Concurrent Adoptions
There are still agencies telling their clients that the CCAA does not allow families to adopt while they are waiting for their referral from China, even though the CCAA put a notice out a while back that this is okay. Although it was in Chinese and there was not a translated version at the time, we talked about that notice here.
The CCAA did finally put an English version of it up, and since it is clearly linked on the CCAA’s home page I figured the agencies would be able to find it. Apparently, not.
There is still one bit of a mixed message coming from this one, though. There are a few agencies who are interpreting “Adopters should still meet the conditions of CCAA” to mean that families who have changes must meet the new requirements and not the requirements in place when they were LID. But most agencies are not saying that, so I’m hesitant to believe that at this point. It does appear that if you go on hold that you may (or may not) be held to the new requirements, that part does seem to be a bit up in the air right now. But if you do not need to go on hold then most agencies say that you are fine under the old requirements.
December 12th, 2007 at 12:33 pm
On that link, it says “There should be a certain length of time between pregnancy or adoption from other countries (including domestic adoption) and adoption from China.”
Anyone know what that certain length of time is?
December 12th, 2007 at 12:55 pm
Of my three agencies, all of which do China adoptions, one requires 6 months, one requires 9 months, and one requires 1 year. Our China placing agency is the one that requires 1 year, so that is what we need to aim for. I think 1 year is becoming more standard.
December 12th, 2007 at 1:23 pm
We are adopting from China for the second time. We were told we could not log in our dossier with CCAA until at least 1 year from finalizing our first adoption. If you are already logged in, does that mean you will not be given a referral until at least 1 year after completing a concurrent adoption?
December 12th, 2007 at 2:21 pm
We just heard from our agency that the rules for adopting twins have changed and that they apply to everyone - including those already logged in and approved for twins. So it seems that the CCAA may change their minds at any time and not necessarily give any advance notice of changes to the rules.
December 12th, 2007 at 2:25 pm
My agency tells me 1 year or “about 1 year” between adoption or birth and the referral date. They said we could otherwise go on a 4-6 month hold. Sad that all agencies seem to have differences of opinion regarding the CCAA’s rules.
December 12th, 2007 at 2:34 pm
It seems they have exceptions to all the rules, I know of someone who has returned home with a special need child and saw another special need child and was approved to return immediately after Ins approved their I171. Not even three months between. I guess if they feel its important enough to place a special need and I am saying a significant special need, hoop can be cleared.
December 12th, 2007 at 2:50 pm
Maureen, what are the new rules your agency states for twins?
December 12th, 2007 at 2:54 pm
I am interested in hearing about the new twin rules as well!
December 12th, 2007 at 3:11 pm
RQ, When you say “go on hold”, do you mean your file goes on hold because of a pregnancy or concurrent adoption? I have wondered how this would work. Do they simply pull your file out of line until that child has been in the home a year? Has this happened to anyone out there in RQ land?
December 12th, 2007 at 3:42 pm
We did concurrent adoptions. We finalized our first adoption and left for China one week later.
December 12th, 2007 at 5:34 pm
If you go on hold due to another adoption, birth or other circumstances, CCAA basically pulls you out of our LID group for however long you’re on hold. When you notify them you want to reactivate, they make sure they have updated info showing your clearances are current and that you still qualify. Used to be once they said they had what they needed you’d get a referral in the next batch or two, but now most folks are being told you’ll get batched with whatever group is in review at that time - which means going on hold doesn’t just delay your adoption by 6 months. CCAA told our agency in February that when we reactivated after being on hold due to another adoption we’d have to go back to the April ‘06 LID group, which was in review. Our agency advocated for us, saying the rule change hadn’t been communicated to agencies and thus was unfair, and we wound up with a referral in July. I know of other couples who’ve come off hold and gotten a referral within a few months this year, but it’s not consistent. You have to be prepared for a much longer wait.
December 12th, 2007 at 6:26 pm
zhaonuer:
According to our agency, the new rules for a twin referral are:
1) No other children in the home
2) Both parents 45 or under
3) Net worth of $400,000 or more
4) Annual income $100,000 or more.
Apparently the requests for twins had increased so greatly that they felt they needed to put in more stringent requirements. But our agency said the changes are effective immediately - so I know there were a number of people disaapointed when they found out that they already had an LID - but the rules changed for them anyway.
December 12th, 2007 at 8:03 pm
Maureen:
If the rule change you stated for twins is indeed accurate (I’m not doubting you, I’m doubting the clarity of the communication between CCAA and the agency), it doesn’t necessarily mean that CCAA views it the same as changing other rules. There never were “rules” for adopting twins before, only “suggested guidelines” that were not consistently enforced. Also, CCAA never guaranteed anyone twins just because they requested them. Plenty of people met the guidelines in the past and requested twins, but did not receive twins. But, they did get matched with a child, and that is what matters. Those with your agency who requested twins but are now hearing they do not qualify for twins are still eligible to be matched with a singleton.
December 12th, 2007 at 9:58 pm
Hoosiermama, Thanks for your detailed answer! I had always been curious about this.
