that has just updated their site and they have removed single applicants from their regular program, BUT state that “the exceptional single applicant” may be accepted for the SN program. The individual requires an internal review with one of their own people before proceeding. So it looks like some singles may still go forward after may through the special needs program.
December 22nd, 2006 at 6:08 pm
do you suppose these new rules are to help them get over the hump of the Olympics and weed out some of the “unfavorable” agencies that have many single applicants in the Wuropean countries where living together is much more common than being married? Once the Olympics are over I bet there is a loosening of these regulations again. I will keep my single fingers crossed for baby #2
December 22nd, 2006 at 6:42 pm
I think they are just overwhelmed with applicants. China is the “hot” country for international adoption right now. If you get rid of the singles program, there is an 8% reduction. The other issues will be at least a 10% reduction by my guesstimation. The increase wait will draw people to other countries and then the numbers will go down and they will get back to under a 1 year wait LID to referral, which will attract more people and it will cycle up again. China adoption went through this before as a coworker of mine who is single caught the upswing of it. To my knowledge agencies were limited to maintain their numbers of applicants and not increase number of applications sent eac year and singles were reduced to 5%. Over time their wait got shorter, they increased singles, my friend caught that and her file moved much more quickly than expected. I think you will continue to see a cycling nature to it all. (MY opinion)
December 22nd, 2006 at 6:54 pm
RQ, thank you very much for sharing this. This is all just overwhelming. I know sooo many feel so lost and confused. And I do feel sorry for the people at our agencies!! Boy are they gonna get phone calls next week!!! LOL!!!
His,
Mrs. U
LID 9-12-05
http://www.makingahouseahome.blogspot.com
December 22nd, 2006 at 7:23 pm
I really think the new restrictions will amount to more than a 10% reduction in applicants accepted….
December 22nd, 2006 at 7:42 pm
Mrs U
You forgot to say your are NEXT (and you are).!!!
Hang in there.
December 22nd, 2006 at 8:17 pm
In Canada the limit is 8% yearly for single applicants. I was supposed to only come up for possible submission in they said 2008. Some miracle happened for me and I am LID 11/30. Thank goodness I was able to get in before these new changes. Even though I was hoping for more than one Chinese daughter I believe that I will be led to my next child in much the same way I was led to this place and the possibility of adopting at least one precious child from China.
December 22nd, 2006 at 8:43 pm
suikagirl- It’s completely up to the agency if ones dossier will be expedited for a direct match from CCAA for a sn’s child. Some agencies are willing to request an expedited status while others are not. The homestudy and dossier have to written up a specific way to ensure that the dossier makes it to the sn’s dept. in the very beginning. I have a yahoo group set up for families that are going this route and referrals are taking 7-8months from LID to referral. We initally didn’t know that we would be expedited, so that was a WONDERFUL suprise. We are expecting our referral anytime. Praying our angel is in this next batch!! We waited 2yrs. for me to turn 30 soooooo it’s been a long 3yrs. waiting for this little peanut.
There has also been recent changes to this process and they were effective immediately. Basically, if your agency receives a waiting child list then the agency can no longer ask for a direct match…they have to match their families from their wc list. Another option (if ones agency does receive a wc list) is to have the agency request a child with the specific needs you are open to to be included on the next wc list for that agency (this child would be intended for you..so still kind of like a direct match but you still have to go through the long LOI, PA, & TA process). Our agency is not currently part of the WCP so that is why we’ve asked for a direct match. Make sense?!?!?!
-Blessings! (LID 5-19..waiting for CCAA to directly match us with a waiting child..we could be in this next batch..ahhh!!!)
December 22nd, 2006 at 8:55 pm
D you really beleive they don’t have enough orphans? the UN says China has 20 million orphans. Only about 10,000 a year are adopted internationally?
December 22nd, 2006 at 9:10 pm
This is my first post. LID 11/14/06. Does anyone understand if the new rules take affect now or in May 07. It looked like it could go either way. My agency is closed for the holiday. I take an antidepressant. We did have to submit an additional letter before our paper work went to China. Obviously I am concerned.
Thanks for any input!
December 22nd, 2006 at 9:48 pm
RQ
THANK YOU for posting this “official” information from CCAA! I won’t be getting this from my agency any time soon.
December 22nd, 2006 at 10:16 pm
My agency has just indicated via a letter to another family that the medical issues are going to be taken into consideration immediately, but the other issues as of LID’s of May 1st
December 22nd, 2006 at 10:57 pm
overflowingpsalm,
That is so Cool! I had no idea it could be done that way, how wonderful for you! We are doing the regular SN route through our agency’s WCP. Maybe we’ll see you at the White Swan!!
Blessings back : )
Amy in Seoul
December 22nd, 2006 at 11:26 pm
I think the CCAA may be going to a dual-track referral system. Think about it: we have seen the new rules, but in addition, we have evidence that people who should be getting referred with an LID group are not - in fact, some are being asked for information to clarify various issues (health, etc.).
So what if CCAA decided to fast-rack people who have “clean paper” (e.g. no issues) and those who are LID but have outstanding issues related to the new rules get pulled aside in order that they can provide the CCAA more information? Assuming their is a set number of referrals a month, the CCAA could fast-track people with clean paper until additional info is provided on a dossier with issues - at which point they are put back in line.
It seems plausible to me - they can keep the train moving with those they can approve quickly and put the wait burden on those who don;t meet the new criteria - and maybe by doing so some will drop out which would further reduce the backlog and attrite those they don’t want adopting anyway.
Remember, they are going to stop providing information on LID dates/referrals so it will become easier for them to pick and choose who gets referred without feling obligated to explain why all of a sudden people are not getting referred with their LID group. If we see a surge in the numbers of people who are not getting a referral with their LID group then that cold be evidence of this.
