Notes on this batch
Make sure you check out the Babies! post. Lots of pictures up now. Congrats to all of the families who finally know who their child is!
As for what I’ve seen so far:
I’ve seen a good many boys this time. So far I believe everyone who received a boy asked for either gender.
I’ve also seen one set of twins and heard about another.
There were some expedited families in this batch. Often when there are expedites in a batch there are less referrals for non-expedites. But that doesn’t appear to have happened this time. And that’s pretty interesting.
Some agencies feel that they can get their people to China and back before the Olympics. Some agencies are already warning their clients that it isn’t likely. One agency has gone so far as to say that there will be no adoption travel allowed between July 15 and September 20. Yet, other agencies are making tentative plans that would have families coming home in late July. Time will tell, I suppose. At any rate, getting there and back before flights get ridiculously expensive is going to be tricky.
There is some confusion still about the 20th vs the 22nd. Bottom line is that I’ve now heard from clients of more than ten agencies that the internal box says the 20th (I stopped counting at ten). A few agencies are still claiming the 22nd, but the vast majority report the 20th. I am aware that someone has doctored up the old CCAA box to show the 22nd, but they didn’t do a great job of it and the fonts are all wrong. I would love for it to be the 22nd, then I could put a True instead of a False on the Scorecard, but to just listen to the few agencies saying the 22nd and ignore all of the ones saying the 20th wouldn’t be very honest.
And last but certainly not least, I have a good rumor to share. One agency says that the CCAA says next month will also have a lot of days in it. That’s probably the earliest rumor about next month ever. But, I’ll take it.
June 11th, 2008 at 8:20 am
Of course, it was Chinese New Year !
Is this an agency that is reliable ?
R.
June 11th, 2008 at 8:25 am
Early rumors are better than no rumors!! With a 1/26/06 LID I am liking the thought of lots of days!!
June 11th, 2008 at 8:26 am
And last but certainly not least, I have a good rumor to share. One agency says that the CCAA says next month will also have a lot of days in it. That’s probably the earliest rumor about next month ever. But, I’ll take it.
Well, that early little rumor is sure to take the breath away for many…
June 11th, 2008 at 8:29 am
I’ll take that rumor too! It’s nice to hear something positive!
June 11th, 2008 at 8:51 am
HOLY SHEEPDIP!!! A lot of days!?! I LOVE this rumor although I will try very hard to take it with a grain of salt.
June 11th, 2008 at 8:54 am
Based on the polls, looks like CNY didn’t start until Jan. 28, 2006…wouldn’t it be nice to have a double digit batch?!?! I’m ready for next month’s batch already!!!
June 11th, 2008 at 8:54 am
Am I the only one that actually kind of misses the anti-span words?:)
June 11th, 2008 at 9:23 am
A reliable U.S. agency posted through 1-20. Not 1-22.
June 11th, 2008 at 9:59 am
What a delightful rumor! I hope they make it to Feb 5. yes, I know, not many LIDs but almost 1/2 a month off the calendar.
June 11th, 2008 at 10:11 am
I haven’t heard news on the review room yet. Only that referrals are through 1-20. Maybe when the Olympics are over we will here Jan’07 is out. I hope so. LID 1-07.
June 11th, 2008 at 10:15 am
I sure wouldn’t want to be paying for a flight to China right now (although I would pay ANY PRICE to get my daughter right now!!!). Friends of ours have been looking at flights because they plan to travel in July and they are running around $10,000 per person for business class!!! Holy Cow!!!
June 11th, 2008 at 10:22 am
Just to keep at the same crawling pace we’re at now, there HAVE to be more days in the next two referral batches. Otherwise we’d been slowing even further. Those extra days won’t change people’s current projected wait times (unless it’s, say, a whole month of LID dates). Agencies know this. As they have a vested interest in keeping clients in China adoption, anything that *seems* like good news, even if it isn’t, will get painted as such. Even as reality has long set in, very few agencies seem to be preparing families for the years of waiting. Kudos to those that are!
