Rumor Round Up
I reported last night that we have rumors out there that matching has begun. Someone asked how long after that rumor until they arrive, and the answer is anywhere from two hours to two weeks.
I do not believe any TA’s for the most recent referral batch have arrived yet (someone please correct me if I’m wrong). I am aware that some TA’s arrived Tuesday for the early December referral group, and there are others from that group who still do not have their TA.
There is also a rumor about a cut off date, but it’s only coming from one place and it’s pretty fantastic at this point. If true then it would be better than any of the columns on my projections table. Even better than the good case scenario from back in 2006. I think we’ll put that one at an R1 at this point.
That being said, I am hearing from multiple places that the general atmosphere at CCAA is better than it has been in a long time, and that there is hope that things may not be so dismal in the near future. I know we’ve all heard the “things will speed up” thing too many times to believe it, me included. This actually feels a bit different from those rumors, but I’m still hesitant to give it much weight. I think at this point we’ve been burned too many times and it will take it actually happening for us to believe it. I’ve been receiving this information for a few weeks now from various sources, and finally received it from enough sources to decide it’s worth putting out. I’m very hesitant to believe it, but I’m here to report rumors, not to decide which rumors to report. So, I’m reporting it. As for a rating… while it’s coming from enough places to give it an R3, I’m still going to give it an R2. I also want to stress at this point that I don’t think this rumor has enough teeth for anyone to be making decisions off of it.
January 15th, 2009 at 10:23 am
Thanks for keeping us informed! It will be interesting to see what pans out. I hope they are make some positive changes.
January 15th, 2009 at 10:23 am
Any ideas what the date is rumored to be?
January 15th, 2009 at 10:25 am
I know with all the disappointment people are reluctant to get excited but I feel better and more encouraged. I still believe in the post olympic speed up. I never thought the olympics would end in August and a speed up would happen in September. I thought it would happen in January or after the Chinese New Year holiday. I’m not ready to give up on a post olympic speed up until after this spring.
If there is no speed up now than I do believe there will be one after this massive month of March is referred. There is a natural drop off in referrals after mid April. I believe the May of ’06 group was the group to experience attrition of any measure. Between less referrals and more attrition things will get better.
Hang in there!
January 15th, 2009 at 10:28 am
Thank you so much, RQ! Hope GG is feeling better!
MBG
3/1/06 – NEXT!!!
January 15th, 2009 at 10:34 am
Wow.
Kristine
January 15th, 2009 at 10:34 am
Thank you, RQ!!! I read your post with tears streaming down my face. I can’t believe it’s FINALLY nearing our turn.
Luna
LID 3/8/06
January 15th, 2009 at 10:43 am
Thanks for the encouraging news! I know how hard it is to work with a sick kiddo so thanks for keeping us up to date. Hopefully 2009 will be a good year for all of us waiting.
January 15th, 2009 at 10:44 am
My heart is racing. I want to get excited about a possible speed-up, but I’m afraid to.
Rachel
LID 3/28/06
January 15th, 2009 at 10:47 am
Thanks for posting RQ. And thanks for posting all rumors. With the “amazing” rumor out there, I have to wonder if this source is just the raving of a mad person. My apologies to the mad person if this fantastic rumor even remotely comes down to earth in at leat getting us to the “horrid” column.
:)
January 15th, 2009 at 10:48 am
I dont’ know how, but I keep hoping for a speed up. I hope this is true! If so, I am sooo excited for all of our March people!
January 15th, 2009 at 10:49 am
I have to agree with FJM. Just getting out of the horrid column would be a major accomplishment. I’m digging just the thought.
January 15th, 2009 at 10:53 am
Oh my!!!!!!!! I’m almost ready to throw up! I know that these are early, low rating rumors but when you think you probably have 5 months before referral and then hear that there is a possiblity that your 5 months has turned into 5 days it throws ya!!!
Shaking, feeling queasy and so much more!! Trying to stay calm but that just ain’t happening!
Looking forward to seeing what the next weeks bring!
Catherine
LID 03/23/06
January 15th, 2009 at 10:56 am
Wait a second, wasn’t the good case something like March 23rd? And this rumor is saying better than that??????? ANd March is supposed to be HUGE?????
