Adoption has its own lingo, and one full of lots of acronyms. Here's a guide to what they all mean and a glimpse into the process of adopting from China. Some of these steps may only apply to families residing in the United States.
Home Study Agency: All adoptive families must work with a COA/Hague-accredited agency licensed in their home state for completion of the home study and post-placement reports. The home study agency does not have to be the same agency as the placing agency. If your placing agency is located in another state and not licensed to provide home study services in your state, you will need to select a separate home study agency.
Home Study: A written report containing the findings and recommendations of the adoption social worker. The social worker is required by state, federal, and Chinese officials to meet with and interview prospective adoptive parents on several occasions. The social worker must also visit the home and investigate the health, medical, criminal, family, and living background of the adoptive parents. The purpose of the home study is to help the state, federal, and Chinese government officials determine whether the adoptive parents are qualified to adopt a child. This determination is based upon criteria established by state, federal, and Chinese laws and regulations.
Home Study Agency: All adoptive families must work with a COA/Hague-accredited agency licensed in their home state for completion of the home study and post-placement reports. The home study agency does not have to be the same agency as the placing agency. If your placing agency is located in another state and not licensed to provide home study services in your state, you will need to select a separate home study agency.
Home Study: A written report containing the findings and recommendations of the adoption social worker. The social worker is required by state, federal, and Chinese officials to meet with and interview prospective adoptive parents on several occasions. The social worker must also visit the home and investigate the health, medical, criminal, family, and living background of the adoptive parents. The purpose of the home study is to help the state, federal, and Chinese government officials determine whether the adoptive parents are qualified to adopt a child. This determination is based upon criteria established by state, federal, and Chinese laws and regulations.
I-800A: In order to adopt a child from another country and bring that child to live in the United States, you must first be found suitable and eligible to adopt by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). If you are adopting from a Hague Convention Country, which China is a part of, you must submit Form I-800A and your completed home study.
I-797: Approval of your I-800A from the USCIS.
Placing Agency: This is the agency that works with you on your dossier and matches you. It may be the same agency as your home study agency.
Paperchase: The process of collecting all the paperwork for the dossier.
Dossier: (pronounced doss-ee-aye)- This is your application to adopt a child from a specific country. It includes a letter requesting permission to adopt a Chinese orphan, home study, police reports, immigration approval, reference letters, medical reports, marriage certificate, birth certificates, letters of employment, and photos of your family and house.
DTC: Dossier to China. This is the date that your dossier is mailed to China.
LID: Log-In Date. This is the date that your dossier is “logged in” or received by the CCCWA.
CCCWA (previously the CCCA): China Center of Children's Welfare and Adoption. This is the central governmental agency that oversees all the international adoptions from the People’s Republic of China. The agency receives dossiers from adoptive families, as well as the files orphanages from around the country send for children ready for adoption.
Paper Pregnant: With your dossier submitted and logged in, the real waiting starts. Some people think of themselves as "paper pregnant" during this stage.
Referral - Also known informally as a match. Adoptive parents talk about receiving "the call" when their agency contacts them about a child they think will be a good match. If the family wants to move forward, the agency sends them the full referral via e-mail, which will include pictures and whatever other information and medical files are available.
Medical Review - Most agencies recommend that you review the child's file with a doctor, preferably one who works in the field of international adoption, before you accept the referral. Some families take the file to their pediatrician and others to a doctor affiliated with one of the numerous international adoption clinics in the United States. If the child has complex medical needs, the doctor who reviews the file can refer you to a specialist.
LOI: Letter of Intent. If you accept the referral, the LOI is the letter you send to the CCCWA requesting to adopt the child.
PA: Pre-Approval. After submitting your LOI, you receive pre-approval from the CCCWA to adopt the child matched to you. Typically, you will receive your PA anywhere from 1 – 14 days after you submit your LOI.
LOA: Letter of Acceptance. This is the official approval from the CCCWA to adopt your child. This can be the longest part of the wait in preparation for travel, often around 90 days.
I-800: request for a visa for you child so that he or she can enter the United States with you.
NVC: National Visa Center. After the USCIS approves your immigrant visa petition (I-800), your petition is forwarded to the NVC in New Hampshire for immigrant visa pre-processing.
