[sak9645]

Remember that China makes a distinction between LAWS, POLICIES, and GUIDELINES.

China has a national adoption LAW, which has many provisions affecting both foreign and domestic adoption. This LAW cannot and will not be violated by the China Center for Adoption Affairs. The minimum age of 30 for all foreign adoptions, both NSN and SN, is part of this law. It used to be 35, but was liberalized several years ago.

The CCAA also has certain POLICIES. These are not part of China's adoption law, but are made and enforced by the CCAA. When the CCAA makes a policy, it will not issue an exception. As an example, the 8% singles quota is a policy, as is the rule that single people's dossiers will not be accepted for the NSN program if they have turned 50.

GUIDELINES are what the CCAA uses to provide a broad framework for adoption agencies and its own staff, when considering prospective parents. These guidelines are NOT laws or policies, and China will still consider all applications conforming to the laws and policies on a case by case basis.

As an example, China has guidelines that say:

1. People aged 30-44 are more likely to receive a child 12 months old or younger.
2. People aged 45-49 are more likely to receive a child 13-24 months of age.
3. Married couples aged 50-54 should be "open" to a child over age three.
4. People aged 55 and over will probably not be referred a child.

In fact, there have been many exceptions made to these guidelines. For example:

1. While many people 30-44 have received children 12 months old or younger, some have also received children aged 13-24 months.
2. While some people aged 45-49 have received children in the 13-24 month age group, some have received children 12 months old and younger.
3. While some married couples in the 50-54 age group have been referred children age three and up, more have received younger children, including children under age two.
4. While some married couples 55 and up have not been approved, others -- usually couples where one spouse is 55+ and the other is significantly others, and where there is strong income and insurance to protect the younger spouse if the older one should die -- have been allowed to adopt.
5. There is simply no rhyme or reason as to what to expect if one spouse is in one age category and the other is in a different age category. China does NOT automatically go by the mother's age, or by the sum of the two spouses' ages; such rules are AGENCY formulations, not China's.

I hope this helps.

Sharon