Wow
That’s all I have to say – wow.
Or am I just way off about the March 23rd date?
January 15th, 2009 at 10:57 am
OMG!!! I just looked at those projections… please, please let it be true. We may have a lot of very busy people on this board soon!
January 15th, 2009 at 11:03 am
I’m at work today and RK gets to stay home and snuggle in. GG was better this morning, if that continues then hopefully she’ll be back at school tomorrow.
I, too, thought that a post Olympic speed-up was more likely to happen several months after the Olympics, not right away. And I, too, am hoping that these new rumors are pointing to that. But I’m really hesitant to get people’s hopes up.
As for the fantastical rumor about this month… I’m taking that one with a grain of salt at this point. I had to report it since it is out there, but if there was a category lower than an R1, it would get it.
January 15th, 2009 at 11:06 am
Our first daughter took exactly one year from the day we filled out our application, to the day we picked her up. The wait for #2 has been exasperating! I’m staying positive for an increase in speed this year, because we’ve all waited too long!
Jolene
LID 6-19-06
January 15th, 2009 at 11:06 am
THANK YOU RQ! The thought that the mood has picked up at CCAA is almost better than the R1 rumor of a big batch. I am giddy with the thought of them being giddy!! :)
On a totally unrelated note, we were all hit by a couple of nasty colds over the holidays – all of the in-laws together and we all got sick. If I was this upset by my niece and nephews being sick with me, I can only imagine how horrible it is when it is your own children. I hope that everyone is feeling better SOON and that you are remembering to take care of yourself along with your family and us! :)
January 15th, 2009 at 11:08 am
I really needed good news today rumor or not.
LID 6-2-06
January 15th, 2009 at 11:08 am
Hi All,
RQ I will say that it appears something is in the air as far as things turning more positive for us.
I have only innuendo to add but we are preparing to renew our I-171H for the 3rd time. I called our large China only agency to ask a few questions about the renewal. Before getting off the phone with them I asked if there was anything they could say about the wait or any encouragement the could give me with regard to the wait. The response I received was that with the increase in the donation fee “maybe” by midyear we might see a “stabilization” in wait times.
While speaking with our home study agency they told me that they had take to a lady who indicated that the wait time would shorten.
Yes I know these are very vague but they do contribute to a positive feeling for me.
LID: 6/22/2006
January 15th, 2009 at 11:13 am
ok everyone, please fasten your seatbelt and keep your hands and heart inside the ride until we come to a complete stop.
Thanks RQ we must drive you nuts each month!
January 15th, 2009 at 11:16 am
Thank You for any news/rumors/thoughts, and fingers and toes crossed for great news. We all appreciate that with a sick child you keep us informed, that is dedication.
Here’s to hopefully seeing many beautiful faces and families united.
(I have a long(er) wait, LID 1/11/07, but I love seeing those babies!)
January 15th, 2009 at 11:16 am
Thank you RQ for reporting what you hear!
Hopeful but cautious!
January 15th, 2009 at 11:22 am
I’m in tears reading this too Luna. It’s a little overwhelming at this point after waiting for so long. Even thinking we are within 6 months of referral is huge for us, but thinking of that time shortening or shortening drastically is shocking. I’m not counting on a R1 or below but…. I can’t wait to see what happens!!!
3/21/06
January 15th, 2009 at 11:23 am
I am pretty certain a speed up is coming. Since we just received our referral in the last batch and I am pretty sure WE are the reason it slowed down (it slowed down right when we were paper chasing). So yeah, now that we are out of line it should fly through. :)
Might take a while for TA’s though until we get out of that line- sorry for those affected by us being in that line :)
Michael
January 15th, 2009 at 11:32 am
Michael I thought it was my husband because every line the man is in seems to stop and we have not received our referral yet so I think the speed up will happen around April as soon as we get out of line. LOL
January 15th, 2009 at 11:33 am
waiting2bmummy,
I also have a LID of 1/11/07. It is so theraputic to see that there is someone with the same LID that is holding on just as we are. Let me know if you are interested in chatting back in forth as a support system through the rest of our long wait. It could help both of us. This has been much longer that I thought it would be and we aren’t getting any younger…that’s the hard part.