Article 5: Once the U.S. consulate receives the letter from the NVC, the information is reviewed. Upon approval, the consulate issues an Article 5, which basically tells China that the U.S. is okay with the adoption and that the child will be a U.S. citizen.
TA: Travel Approval. This is the go-ahead from the CCCWA to travel to China to get your child. Your TA has 90 days before it expires, but most families leave within two to three weeks of receiving TA.
CA: Consulate Appointment. This is the date that you go to the U.S. Consulate's Office in Guangzhou, China. You fill out paperwork to get your child’s visa to enter the United States since he or she will be traveling on a Chinese passport (but will become an American citizen upon entering the United States). The date of this appointment typically determines the date you can travel home since this is the last official step you take while in China.
SWI: Social Welfare Institute. China calls "orphanages" social welfare institutes. They are more than just orphanages since they may also house the elderly and other adults who can't live independently.
Dossier: (pronounced doss-ee-aye)- This is your application to adopt a child from a specific country. It includes a letter requesting permission to adopt a Chinese orphan, home study, police reports, immigration approval, reference letters, medical reports, marriage certificate, birth certificates, letters of employment, and photos of your family and house.
DTC: Dossier to China. This is the date that your dossier is mailed to China.
LID: Log-In Date. This is the date that your dossier is “logged in” or received by the CCCWA.
CCCWA (previously the CCCA): China Center of Children's Welfare and Adoption. This is the central governmental agency that oversees all the international adoptions from the People’s Republic of China. The agency receives dossiers from adoptive families, as well as the files orphanages from around the country send for children ready for adoption.
Paper Pregnant: With your dossier submitted and logged in, the real waiting starts. Some people think of themselves as "paper pregnant" during this stage.
Referral - Also known informally as a match. Adoptive parents talk about receiving "the call" when their agency contacts them about a child they think will be a good match. If the family wants to move forward, the agency sends them the full referral via e-mail, which will include pictures and whatever other information and medical files are available.
Medical Review - Most agencies recommend that you review the child's file with a doctor, preferably one who works in the field of international adoption, before you accept the referral. Some families take the file to their pediatrician and others to a doctor affiliated with one of the numerous international adoption clinics in the United States. If the child has complex medical needs, the doctor who reviews the file can refer you to a specialist.
LOI: Letter of Intent. If you accept the referral, the LOI is the letter you send to the CCCWA requesting to adopt the child.
PA: Pre-Approval. After submitting your LOI, you receive pre-approval from the CCCWA to adopt the child matched to you. Typically, you will receive your PA anywhere from 1 – 14 days after you submit your LOI.
LOA: Letter of Acceptance. This is the official approval from the CCCWA to adopt your child. This can be the longest part of the wait in preparation for travel, often around 90 days.
I-800: request for a visa for you child so that he or she can enter the United States with you.
NVC: National Visa Center. After the USCIS approves your immigrant visa petition (I-800), your petition is forwarded to the NVC in New Hampshire for immigrant visa pre-processing.
Article 5: Once the U.S. consulate receives the letter from the NVC, the information is reviewed. Upon approval, the consulate issues an Article 5, which basically tells China that the U.S. is okay with the adoption and that the child will be a U.S. citizen.
TA: Travel Approval. This is the go-ahead from the CCCWA to travel to China to get your child. Your TA has 90 days before it expires, but most families leave within two to three weeks of receiving TA.
CA: Consulate Appointment. This is the date that you go to the U.S. Consulate's Office in Guangzhou, China. You fill out paperwork to get your child’s visa to enter the United States since he or she will be traveling on a Chinese passport (but will become an American citizen upon entering the United States). The date of this appointment typically determines the date you can travel home since this is the last official step you take while in China.
SWI: Social Welfare Institute. China calls "orphanages" social welfare institutes. They are more than just orphanages since they may also house the elderly and other adults who can't live independently.
There are a lot of terms that you need to know when trying to adopt a child. Me and my wife are thinking about adopting because we want to give a child a home that doesn't have one of their own. Good to know that "LOI" in adoption terms stands for Letter of Intent. I would have never guessed that ever. http://www.adoptglobal.org
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