[sak9645]

Hi! I think that you are trying to reach me. I'd be delighted to talk with you, either on this board, by PM, or by email.

Yes, I'm an older single Mom. I was 49 when I began the process, and 51 when my 18 month old daughter came home. I'm 61 now, with a delightful 11 year old!

China has changed its attitude towards older singles since I adopted. It currently will not accept applications to its NSN program from singles who have already turned 50. The Waiting Child program (older children and those with special needs) does not have the upper age requirement for singles, though the CCAA may decline to accept an older person for a particular child.

China also has imposed an 8% singles quota on its NSN program. Basically, this means that no more than 8% of any agency's dossiers submitted to China in a given year can come from singles. So if Agency A submits 50 dossiers to China every year, only four of them can be from singles. There is no singles quota for the Waiting Child program, although the CCAA may decline to accept a single for a particular child.

Because of the quota, agencies can accept very few singles to their program. Most agencies fill their singles slots very quickly, towards the beginning of each year. Some do so on a first-come, first-served basis, while others use a lottery system.

Many agencies try to accept only single candidates that will "definitely" be acceptable to China, since they don't want to waste a valuable singles slot by sending a dossier and having it rejected. As a result, they may make some rules that are more strict than China's, with regard to singles. For example, they may choose to accept only singles who have NO health or criminal issues, even minor ones, or who make above average income.

Once all anticipated singles slots are filled, some agencies put other singles onto a waiting list, in case a singles slot opens up. Others do not keep a waiting list, but simply spread the word when a singles slot becomes available.

My usual advice to a single who wants a singles slot is to get a list of the agencies with China programs and begin calling or emailing. The single person might get lucky and reach an agency on the day a new slot opens up.

If not, the person should see which agencies will put her onto a waiting list without a hefty fee for doing so, and should try to get onto as many waiting lists as possible. If the person is on a waiting list, she should check back with the agency every month or so anyway, because an agency might be more willing to go with someone who seems sincerely interested than with some anonymous person who has put herself on twenty wait lists.

The person should also become active on various boards and listservs, like this one, because sometimes a singles slot opening will be mentioned.

The person should, of course, check out an agency before sending money. Ideally, the person should do some checking out of agencies while she is on their waiting lists, so she will be ready to commit as soon as she gets the call. Also, if she finds that she doesn't like an agency, on whose waiting list she has already placed her name, she can call and remove her name, so other people can move up.

One thing that often helps get a single a slot is an approved homestudy and I-600A. Agencies hate to give someone a singles slot, only to find that they can't get homestudy or USCIS approval. There is a risk in doing the homestudy and I-600A too early, of course, since these items expire and cost significant money to update. However, some singles are willing to take the risk, knowing that an agency may feel more confident about accepting them.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sharon