Hanging in there……..
Erika
January 15th, 2009 at 11:50 am
Wait – that sounds like my husband too….unfortunately we’re lid 3/07… so really hope it is one of you guys! lol
January 15th, 2009 at 11:59 am
It could be a one hit wonder, but we could use a few of them with 2-5 day referral batches being the recent norm!
I’m so excited and I am just at the USCIS filing stage! Yipee! Maybe we aren’t racing to a parking lot anymore? Maybe we are racing to a tollroad under heavy construction prone to many stalled trucks and traffic jams!
Kristine
January 15th, 2009 at 12:00 pm
WOW! This could be a very interesting month! Hang on everyone, the rollercoster ride has just begun!
January 15th, 2009 at 12:21 pm
RQ – I know you said you would give it under an R1 rating if one existed.
But, can you say if the source was an agency? if so, small/medium/large? A source that is usually right?
Anything to give some hope where there isn’t ever any ;-)
January 15th, 2009 at 12:22 pm
If the increase in donation results in more paper-ready babies then it’s POSSIBLE that SWI’s knew in advance the increase was coming and therefore we could see those results sooner than we thought. If they knew three months ago for sure it was coming they would have started preparing paperwork for more children then.
Just more wishful thinking!!!
January 15th, 2009 at 12:26 pm
I know it’s only an R1, but my heart has definitely skipped a few beats thinking of the possibilities for all the waiting families!
Here’s to the Year of the Ox–May it be one filled with many months of referrals and many dreams come true!
Rebecca
http://www.ourjourneytomeilin.blogspot.com
January 15th, 2009 at 12:31 pm
noendinsight – I would be VERY surprised if the orphanages didn’t know the increase was coming. There has been all sorts of talk about the increase throughout 2008 and I think even before then as well. I think a lot of agencies were strongly hinting, if not coming directly outright and saying, that their families should be prepared for an increase to $5000.
January 15th, 2009 at 12:32 pm
Okay, my mind has turned fuzzy, and my brains are jelly.
This post has made me want to go back and look and RQ’s projections…….. just so that I can stare at the possibilities, perhaps surpassing the expectations of whats printed……… but now I can’t find the post on projections.
I know, I know……. RQ 101……. please help, I can’t bear it…… must see it….. now…… VBG
Shelley
lid 3/28/06, and pinching myself thinking about a speedup…….. I do believe, I do believe, I do believe !!!
January 15th, 2009 at 12:50 pm
Speaking of the increase in the donation, my agency told us back in Sept. 2006 when we applied that donation would most likely be $5K.
January 15th, 2009 at 12:57 pm
Lightiv,
Just to clarify, for the wait to stabilize (ie not grow ANY larger) they would need to provide referrals for a full month every month. Is that what your agency was telling you would happen?
I would be shocked if they got to 15 days – which is 3x faster than they have been moving and even with that increase in referrals wait times would still continue to climb at a disturbing rate.
Anyone else speculating on what “speed up” means?
sks
January 15th, 2009 at 12:58 pm
I almost fainted reading this.
Wouldn’t it be nice tho’…
Lisa.
LID: 12.20.06
January 15th, 2009 at 1:01 pm
Forgot to add:
RQ, thank you for keeping us informed.
Lisa.
January 15th, 2009 at 1:15 pm
3/21/06 LID here and I’m excited to see how all of this plays out! Not only that, but a friend of mine has a 3/14/06 date and we’ve been hoping for a bit of a change so MAYBE we could travel together. All in all – rumor or not — I’m glad for HOPE!
January 15th, 2009 at 1:23 pm
In 2007, 28% of the total worldwide numbers were SN adoptions.
I wonder how much they’ve gone up in 2008? I know with the mulitple agency listings they have had a lot more success.
January 15th, 2009 at 1:23 pm
I want to believe.