December 12th, 2007 at 10:51 pm
I just don’t get it… Why all agencies don’t have the same rules? Isn’t the CCAA suppose to make all the rules and the agencies suppose to follow them? And, if agencies can have their own understanding of the rules, why don’t they do so they can help more people adopt from China… Knowing that they won’t have that much applicants in a near future???
December 12th, 2007 at 11:59 pm
Hoosiermama…I am so glad that things worked out for you. Who I, II and III are really sweet.
Take care. CTG
December 13th, 2007 at 12:40 am
CTG:
I count my lucky stars every day. Who I was the child I was meant to have, Who II was the child who needed me the most, and Who III is my miracle baby — the one we nearly didn’t get. And I can’t imagine life without all three of the crazy critters.
My advice to anyone considering going on hold: Don’t do it if there’s ANY way to avoid it. In the current climate, there are just too many uncertainties.
December 13th, 2007 at 11:43 am
I agree with hoosiermama…I would avoid going on hold if you can….However, I want to add hoosiermama’s story makes me believe that the CCAA will try to minimize this wait for exceptional circumstances…..the issue is how to define this…
In the current climate, I would say it would be better to avoid going on hold unless you have an exceptional circumstance (and I am not sure a planned concurrent adoption would qualify)…and please know I am not saying I agree with this. I WANT everyone to be united with their children ASAP..for everyone’s sake…the childrens and yours…but with the wait being what it is I expect the CCAA will continue to tighten up the rules…
December 13th, 2007 at 2:50 pm
Given that the CCAA doesn’t require notice of a new birth for a logged-in family, is there really an obligation to tell your agency at all?
December 13th, 2007 at 3:28 pm
They do require notice of a new birth. That is considered “a major change” and they require notices of major changes.
December 13th, 2007 at 3:36 pm
Ok, so its a virtual impossibility that I’ll ever be in that position, but if I was, it would be tempting to just keep my mouth shut about it. Am I the only one that feels that way?
December 13th, 2007 at 3:45 pm
Gingersnap — no, you are not the only one!
December 13th, 2007 at 4:46 pm
I saw the question “why don’t all agencies have the same rules.”
IMHO rules are power and rule maker has all the cards. We are all at the mercy of our agency once that dossier goes over we have no control.
December 13th, 2007 at 5:22 pm
gingersnap,
We thought the same that we would never be in that position, but by an unforseen blessing, we did end up there and we did keep our mouths shut. Now we have two beautiful girls who are sisters and absolutely adore each other!
December 13th, 2007 at 5:26 pm
Gingersnap,
We never thought we’d be in that either, but by an unforseen blessing we did up in that position and we did keep our mounths shut. Now we have two beautiful girls, who are sisters and adore each other!
December 14th, 2007 at 3:06 am
angelsrndme,
Can you please PM me jet9266@msn.com. I tried to send you a PM from the forum, but you must not be registered there. Thanks.
December 14th, 2007 at 8:16 am
Totally off topic—-I am in China now but I can not access the fourm. Is it down or just a China thing? Bunmer, I wanted to chat with my Decemberonian. Hi everyone, two days from forever family day!!!!!
Adomom
December 15th, 2007 at 6:50 pm
My agency is still saying the CCAA doesn’t allow concurrent adoptions; therefore, they won’t let us apply to another country as well. Interesting that it’s not really the CCAA. Not the first time I’ve received conflicting information though. I’ll continue to wait though…for that day I become a mom!
December 15th, 2007 at 8:26 pm
Hi,
We just completed an adoption from a different country while waiting on China (proud parents of a baby boy!!!). Our adoption agency knows but China will not.
December 15th, 2007 at 8:28 pm
katiequest…I hate to say this..I think you may want to send the web link from the CCAA page regarding their stand on concurrent adoptions to your agency as they clearly are NOT informed…
December 16th, 2007 at 2:56 am
Hi all
I wish all the best within the limitations and regulations that folk operate under. However, in all the talk of concurrent adoptions, it is worth noting that there are many people in countries outside of the US, for whom this option is not possible , as they fall fully under the Hague Convention. There is an argument of course that all those with a finger in a few pies add length to the waiting times of all those who have no choice but to sit and wait and wait for just one success. I guess some empathy may be in order.
December 16th, 2007 at 5:48 am
That is interesting davros, will you tell me more? Do you mean that the Hague doesn’t allow concurrent adoptions? I didn’t know that, are you sure?
December 16th, 2007 at 9:32 pm
I do not see how concurrent adoptions add waiting times for those who are waiting for one adoption???
December 17th, 2007 at 3:22 am
I know several families that have successfully completed concurrent adoptions. All of them stated their agencies said that the first child adopted had to be home 1 year before they added another adopted child into their home. Not one of them had any problems. Our agency said the CCAA has no problems with them, but some agencies do.
I know one lady that completed an adoption from Kaz and
China. She used separate agencies. The Kaz adoption was fairly quick, so by the time she received her China referral, her dd was home for 18 months. Now, all these concurrent adoptions happened over the last 5 years.
The most recent a year ago.