There is something exclusive and mystifying about a Chinese international adoption. It is no wonder then that Chinese adoptions rank first out of the twenty countries where U.S. Citizens go to adopt.  China adoption requires international adoption agencies to be licensed through the China Center for Adoption Affairs (CCAA) and your Chinese adoption agency must be Hague Accredited.  Unlike some other countries, Chinese international adoptions are strictly controlled by the CCAA and adopting parents must meet stringent guidelines.  Understanding what the CCAA is and how it works may help you in your goal of a Chinese international adoption.  Here are ten facts to know about the CCAA and Chinese adoptions.

1. What is the China Center for Adoption Affairs (CCAA) and what is its chief focus?  In Chinese adoptions, according to the CCAA's web page, the CCAA is to "ensure the lawful rights and interests of adopted Chinese children" and to "put the interests of adopted Chinese children in the first and foremost place."
2. What are the rules China adoption agencies must meet to be allowed to adopt by the China Center for Adoption Affairs (CCAA)?  Because Chinese adoptions have specific requirements and procedures, it is vital that you use only China adoption agencies that are approved by the CCAA and allowed to work in China.  Be sure your Chinese adoption agency is approved or licensed by the CCAA, the agency must be a non-profit charity such as a 501© 3 in the US, they must handle over 10 China adoptions each year, they must be able to provide home study reports, post-adoption services, have a sound and stable organizational setup and a specialized Chinese international adoption team of professionals.
3. What requirements should adopters meet?  Chinese adoptions require some of the most stringent rules for adopting parents.  Besides the mounds of paperwork that must be filed, you will need a birth certificate; marital status certificate; you must be childless; provide a financial statement; have no mental or physical problems; be at least 30 years old; have a physical examination; a background check; a home study report; provide a copy of passport; pictures; family photos; and any other documents the government may choose to require.
4. How many Chinese adoption children can a family adopt at one time?  You can only adopt one child at a time in a Chinese international adoption, except in the case of twins.  Then you can only adopt only one more Chinese child one year after the first adoption, but all paperwork must be resubmitted.
5. Who are the children allowed to be adopted through the Chinese international adoption process?  The CCAA and Chinese adoption laws only allow "orphans under 14; abandoned infants; children whose biological parents cannot be found; and parents who can't rear the children due to unusual difficulties".
6. What is the normal CCAA wait time for a China adoption? Unfortunately the wait time can change according to political situation or other concerns, but is usually from 18 to 36 months.  If the Chinese adoption child has severe special needs, the time could be quicker.
7. Are China adoptions expensive?  Yes.  Costs can be as high as $30,000 for a Chinese international adoption.
8. What are the travel requirements for a Chinese adoption?  While some families travel in a group, others can travel independently, but they must always be accompanied by a CCAI representative.  Prospective parents must travel to China to pick up the child.
9. What is a disruption in a Chinese adoption?  A disruption occurs when the government closes down all Chinese adoptions for one reason or another; when the CCAI revokes the license of the Chinese adoption agency for one reason or another; if the prospective parents can't meet the new Chinese adoption requirements at the time of the match; or if China wants to change the rules in the middle of the game.  Often if there is a disruption, the Chinese adoption process may need to begin again and you will lose the money you have paid upfront.

There are very good websites and links about Chinese international adoptions, so take a moment to look at them.  It is always wise to find as much information about the Chinese international adoption process as you can before you begin a Chinese adoption.