January 15th, 2009 at 1:24 pm
Come on universe…work your magic! Just the positive change in everyone’s thoughts based on this IDEA of a speed up feels so good. Let’s keep it rolling and keep putting that positive energy out there. Keep in mind that ANYthing is possible. I work for an agency and can tell you there is hopeful optimism out there for a speed-up in 2009. If everyone on this list would just pray, meditate, send out positive thoughts…(whatever you believe in) and keep believing that their child IS on the way soon…who knows what could happen!
LID 4/07
January 15th, 2009 at 1:46 pm
The easiest way to find the most recent Projections post is to click on the Analysis Category.
January 15th, 2009 at 1:49 pm
I caution everyone about getting their hopes up. Many were expecting March to take a year, or at LEAST eight months.
I find it hard to believe that it would suddenly take two or three months.
That being said, I am getting my hopes up!!! And, I know I shouldn’t be!
January 15th, 2009 at 1:57 pm
We’ll see what happens, but I wonder if the increased fee is having an effect.
January 15th, 2009 at 1:58 pm
Noendinsight, three months sounds soooo much better than eight! I’m trying not to get hopes up too, but jeeesh, these are some fun rumors! Are TA’s taking longer than usual? Some of the posts mentioned that.
Moonpie
3/21/06
January 15th, 2009 at 2:06 pm
I’ve been looking on the site for a while now, but I just had to get a username and password so I could say YEAHHHHHH!! We are NEXT 3/2/06 LID. We have waited so long that it seems unreal that it is happening like soon!!
January 15th, 2009 at 2:33 pm
I do not believe this rumour. Nothing positive like this has happened in the 4 years we have been waiting. Everytime a positive rumour has appeared, it has not come true. 6 days is all I hope for. 6 days each month. That would be great. (Please feel free to slap me in the face if this R1 does turn out to be the case ;O))
Emmelin. LId 18/4 2006
January 15th, 2009 at 2:59 pm
The original estimates for March 06 were what? 2,500 families? I could be wrong?????
With attrition that means there are about 1,500 left.
If we assume 2008 was especially small due to the olympics and take 2007 numbers, there were 8,600 total, 6,200 were NSN (72%).
We know the SN numbers have gone up and continue to. How much? Let’s say to 40% in 2009?
That would mean about 3,500 NSN adoptions this year. Or approx 300 per month. That would mean that March 2006 would take five months. Which sounds AWESOME to me since I thought it would be at least 9 and many thought a year.
The thought of March 2006 taking two or three months blows my mind.
January 15th, 2009 at 3:17 pm
I have a fairly reliable source who indicated that a fair number of the orphanage directors had been waiting for the fee increase to go from $3000 to $5000 to submit papers.
January 15th, 2009 at 3:37 pm
I’m excited to entertain the idea of this! I’m seriously thinking about going on this ride. But like patientlywaiting said: “keep you hands and HEARTS inside until the ride comes to a complete stop!”
LID April 27 06
January 15th, 2009 at 3:41 pm
Debl–
Tell us more, whats a fairly reliable source??
I have been on this board since Jan 2006 so I have been on many roller coaster rides yet I find myself climbing on knowing how dangerous it is!!
LID March 21,2006
January 15th, 2009 at 3:52 pm
I am excited about the rumor for all of you waiting out there. It just seems like it is time for something really amazing to come out of this program- besides their beautiful children!
Home with Lily for almost 10 months!
http://oneworld–onelove.blogspot.com/
January 15th, 2009 at 3:55 pm
Oh RQ, this is such bad news for all those that thought they had so much more time to prepare for their children! Now they’re going to have to go purchase all those wonderful things for their THEIR T-H-E-I-R children. Sorry everyone that was not expecting this. :-) JK
I certainly hope it’s all true.
Never give up the faith.
Karen
January 15th, 2009 at 4:07 pm
“waitinginTX” …. I can not divulge my source….but they are in a position to know what is going on at the opposite end of this adoption process.
January 15th, 2009 at 4:34 pm
I have been walking around with a stupid grin on my face all day. Not just for me, because we’re still a fair ways away, but for all my friends who *might* see their referral this month IF this rumour is true.
Please let it be true!
If it’s not, can someone please slap me for getting my hopes up? :)
January 15th, 2009 at 4:37 pm
sks, you are right. The implication was that the wait would not get longer.