June 11th, 2008 at 10:32 am
Yeah! I am so happy for all of you who got your referrals this month and I am beyond happy about the rumor of a big month next month. That’s awesome!
June 11th, 2008 at 10:40 am
YEA!!!! for lots of days!
Congrats to everyone that received referrals! Your babies are beautiful!
LID 3.14.06
June 11th, 2008 at 11:43 am
Even if the just do the same number of days it will finish January, which of course if fine by me:)
Jo-Anne
2/28/06
June 11th, 2008 at 11:57 am
I was just looking at the “CCAA updates & referrals” section and it’s been almost 3 years that the CCAA hasn’t sent out 1 months worth of referrals …
R
LID Dec. 2006
June 11th, 2008 at 11:59 am
On the bright side, after this weekend we’ll already be half way through June. And we’ve already got one rumor.
Next month could be exciting.
I’m going to think positive and hope for the best.
June 11th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
Those of us in the 2/06 room are doing a very cautious happy dance at the prospect of ccaa making it into feb in the next batch!! Its hard to explain how thrilling it will be to finally have referrals in OUR month! If this, very early, rumor turns out to be true, there is a possibility for us to get an aug referral (but I really doubt it) expecting sept or oct instead.
There is light at the end of this long dark tunnel!!
susan
lid 2/13/06 –24 more lids (9 of which are cny) to go!!!
June 11th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
Here’s hoping to lots of days referred next month! I hope that rumor is true!
Wendy
http://adoptionandfire.typepad.com
June 11th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
The agency I work for has it stated that referrals went through January 20, 2006 and that through December 31, 2006 has completed their review.
June 11th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
Wow, I would have thought the opposite. It appears that a lot of families were logged in BEFORE Chinese New Year with our agency. That’s great news. Probably then, the lot of days is because they didn’t log in any the week of Chinese New Year. That sounds like great news for those logged in Jan 27.
June 11th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
Well, technically, since January 21 and 22, 2006 were a Saturday and Sunday, and there are 0 families in the LID poll for those days, the referrals did make it through the 22nd. The next LID day that will receive referrals next month is January 23, 2006.
Just looking for any reason to “X” off two more days on my countdown calendar!!!
wings4ladybug
3/30/07
June 11th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
Sorry because I know this has been asked/answered before — does CCAA work on the weekend? Just because we don’t show anybody logged in on the 21st-22nd doesn’t necessarily mean no one is logged in — just that this community doesn’t have anyone logged in.
Just curious.
June 11th, 2008 at 1:17 pm
I wonder why Jan 26 is so different on the two polls results. The last one, which I think may have been funkified a bit with the website issues, has 22 vs 41 for the older one. Most other days seem close.
June 11th, 2008 at 2:18 pm
Someone above mentioned the current high prices of business class to China- $10,000. Just FYI, that is the going rate on Continental from Newark to Hong Kong. Even without the Olympics!
June 11th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
So, it will cost my family an additional $30,000 to fly to China? Am I reading this right?
I just did a quick check on Travelocity the highest rate was in the $5,000 range and the lowest was roughly $1,300. I did not look at the specifics but just wanted to get an idea.
Can anyone comment on this?
Jo-Anne
June 11th, 2008 at 2:30 pm
Hurray for the new parents in this batch!!! What a bummer that they couldn’t just state the 22nd as a cut-off. It would feel so much better to say the 22nd. Although now the next batch will look bigger because they will be able to include the 21 + 22 as “LIDs covered” despite the fact no one is LID these days. But I am happy for a rumor!!!
June 11th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
Jo-Anne - were you looking at Business or Economy? I have been told by everyone the lowest class you want to fly (especially with your child) is Business. Of course it depends on what airline, airport in-to/out-of, date/time, etc.
June 11th, 2008 at 2:56 pm
Coooool!!!! That’s great news (about the number of days next month) Oh I hope, I hope, I hope…Even though our LID isn’t unitl 9/12, I love any news about extra days being included.
