Adoption

China Adoption Documentary Requirements

A foreigner interested in adopting a Chinese child must submit the following documents to the China Center of Adoption Affairs. It is advisable to bring several copies of the authenticated documentation with you to China.

1. Adoption application
2. Birth certificate
3. Marital status certificate
4. Certificates of profession, income and property
5. Health examination certificate
6. Certificate of criminal/no-criminal record
7. Home study report
8. Certificate of child adoption approval by the competent department of the adopter's country of residence
9. Copy of applicant's passport
   * In addition, each adoption applicant should also submit two full-faced photos and several other photos reflecting the family's life*

In addition to the package of documents forwarded by your adoption agency to the CCAA for approval, you are also required to have a chain of certificates and approval.

1. Certified and authenticated copies of the adoptive parent(s)' birth certificate(s)
2. Certified and authenticated copy of the adoptive parents' marriage certificate and proof of termination of any previous marriage (certified copy of spouse's death certificate of divorce decree)
3. Medical certificate(s) for adoptive parent(s) executed by physician before a notary public and authenticated
4. Statement that adoptive parent(s) is/are childless and has/have not adopted other children (notarized and authenticated)
5. A medical certificate of infertility if that condition exist (executed by a physician before a notary public and authenticated) Note: Infertility is no longer a requirement for adoption in China
6. A certificate of good conduct for the adoptive parent(s) from a local police department notarized or bearing the police department-seal and authenticated. An FBI report is acceptable in lieu of a local police record. This is separate from the FBI check conducted by BCIS as part of the petition process. You can request an FBI record check by sending two sets of fingerprints, an $18.00 money order, your full name, date and place of birth, social security number and letter of request explaining purpose for clearance to: FBI ID Division, Room 10104, Washington, DC 20537-9700. The FBI certificate should also be authenticated.
7. Verification of employment and salary notarized and authenticated
8. Two letters of reference notarized and authenticated
9. A certified and authenticated copy of your property trust deeds, if applicable
10. A home study prepared by an authorized and licensed social agency certified and authenticated
11. Bank statements notarized/certified and authenticated
12. Power of attorney notarized and authenticated (if only one spouse will travel to China). In case of married couples, if only one adopting parent comes to china, Chinese law requires that the spouse traveling to China, bring a power of attorney from his or her spouse which has been notarized and properly authenticated by Chinese Embassy/Consulate General in the United States.
13. Family letter of intent to adopt, describing the child the adoptive parent(s) is/are willing to adopt, notarized and authenticated
14. A copy of the I-171H form (approval notice from BCIS) notarized and authenticated.

Translation Requirements

All documents prepared for each adoption application must be accompanied by a certified Mandarin Chinese translation. For a $200 fee, the CCAA will provide the translation service. If a translated copy is submitted with the application, the translator must execute a statement before a notary public as to the validity of the translation. The notary's seal must be authenticated.

Authentication Requirements

All foreign (U.S.) documents must be authenticated for use in China. Keep in mind that the purpose of having documents authenticated is to verify their contents and validity of the issuing authority. Some documents have been rejected because the seals they bore did not serve purpose. For example, if the translator's affidavit only confirms the identity and signature of the translator, but does not attest to the validity of the translation, this is insufficient under Chinese law. Likewise, a notary public cannot legally certify the contents of a civil document, such as a birth or marriage record. A notarized certified true copy is not an authenticated copy of a civil record. A certified copy must be obtained from the bureau of vital statistics, which maintains the original record.

Generally, U.S. civil records, such as birth, death, and marriage certificates must bear the seal of the issuing office. Then it must be authenticated by the state's Secretary of State in your state capital, then by the U.S. Department of State Authentication's office and then by the Chinese Embassy/Consulate in the United States. Check with the Chinese Consulate in the U.S. with jurisdiction over your state to see what seals and signatures the Consulate can authenticate. It may be possible to eliminate some of the steps if the Consulate has the seal of the local issuing authority on file.

Tax returns, medical reports and police clearances should likewise be authenticated, beginning with the seal of notary public in the United States or some appropriate issuing office. The notary's seal should be authenticated by the county clerk where the notary is licensed or some similar authority. The document should then be authenticated by the state Secretary of State; (in your state capital) the U.S. Department of State Authentication's Office, and the Chinese Embassy/Consulate.