January 15th, 2009 at 4:46 pm
I think it would make sense if they knew for sure the increase was coming to wait if it was only a month or two. I sponsor a child through my daughter’s SWI. I just received an update and they listed 6 girls, all healthy, ie. no known SN, who were currently being sponsored in foster care. 3 of the children had already had their files sent to CCAA. Another child was adopted by a Chinese family. This is an increase for this SWI. They just recently finished upgrading the SWI to better accomidate and nuture the SN children who will never be adopted. They are very proud of the care the SN children are getting. That is why I am OK with the fee incease. Most SWI’s really do use that money to care for those left behind. I know there can be problems whenever money is involved, but I believe most directors have a good heart. Ironically just last night my husband and I had the talk. We agreed if there was not any good news after this month we were done….completly. With a May ’06 LID, I just can’t wait another 18 months. Our oldest is strating college in the fall, he was starting high school when we started this process. We need to renew again (3rd time) just couldn’t face doing a 4th! I guess we shall see. I have been at this too long to be overly optimistic, but somehow being a little optimistic does feel nice after such a long period of doom and gloom.
January 15th, 2009 at 5:06 pm
Waiting for Megan, we also have a log in of march 07, so was just wondering if you would be interested in keeping in touch, the support would be appreciated!
Regards Catherine.
January 15th, 2009 at 5:13 pm
All I can think right now is Holy Smokes, Batman! What if it is true? What if 600 rumor queen families are surprisingly next? or even time after next? Makes me think I should have spent more time over the last 4 years preparing and less time reading blogs…Need to go, I have a few things to do, just in case!!!
January 15th, 2009 at 5:19 pm
If SWI have been holding onto children until the donation was raised, that seems horrible. That totally makes me feel like we are “buying” a child if SWI are waiting to release children until they can get more money for them. I know the money will benefit the children left behind and yet to come, but how sad for those currently waiting.
January 15th, 2009 at 5:57 pm
Cathy1, would love to stay in touch. I just got added to the 3-07 room on the forum (after being here daily for about a year or more!) Have you signed up there too?
January 15th, 2009 at 5:57 pm
ChinaLuv,
My sentiments exactly. I believe that the money is very understandable and I know it is going for the care of these children, but if they waited just for the fees to go up – that really is terrible. My best friend suggested the buying/selling children thing today and it made me feel horrible. I don’t know how to reply to her.
LID 3/28/06
January 15th, 2009 at 6:20 pm
ChinaLuv – some SWI’s were saying they were LOSING money by making children paper-ready. That the donation wasn’t enough to cover everything. It takes months and a lot of work to get a child paper-ready.
The fee increase is the first increase since the inception of the program. You also have to consider that the value of the dollar has decreased so much, that the donation prior to the increase was less than they had been getting.
Like everything in the world, there are probably a few unethical SWI directors here and there, but for the most part, they use the money to get the children paper-ready and care for the other children in the SWI.
A $5,000 donation is nothing compared to some countries, who have “donations” more than three times that amount.
I am happy to pay it if it goes to good use.
January 15th, 2009 at 6:28 pm
I understand why the donation is being increased and agree it needed to be done.
January 15th, 2009 at 6:32 pm
erika & waiting2bmummy,
There are lots of us out here that are logged in after you and who plan on sticking it out.
Oh and I am sooooo excited to see that people on here are excited and that the CCAA is excited! Yeah!
January 15th, 2009 at 6:44 pm
Possible good news … and people immediately start the “buying children” discussion?!
Let me put your minds at rest. You are not buying a child.
Start being happy. OK?
January 15th, 2009 at 6:57 pm
I set the house on fire! (Kitchen; out now; learned how to use home study required fire extinguisher). Coincidence? I think not. LID 3/26/06
January 15th, 2009 at 7:07 pm
cherrimae – You’re going to get me in trouble – my boss must be wondering why I’m in here laughing my butt off! Glad everything is ok and hope that your fire is a somewhat-odd-harbinger of good things to come!!!
January 15th, 2009 at 7:10 pm
There is always someone who has to read into things and turn something someone says into something it isn’t.