Congrats to everyone that got referrals this month!
June 11th, 2008 at 3:04 pm
Lots of us can’t afford to fly anything but coach, kids or not.
June 11th, 2008 at 3:08 pm
litmom,
I agree with you. Most can’t afford to fly business class…
What a lovely rumor this early on.
Lisa
LID: 12.20.06
June 11th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
Jo-Anne -
get a seat for your child and fly coach.
yake the 20k and put it in a college fund - 12 hours of pain is better trade off than a years college tuition.
June 11th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
I believe there are a handful of people logged in on Jan 21 and 22 (a few showed up on the last daily poll that closed on 1/1/08). So I wouldn’t discount these in looking at next month’s # of days. I am in the camp that believes the # of LID’s each month is relevant because it is clearing the queue and getting me closer to referral. The number of babies placed each month does not matter to me (strictly in terms of how it impacts me - of course I am happy for the matches!) if it only represents a few days. Here’s hoping we get through February 5th next month - 16 LID’s!!!!
June 11th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
Uh, we need to save for our future child’s college since we’ll be senior citizens and no longer working by the time we actually adopt her, LOL… so we’ll be flying coach with the rest of you, litmom, penelope, and Jo-Ann!
Christina
LID 05/18/06
June 11th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
Oops, LOL, China-dad apparently has the same idea!
June 11th, 2008 at 3:39 pm
I am a little sceptical about the large number of days rumour. Early rumors tend to be wrong. Of course, I would love it to be true. I think it would be great if they made it to Feb 5th; but I am thinking the 27th or 28th is more likely. Hopefully I am wrong (I want to be), but I have learned the hard way about not believing the overly optimistic rumors early on..but then thats just me.
RQ-do you think that the reason we hear conflicting rumors about the cut-off date (I am going with your version) is that there might be a different cut-off date for Europe vs North America? The 20th is what I hoped for and what I thought was reasonable given previous months referral numbers, so it is not a big suprise to me that this was this months cut-off.
June 11th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
JoAnne-
Get the cheapest flight you can, and don’t worry about the seating coming back with the baby. On my first trip, I had the worst seat on the plane; and I stayed there for about 20 minutes. The flight attendent found me a row that had three empty seats and moved me there. I layed down the whole flight back with my beautiful daughter in my arms. I’ve heard this is pretty common. People tend to be really accomodating when you have a gorgeous little baby with you :)
June 11th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
My husband travels business class to China a few times a year on business and the tickets are always close to $10K. We will not be flying business class when we pick up our child but may buy an extra seat. I love the early rumor, with a 1/24/06 LID I can finally say I’m next!!!
June 11th, 2008 at 4:30 pm
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE, anyone at all hear anything lately about SN LOA’s? It has been 45 days since my SN PA on 4/28/08, I know, it takes a while, but I am losing it. Any word at all out there?
June 11th, 2008 at 4:45 pm
waitingforlibby,
You must be! I do not miss it only because I would type my message and send it before typing the word, hence have to retype again!
June 11th, 2008 at 4:49 pm
catherinathegreat i’m from europe and my agency çonfirming that the cutoff is 20 jan.’06.
LID 14 feb. ‘06
June 11th, 2008 at 5:25 pm
Don’t worry everyone! You do not need to fly business class. In fact, I think anyone who does is crazy or just filthy rich. When we adopted our daughter in 2004, we flew coach and it was fine. And, she was 19 months old and we didn’t even get her a seat. That was the smartest thing we ever did. We had bulkhead seats (in the front), and since the flight is sooo long, you want to get up and walk around as much as possible. I spent about two hours talking to someone in the back while my husband and daughter were up front in the seats. As soon as I got back, she wanted my lap. It wasn’t hard at all. And look, it’s only 13 or so hours of your life and it’s done!
June 11th, 2008 at 5:58 pm
day2xinand?…thanks for sharing this.
June 11th, 2008 at 7:47 pm
Thanks for the info on airfare, I know it’s expensive but this was a bit of a shock. I guess we’ll decide at some point in the future - I know my husband will agree with China dad 1.