I’m not making a judgment here on the new criteria, just saying it is plausible that the CCAA could be implementing new procedures to address these issues ahead of the 1 May deadline.
December 23rd, 2006 at 5:05 am
“X. The fixed number of year or age that appears in this letter shall be dated from the day when the adoption application documents are logged in at the CCAA.”
I read this to mean that the age requirements ie. under 50, etc would be determined as the age the person was at the time of LID.
Also, it seems pretty clear (to me anyway), that China wants to implement these guidelines but leave enough wiggle room with the “preferred” part that if there is a special exception or extenuating circumstances they can still approve certain people who don’t seem to conform with their guidelines. Or, if in a couple of years, interest in China adoption has slowed, they can accept less than “preferred” people without breaking any rules.
I personally appreciate the clarification of the criminal conviction part, seems like its not nearly as cut and dry as my agency had led me to believe –their take on it was “you’ve been arrested, you’re out”
December 23rd, 2006 at 8:02 am
This statement is word for word the same as the one my agency finally released on Friday 12/22/06. They will be closed the week of Christmas, so you can’t call and ask any questions. I’m glad we were finally DTC 11/30/06. We would have a problem with the depression thing otherwise.
December 23rd, 2006 at 8:21 am
Giant Robot — That’s the first thing I thought of when I found out that LID/ Review info. is being removed from the CCAA site. As it stands, we all know exactly who is next in line for referrals. And when someone is passed over, it’s not long before everyone knows that too. My guess is that removing the LID/Review info. is not about too much traffic on the CCAA site. It’s about the CCAA needing the freedom/privacy to reach further down into the LID line (or to restructure it) — for what could be any number of reasons. Under current referral rates, it would take over 3 years to work through the current backlog of dossiers — maybe closer to 4 by the May 1 deadline. So let me get this straight, the CCAA has gone to all the trouble of issuing new restrictions — under which the first child could not possibly be referred until at least three years from now. Something tells me there’s a bigger picture here. Why do I think the other shoe is about to drop?
December 23rd, 2006 at 9:49 am
Hi everyone. I am new here. I just received notice of the changes and am very concerned. Our log in date is June 16, 2006. My husband is currently being treated for depression and I am terrified that we will be denied a child. Does anyone have an opinion about all of this? I tried to call my agency, but as it is Christmas time, I won’t be able to speak to anyone until at least Wednesday.
I am on the verge of tears. We have been in this process for sixteen months already. I cannot imagine this not working out.
December 23rd, 2006 at 10:10 am
I do hope that the CCAA stands by the May 1, 2007 log in. I cannot imagine the feeling of despair many families would have if they chose to fast track some and not others. However, Giant Robot and Chinasyndrome- your theories sent chills up and down my spine. Not to say that my heart did not miss a few beats as I thought about it. We were LID 5/29 and were so looking forward to our turn in the review room to feel safe. The fact that the review room has not moved and they are now taking down the update on referrals and review room- makes me think your theories are not that off base. I do not think they will apply the rules are strictly as when the post May 1st dossiers come in- but I think they are going to be stricter with the dossiers not yet in review. If they can pull a file with some doubts and put another family ahead of them with no issue- as we saw in the past month- why would they not do this across the board? I hope you are wrong ( no offense) but I do think this would cause so much pain and uncertainty for families waiting. More things to worry about and lose sleep over. It seems to me that we now need each other more than ever to communicate who is in review, who was asked what type of questions and who got a referral and who did not. Aack! What happened to stable and consistent?
RQ- thanks for providing the official rules. And of course- for providing us with a place to communicate and share what we have heard- to make this wait all a bit more bearable. I hope your referral is on its way.
December 23rd, 2006 at 10:25 am
RQ, I have a comment regarding Robot’s thoughts. Can we
see if he is correct in theory? Can you send a email to the
community to ask people to privately email if they did not
get a referral in either October or November and they were
in line to get one? And find out if they had any of these
listed on the new rule list? What Robot says makes alot
of sense and maybe we can get a idea. Maybe this not
getting a referral every month on time for certain people
is a way of the future.. I hope this makes sense.
December 23rd, 2006 at 11:55 am
As a single who lost some money backing out on my agency contract b/c I didn’t think I could finish paperchasing in time, I’ve been checking this site regularly still as I knew it would be the first place the official rules would be posted. The official statement confirms what the agencies have been saying. The rules apply to both NSN and SN. If an agency is excepting a single for SN, that single may have a very long wait to find a child, and the special need will likely not be a minor one as the child probably would have been placed. I hate to sound pessimistic, but yes, I absolutely agree with those who have stated this precludes China from being an option for single parents.
December 23rd, 2006 at 3:56 pm
I’m choosing to stay positive. My agency insists NONE of these rules will be enforced until after a May 1, 2007 LID. I don’t think anyone (including CCAA) realizes how many people take medication for mild forms of anxiety and or depression and I believe that this will eliminate more than 10% of future applicants. The wording “severe” mental condition is curious though. I don’t know if that gives wiggle room or not.
Sarah
LID 3/1/06
December 23rd, 2006 at 4:51 pm
I spkoe to my agency today and they are looking into this. They told me that a few months ago a couple was denied a child because of “major” depression. If that was the attitude a few months ago, I don’t see how they will be lenient regarding depression now. It is very hard to stay positive. I will have an answer in a couple of weeks as to whether or not we still have a chance to adopt.
December 24th, 2006 at 12:58 am
Giant Robot brings out some interesting points. I wonder if CCAA will change “the all important date - LID” to “DRCD - Dossier Review Completion Date”. This would allow CCAA to kind of keep all applicants in the process and “fast track” those who 100% follow the new guidelines - but not completely disqualify those who don’t.