January 15th, 2009 at 8:22 pm
It is amaizing how ignorant people can be about the process. Every talks about how the fee China charges looks like we ae buying a child. What about the Fees the agency charges. Thats ok, or what about all the fees people pay for domestic adoption, for lawyers, the mothers rent and food, etc…. or people that choose donor eggs, what about the fees that costs. Why is if it is an american fee it ok, but if it is a fee that actually goes TO the ca fo the children it is not ok. People need to check what they are saying at the door, and just be happy for people getting a baby. Fo us, adopting is our ONLY way for a baby and a family. you can’t put a price on that…….
January 15th, 2009 at 8:28 pm
True or not, this rumor has me over the moon!!! Thanks RQ for keeping us “in the loop”.
Today was a day of miracles…no doubt about that.
Now, everyone close your eyes and repeat after me….many referrals, many referrals, many referrals…..
Susan
LID 06/10/06
January 15th, 2009 at 9:02 pm
Click your heels and state after me “I believe, I believe!” I just can’t wait with a 3/7/06 LID, I want to get off this bumpy ride :)
January 15th, 2009 at 9:14 pm
Oh My!!! My heart skipped a beat reading this post. Then I was bummed….it seems that so many first rumors are wrong. I guess we will know shortly…..
January 15th, 2009 at 9:45 pm
I really want to hear more about how things are looking up at the CCAA office. As in the employees are feeling less stress or are excited because they get to put through more referrals? Or is it more along the line of they all got raises so spirits are up?
Also I for one am thrilled to hear their may be a speed up! Even if it is because babies were being held onto until fees went up. Sad for the babies to spend extra time in the orphanage but thrilled we all may be seeing these babies soon!!!!
January 15th, 2009 at 10:01 pm
Thanks R.Q. – Got it……. found the Analysis Category,
PERFECT :)
January 15th, 2009 at 10:29 pm
My opinion~let’s remember, we are paying for the PROCESS, not buying a human being. Surely, we are not having this discussion in 2009! Whatever happened or is happening~we want to have our children & finally be a family. Let’s focus on that. I think we ALL want that. & really, when it comes down to it for most of, whatever it takes, right? Of course, yes~we all want & hope for what is best for everyone involved; the babies & yes~for ourselves too. It is not selfishness, it is just reality. & the reality is, there will always be a bad apple somewhere in the bunch in any organization. So, yes~of course there are bound to be some orphanages somewhere that aren’t being ran the way that we would hope or that the focus isn’t as we feel it should be, but I for one know that I am not going to change it. So, I choose to hope & pray & yes~maybe even look the other way from time to time. What choice do we have?
January 15th, 2009 at 10:33 pm
Today WAS a day of miracles in NY!!!
God Bless that pilot and thank God they are all alive!!
January 15th, 2009 at 10:33 pm
Cautiously optimistic that there is SOME truth to the rumor since we have a 3.14.06 LID.
Seems the $5K has been a long time coming (we changed our expense projection spreadsheet many months ago). I can’t blame SWI’s for holding back paper ready kids if they knew it was coming; that’s 67% more money to take care of the kids left behind, especially the ones that will likely never be placed. I am A-OK with that fee!!!!! If I were a SWI director and thought the increase was imminent I’d sure be thinking about what was best for ALL the kids, not just the ones that were paper ready. Don’t know if there’s any truth to it, but I get it (and believe me I want my daughter home with me!!!)
It’s the 3rd time through US paperwork and that gets my Irish up! I had to convince the CIS officer this week that we didn’t have to pay for our 3rd biometric and I600A fee since we paid the first two (shame on me for being responsible and renewing the first time 2 weeks prior to the fee waiver!). Thankfully, she was great and called another officer to confirm we were entitled to a fee waiver. Now I’m running like a chicken to do all the paperwork, 2 sets of fingerprints for each of us, medicals, and another home visit from the social worker (ah man, that means I’m gonna have to clean the house too!) LOL
January 15th, 2009 at 10:52 pm
Oh my goodness I have tears in my eyes reading your post tonight RQ. Wow, is all I can say – i’m hopeful and i’m very happy for the March families right now. We have all waited so long as it is, that we need some good news. I’m hoping to get some sleep tonight.
