China Adoption Factsheet, Page 7
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CHINESE ADOPTION FEES: Fees charged by Chinese authorities in connection with foreign adoptions may vary widely. There are, of course, standard fees.
1. Fees for authentication /legalization of documents by the Chinese Embassy or Consulate in the United States is $10.00 per document (A document may be a single page or multi-paged, the fee is for authentication of the seal).
2. The China Center for Adoption Affairs (CCAA) advises that its initial fee is $365.00(U.S.), plus $200.00(U.S.) for translation of the documents. (The translations can be done in the United States or China; however, the China Center for Adoption Affairs (CCAA) advises that the translations must be "correct" and that CCAA will "rectify" any errors which could account for some extra cost above the initial $365.00)
3. Fees for the issuance of the registration of the adoption by the Civil Affairs Bureau; $100.00 (U.S.)
4. Fees for issuance of the Chinese notarized certificate approving the adoption. The fee varies on a case-by-case basis.
Note: In addition to the fee for the adoption itself, there are fees for death certificates and for any investigation the Notarial Office may conduct to verify the child''s status and eligibility for adoption.
5. Fees for the Chinese passport-100 RMB (Approx. $12.00) for normal ten-day issuance (An additional fee of 100 RMB is charged for expedited issuance).
6. After consultation with local price control administration authorities and local financial departments, individual Children''s Welfare Institutes may charge from $3000 (U.S.) to $5000 (U.S.) as a combined donation to the institution and a fee for having raised and cared for the child prior to the adoption. Fees are handled by local officials outside of the Children''s Welfare Institute and are largely based on real expenses in raising and caring for the child while in the institute.
7. The American Consulate General at Guangzhou advises that extra charges of up to $500 for transportation or expedited processing of documents have also been reported. Adoptive parent(s) should keep the U.S. Embassy and Consulate General apprised of any exorbitant fees.
U.S. FEES:
1. There is an USCIS fee of $155.00 for an I-600 or I-600A petition. If you have a valid I-600A and file an I-600 within one year of the approval of the I-600A, no fee will be charged for the I-600 provided you are only petitioning for one child or for siblings. If you have a valid I-600A and within one year of approval of the I-600A are petitioning for more than one child and the children are not siblings, the I-600 fee will be charged for each additional child.
2. If you are having documents authenticated by the Department of State Authentication office, there is a fee of $5.00 per document.
3. The adopted child must have a medical examination performed by one of the U.S. Embassy or Consulate''s panel physicians before the immigrant visa can be issued. The cost of this medical examination (approximately $15.00 (U.S.)) and accompanying immunizations ($30 (U.S.)) must be paid by the adoptive parent(s).
4. The fee for the immigrant visa is $200.00 and may be paid either in U.S. dollars or local currency. This $200.00 fee does not include medical examinations, costs of documents, the petition, etc. The U.S. Consulate does not accept personal checks or credit cards.
5. If you are having documents authenticated by a consular officer at a U.S. embassy or consulate, there is a fee of $10.00 per document.
- Plastic or cloth baby carrier
- Bottle nipples
- Disposable paper diapers
- Baby wipes
- Baby blankets
- Infant wear
- Thermos bottle, for hot water to prepare dry formula
- Milk bottles (plastic, glass, and disposable)
- Disposable plastic bags for milk bottles
Interested Americans should be aware that the process of adopting a child in the PRC (People''s Republic of China) and bringing the child to the U.S. may be time-consuming and difficult. The Guangzhou Consulate staff strives to make the experience as relaxed as possible for the prospective adoptive parents and their children. The Consulate has a special interview and waiting area equipped with a changing table and other amenities.
The American Embassy, the Consulate generals, and the Department of State stand ready to assist adoptive parents in any way possible--within the limits of our authority. Because no private agencies exist in China to assist foreigners, U.S. citizens arriving in China to finalize an adoption are advised to proceed carefully with all PRC legal procedures. They should also work closely with the nearest U.S. diplomatic mission in China throughout the adoption process to ensure that the child selected will qualify for U.S. immigration benefits and that all the necessary PRC civil documents are in order.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Prospective adoptive parents are strongly encouraged to consult USCIS publication M-249, The Immigration of Adopted and Prospective Adoptive Children, as well as the Department of State publication, International Adoptions.
QUESTIONS: Specific questions regarding adoption in China may be addressed to the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in Beijing. You may also contact the Office of Children''s Issues, SA-29, 2201 C Street, NW, U.S. Department of State, Washington, DC 20520-2818, Tel: 1-888-407-4747 with specific questions.
Information is also available 24 hours a day from several sources:
Telephone
Office of Children's Issues - recorded information regarding changes in adoption procedures and general information, 1-888-407-4747.
State Department Visa Office - recorded information concerning immigrant visas for adoptive children, (202) 663-1225.
Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services in the Department of Homeland Security - recorded information for requesting immigrant visa application forms, 1-800-870-FORM (3676).
Internet - the Consular Affairs web site , at: http://travel.state.gov contains international adoption information flyers and the International Adoptions brochure.
USCIS web site - http://www.uscis.gov
Credits: U.S. Department of State