Thanks!
Jo-Anne
2/28/06
June 11th, 2008 at 8:50 pm
We flew coach back in early 2006 following our adoption. It wasn’t great but it wasn’t awful either. We got the same food, old movies and linens as most other passengers. The flight attendants were coming through every few minutes with beverages, hot towels, you name it. They were very, very pleasant. Sure, it would have been nice to be in business, or heck, how about 1st class! But we didn’t have the extra money.
June 11th, 2008 at 9:18 pm
I just purchased a business class ticket to china for $5200 on Korean Air. There are cheaper ones on Asiana Airlines. Visit kayak.com and try it out.
June 11th, 2008 at 10:15 pm
About travel $$$
We traveled using China Southern (2004) and they have or had a “premium economy” class. I found the seats very comfortable. It is not first, but it is not coach. We hope that option is still available when we travel. We used Lotus travel last time.
June 11th, 2008 at 11:27 pm
OMG!
Congratulations to everyone with a referral! I am going to go with positive thinking and hope that the early rumor is true. I am not into details-all I care about is getting January 2006 done and into February. We are on our way everyone! I believe China is finally “getting it”-that they just cannot continue this wait…..it is not fair to anyone-most of all the babies. I am also still hoping for twins, I never want to “wait” again! Take care until next month!
XOXOOXOXO
June 12th, 2008 at 12:10 am
I found out that CNY was late January in 2006, so it only makes sense that the next batch will be a lot of days. But how many REAL days of referrals will it be, is the question.
Not that I’m complaining! More days crossed off the calendar no matter how they get there, means less total days between us and our daughter.
June 12th, 2008 at 12:20 am
We would have loved to have gone business or first class with our first daughter…but HOLY COW! I agree with the other people that said the $$ is much better spent on other important things like future education funds. 10-14 hours in a small space is no big deal. My ankles swelled on the flight home, and there was a lot of down time in squished areas. But, as I look back, what I remember the most is stroking my daughter’s forehead as she slept…and how happy I was to have her in our family. Really, the time in cramped quarters is nothing….get the bulk head seats if you can, and buy an extra seat. We went to China in ‘06, and the tickets were purchased via a travel agent that works with our adoption agency. We paid $800 each, with an extra seat (purchased both ways for the better price, but used only coming home)…We lived thru it, and will do it again…no big deal.
June 12th, 2008 at 2:21 am
Wow. 10 days!
If the CCAA keeps this up, we will get a refferal at the end of 2012 !
Zirion
LID 04-10-2007
June 12th, 2008 at 11:00 am
We flew coach and didn’t get an a seat for her. We had the bulkhead seat and made a bed for her out of pillows. She slept like an angel for most of our long flight. I’m glad we saved the money , not that we had any choice in the matter :) I love seeing the new babies. Hope for all of you that things speed up soon!
Rosie
Mom to 5, one from Chongqing, China
June 12th, 2008 at 11:16 am
We were in China in September 2006. We flew China Southern Premium Economy from LA to Guangzhou, both ways. We flew coach from Chicago to LA and back, and coach in China. We also bought a seat for our daughter on the way back from Guangzhou to LA. The total cost of all the tickets for us was around $5500. The Premium Economy and the extra seat were well worth it. We used Delight Travel.
June 12th, 2008 at 11:24 am
I was just throwing the information out there about the business class pricing. Please don’t think I am in any way rich enough to afford (or crazy enough to buy) those tickets.
We will be riding in coach with everyone else and loving every minute of our squishiness! And I am pretty sure, with those prices, my friends will too.
June 13th, 2008 at 8:55 pm
I am curious what would happen if someone received there travel dates that were close to the Olympic dates and they found out that the price was going to be 3 times the price as originally planned/budgeted for and they just couldn’t afford to pay that travel price. would you be allowed to ask for a different travel date? would you lose your referral?
LID 3/24/06
(and wondering what will come first, our retirement or our referral LOL)