LID 08-08-06
http://thejolivanafamily.blogspot.com
January 15th, 2009 at 11:09 pm
YES…YES…YES….IT’S ALL GOOD……::)) ::))
January 16th, 2009 at 9:08 am
Hi Waiting for Megan, just home from the dentist and read your post, thanks for wanting to keep in touch. This site is very new to me so i’m not sure what the 3 07 room is or means. sounds like something i want to be in though! I am from N. Ireland and the info we get is very limited unfortunately. My e-mail is ivorcatherine@aol.com
Look forward to hearing from you
January 16th, 2009 at 9:52 am
Sorry for using the dreaded “B” word, even though I tried to soften what I meant by it by putting it in quotation marks. Some people understood, others didn’t. Am I happy possibly larger batches of referrals are coming? Yes, of course! Do I agree with the increase in the orphanage donation? Yes, my issue is not with that. What does concern me is any child staying in a SWI one day longer than they have to because of $$$ issues. Morally it just doesn’t sit right with me. I’m not saying that IS what’s going on, but if there is a fraction of truth to it, it gives me a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. CCAA couldn’t very well say, “For the next ### families, you have been matched with your child. You can either voluntarily pay $5000 now and go ahead and get your child OR you can wait until xyz deadline to get your child, at which time it will be required of you to pay $5000 anyway.” This particular theory is about $, like it or not. I don’t like it and that’s all I meant by using the “B” word. Let me say again, I don’t have an issue with the AMOUNT being raised.
January 16th, 2009 at 10:22 am
I just wanted to say thank you for this discussion, even though there have been some groans about the money thing. Out of nowhere yesterday, my best friend suggested that China is selling these children and I had no idea how to respond to her. Now, thanks to you guys, I have enough intelligent responses to explain to her how that is just not the case. Love you guys, love this board.
January 16th, 2009 at 11:32 am
Yes, marissasmom, it’s easy to see why people such as your friend get the wrong idea. If, in fact, referrals increase with the timing of the donation increase, it gives people that impression. After all, we have been being told that there just weren’t enough children available to meet the demands of the number of families wanting to adopt. But now, all of a sudden, they have more children available? Hmmm. Something stinks here.
January 16th, 2009 at 11:34 am
But let me add, as long as children are finally getting families and families are becoming whole, then YIPPPEEEE!
January 16th, 2009 at 11:52 am
The suspense is killing me! What will happen today? I’m not even a March LID!
Verlaine
LID 4/28/06
January 16th, 2009 at 11:57 am
The cost of a pregnancy is enormous. If you have health care, you might not think about it so much, but if you add the costs from prenatal checkups through birth in a hospital, it comes out to much more than the cost of Chinese adoption.
January 16th, 2009 at 12:03 pm
Just wanted to chime in regarding the money issue. The costs associated with our adoptions are going to pay for services: our social worker, the US Government, the Chinese Government, the SWI’s, etc. It’s very similar to someone who gives birth to a child – they pay for the services of the doctor, nurses, the hospital, etc. The only difference is the latter is usually covered by insurance, so they don’t see so much cash out-of-pocket.
Also, just have to add a big “woo-hoo” to the rumor of a speed-up!! I really needed that mental boost, even if it is only a glimmer of hope, anything helps at this point.
Tracy
LID 7/28/06
January 16th, 2009 at 12:26 pm
As much as we don’t want to say it, orphanges in China are still a business. Just like the ones here. There are expenses and salaries for the workers etc. Yes, the ultimate goal is to place these children in a loving home as soon as possible, but if you were running a business, would you hold back some if you knew you would be getting 40% more money to help out with all of the costs. This recession is not just in the US, it is global. So they are feeling it too over there in China. If you owned a pet store, the goal is to get as many puppies into homes as fast as possible, but if you knew in 2 months time, the $1000 lab would sell for $1400, I am sure you would take your time in finding a new home for the puppy. What ever the reason, it doens’t matter. As long a more babies are available. Another reason could be the econonmy. When there is a depression, there tends to be more babies born, because people can’t afford to go out and so they stay home, and babies happen (statistcally proven fact). That could be another reason more babies are suddenly becoming available. Also, with the down turn in their economy, maybe less babies are being adopted domestically, and now being made available to IA. Just a thought, and here is to hoping they get to 7/26/06 faster than I thought they may!!!!! Come on referrals.
