[karla-k]

We are watching the IA program we are in go downhill fast and are beginning to look around at other programs.

Tell me what you can about the China waiting child program.

Wait times on average from paperwork submission to travel?
What kind of special needs the children might have? We are open to minor surgically repairable to moderate needs. No severe needs.
Ages of children at referral? Are infants available?
I800a processing time in Texas? We have an approved I600, will this help us get the USCIS approval we need for China?
Updating a home study for China...what can we expect?

Also, PM me about the agency Carolina Hope and their China program if you have info. We have many thousands of dollars in our account at our original agency and I think we could use that money to go towards an adoption with Carolina Hope.

thanks

[Karen in MT]

I had to reply even though I don't have the time to answer all your questions, I would just call the agency and do the research. We are so happy to be leaving in approximately 1 week. We have waited for over 3 years. We are adopting an older child. I think the wait is torture! I was just thinking about how every single day is still hard. Even harder because of the long wait we have endured to this point. We want our daughter and get on with life. I can understand how people decide to quit. I just want to encourage you. We submitted a letter of intent in November and we are going now. About 4 months for us, but we were already logged in and through review. There are so many wonderful loving children that need homes and most of those special needs just melt away and the kids just shine. Most of us adopting SN children have moments of doupt and fear, but they are quickly overcome with education and support. Best wishes. -Karen

[stephdpenn]

I am not much help with your questions but I can say that we adopted a SN/WC over 2 years ago and things are going wonderfully. She was 13 months old when placed on the list and her SN was an unrepaired cleft lip. We brought her home at the age of 17 months and she is now soon to be 4. She had a few attatchment issues from time to time like I believe many IA children have but no major concerns.

[jbzanie]

We adopted our son, Ricky from the waiting program. He has a repaired cleft lip and palate. He was adopted at age 16 1/2 months old. We got his referral when he was 12 months old.

That said our dossier was already in China because we were in the NSN line.

If you go straight to SN, alot of wait depends on when your dossier gets to China. I have seen a start to finish take 6-8 months. They got the referral then worked on their dossier.

Our agency reports the following on SN. In addition they say 15% of the children have multiple issues.

Cleft Lip/Palate 18%
Heart Disease 18%
Limb Difference 14%
Vision/Hearing Issue 11%
Spinal Condition 10%
Delayed Development 8%
Skin Condition 6%
Genital Malformation 3%
Hepatitis B 2%
Cerebral Palsy 2%
Down Syndrome 2%
Healthy Over Age 10 1%
Other 5%

[sakelley]

Originally Posted by karla-k

We are watching the IA program we are in go downhill fast and are beginning to look around at other programs.

Tell me what you can about the China waiting child program.

Wait times on average from paperwork submission to travel?

We have adopted 2 waiting children. In 2006, we started our process in February, had our referral in April, submitted paperwork in May, and traveled to China in September.

In 2008, we started our paperwork when we found our daughter on the waiting child list in January, submitted our paperwork in May, and traveled in September.

Originally Posted by karla-k

What kind of special needs the children might have? We are open to minor surgically repairable to moderate needs. No severe needs.

jbzanie listed out the majority of SN's.

Originally Posted by karla-k

Ages of children at referral? Are infants available?

Our first adoption, our daughter was 29 months at referral and 34 months when we met her. For our second adoption, our daughter was 3 years 8 months at referral and 4 years 4 months at adoption.

The youngest child possible would be around 6 months at referral, but haven't seen one that young on any of the lists I have seen. I have seen quite a few children under 1 year referred in the waiting child program, though. You will wait longer for a referral if you want an AYAP female with minor SN. If you are open to a boy, the wait is much shorter.

[jessibird]

We began March 3rd, 2008 with our first meeting with our agency. We began our paperchase shortly after for China SN. We did everything as fast as we could, but the USCIS was at the begining of their backlog and it took us 4 months for our USCIS approval. We were DTC at the end of Nov. and LID 12/3/08. We were matched with our son on 1/27/09 - a little under 2 months for a match, but we were open to a boy and were open to all the minor needs and about 1/2 the moderate needs. There are many boys who need homes and many have moderate needs OR multiple needs. The wait for young baby girls with minor needs are waiting over a year with my agency. Our son is 3 and we cannot wait to bring him home to his family! Good Luck!