January 16th, 2009 at 12:46 pm
Marissasmom – I am so sorry your best friend said that to you; my mother-in-law’s first response when we told her we were going to adopt from China was that we were buying a baby. Fortunately, 4 years later, I think I’ve been able to educate her enough so that she understands. One of the things I pointed out is that we chose China and not a domestic adoption because we knew of several families that had domestic birth mothers change their minds after the baby was born (2 after they had the baby home with them for a few days – devastating!!!!) and had paid a lot of money for the care of these young women during their pregnancies. I hope your friend will understand. Perhaps have her read some of the great books that RQ recommends; that’s what helped my mother-in-law (that and the realization that this may be the only grandchild she ever has!)
January 16th, 2009 at 12:52 pm
…………… and if this rumor turns out to be “bolderdash…poopycock”…that’s ok as long as there is movement….movement is the KEY….believe you me I have been posting this for months on this site….At the beginning of 2008 we were 98 LID’s away…by July we were 50 LID’s away…now we are 15…..so my “Theory of Movement” has kept me sane, happy and focused both at work and home ::))..
Signed March 17, 2006 LID
January 16th, 2009 at 2:12 pm
OMG, Mayah-Izzy! Your statistically proven fact made me laugh. It’s silly but true. People “get busy” when they get bored. Take, for example, my eldest son who was born 9 months after a monster snow storm had lots of people homebound. There was no room in the hospital on his birthday! :0 So I guess things will be looking up for all you people still waiting.
January 16th, 2009 at 3:59 pm
I was just talking to my agency and they felt there was no truth to the rumors that CCAA was “digging deep into March”. The agency felt that with a LID of March 21 06 we could “confidently” expect our referral in 3 months. I still think that’s pretty good though!!! This next batch of referrals will be interesting!
LID March 21, 06
January 16th, 2009 at 4:12 pm
I’m a n00b here, but where do I find RQ’s projections?
LID 4/10/06
January 16th, 2009 at 4:13 pm
Guys, it’s very possible that the fee increase didn’t have much to do with it. The fee increases were approved with CCAA, and some SWIs already increased the fees as early as last March. If they were waiting for the fee increases, they would have simply increased their fees.
I think it’s more likely that they were waiting for the Olympics to be done and over, and its even possible that some of the workers at CCAA were moved to help with the Olympics in some form during that time.
I also think it’s apparent that they chose to do two months in 2008 in order to slow down the process of NSN adoptions. They did say they would do only two months for 2008, and they did. That did a lot to slow down the process as well as filter out those that were willing to find their child in the SN program or decided to drop out. Thus, making the program less desirable than it was. For a while, it was a well oiled machine. And the demand for NSN children was building to an unreasonable level for China to apprecaite (Obviously IMO)
January 16th, 2009 at 4:24 pm
This is my first posting although I have been a faithful reader for the past 13 months. I am very excited about finally becoming a voice in this forum and therefore I am hoping that I am posting correctly.
We have an LID of 4/5/07 and have been waiting to hear that we are in (and hopefully out of) the review room. It feels like the review room has stopped moving altogether. It used to feel like the review room moved at a much faster pace than it has of late, maybe it is because we are close and anxiously waiting. Yesterdays posts has generated a renewed sense of hope. Any word on the review room?
January 16th, 2009 at 5:27 pm
Waiting in Calgary, Thanks for the update from your agency. That’s a major bummer, but not a big surprise. I hope they are wrong. I hope referrals DO get to your LID this time.
January 16th, 2009 at 7:23 pm
I would imagine most agencies are taking the “let’s wait and see” approach rather than get everybody’s hopes up. This doesn’t mean it won’t be a bigger batch than expected. My agency NEVER reports anything at all. In their view, the referrals don’t come in until they come in and they never speculate at all.