NewsNotes (Recent changes and occasional items
of short-term interest. Posted items remain here as long as they
seem useful.)
New CCAA adoption requirements (effective
May 1, 2007)
April. 27,
2007 ---- A
summary from multiple sources describes new CCAA restrictions
to be applied to foreigners adopting from China.
Dealing with ethnic issues relative
to VPI campus assault
April. 20,
2007 ---- Here are two brief
articles which should be helpful to parents of Asian children
in helping children and young people deal with their feelings
and other people's expressions of ethnic association regarding
the shootings on campus Monday. <http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-minorities19apr19,0,1948985.story?track=ntothtml>
and <http://www.rainbowkids.com/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=481>.
I-600A
April. 8,
2005 ---- USCIS begins new
version of I-600A application form and adds some requirements.
Download the form at <http://www.immigration.gov/graphics/formsfee/forms/index.htm>.
Citizenship Certificate now automatically
issued
Feb. 15,
2004 ---- Effective January
20, 2004, USCIS began its program of automatic issuing of the
U.S. Certificate of Citizenship to new arrivals, provided they
had an IR-3 visa. Some parents arriving as early as Jan. 16 reported
receiving the certificate. The certificate is mailed to the recipient
within 45 days of arrival in the U.S and has no fee. The program
is not retroactive, so those arriving before January 20 (or some,
as noted, who arrived a few days earlier) must apply (with N600
form) for the certificate to receive it.
Citizenship application form changed
to N600
June 27,
2003 ---- On an unspecified
recent date, BCIS dropped the N643 Form from its website and
switched to using the N600 Form for application for the Citizenship
Certificate. (Go to the BCIS listing on this site
to use the link to the N600 Form download.)
BCIS (Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration
Services) now has most of the old INS functions.
March 2,
2003 ---- The reorganization
of INS as the BCIS, under the new U.S. Department of Homeland
Security is in effect. A new internet address, www.immigration.gov,
replaces the INS addresses. (Links on China Connection's site
in the "Government"
section are updated.)
INS reinstates previous higher fees
for I-600A application ("I-600A petition") and Citizenship
Certificate Application (N-643)
February
28, 2003 ---- The fee reductions
of last month (see news item below) are no longer valid as of
Feb. 27, 2003, INS reported.
Article on Child Citizenship Act posted
June 6, 2002 ---- This article on the Child Citizenship
Act of 2000, the current law, is from an issue of China Connection
newsletter and posted here because of an apparent need for the
information on the part of China-adoptive parents.
CCAA website still under revision, but
documents available
Apr.1, 2002 ----- See the CCAA
listing onthis website for an address accessing the English
documents or to read some of the CCAA documents which are on
China Connection's site.
INS fee increases to be effective Feb.
19, 2002.
Jan. 22,
2002 ----- INS fee increases
will up the cost of the I-600A application, fingerprinting and
Citizenship Certificate application (N-643), among other things.
Fees are listed (present & proposed) at <http://www.ins.usdoj.gov/graphics/formsfee/feechart.htm>.
For downloading forms, use INS
links [revised for BCIS] on this site.
CCAA exempts special-needs children
from quota system.
Dec. 3, 2001 ----- CCAA's statment (released Nov.
28) states that s-n children will be exempted from the quota
limits (of number of dossiers an agency may submit), that "Green
Passage" expedited processing will apply to s-n cases, briefly
outlines a process for s-n adoptions and says that s-n adopters
will need to submit a medical treatment plan for the child and
show that the family has the extra resources (emotional, psychological,
material) to care for the child. The statement was posted to
CCAA's website on or
just before Dec. 3.
Address listing of children's institutions
in China compiled.
Nov. 9, 2001 ----- A listing
of addresses (linked from the Directories page) of many of
the children's welfare institutions in China (often referred
to in the West as "orphanages") is now available.
CCAA's Quota Statement (Oct. 12, 2001).
Nov. 6, 2001 ----- CCAA's statement to agencies states
that agencies will be given a quota (effective Dec. 1, 2001)
based upon 3 past years of submissions (to CCAA), that applications
from single parents will be limited to 5% of total applications,
and that agencies must be caught up on post-adoption reporting
by March 21, 2002 and should observe existing formatting guidelines
for dossiers. The statement may be seen
here. Parents may contribute to agency comment.
Advice available for how to speak to
children about distressing news.
September
14, 2001 ----- Several
websites provide professional advice for parents on speaking
with --and listening to--children when there is distressing news
(atrocities, accidents, natural disasters or other news distrssing
to the child). Two of these websites are <http://www.ces.purdue.edu/terrorism/children/index.html>
and <http://www.drspock.com/topic/0,1504,677,00.html>.
They offer straightforward, point by point, advice.
CCAA Polcy Statement Posted.
June 28,
2001 ----- CCAA's website
has posted the English translation of a statement (dated June
18, 2001) describing policy regarding certain points including
those following below. The effective date is stated as August
1, 2001.
UNTIL certain terms and passages
in the English translation can be clarified by communication
with Chinese-speaking staff of a few agencies, parents should
NOT assume they have a final reading of the CCAA's policy specifics.
The statement is on this site
and at CCAA's webpage, http://www.china-ccaa.org/ccae-zcwt.htm.
(The following "interpretations"
are intended to state what can be supported by the English text
from CCAA, leaving out conditions needing clarification. This
is why we are calling them "limited." --ed.)
1) applicant age limits
(Our limited interpretation: Applicants 30 through 44 will have
priority for assignment of children one year and younger; appplicants
50 to 55 will, "in general," be assigned a child of
age 3 or older; children between age one and 3 will generally
be assigned to applicants of age 45 to 50. (Applicants above
age 55 appear to be limited to adopting stepchildren or specified
"collateral relatives." --ed.)
2) family size limit
(Our limited interpretation: a family with 5 minors living with
the parents will not, "in principle," be referred a
child for adoption. Priority will be given to families who have
up to 2 children. --ed.)
3) singles
(Our limited interpretation: couples will be given priority,
but singles may adopt. --ed.)
U.S. Consulate (Guangzhou) will no longler
require the I-864 (Affidavit of Support) if both parents travel.
June16, 2001 ----- The I-864 form and tax returns
(3-years) and pay stub, which are supporting documents for the
I-864, are no longer required, effective immediately, except
in the case in which only one of an adopting couple travels.
If only one of an adopting couple travels, the I-864 requirement
is unchanged. ---from a Consulate post -----(Tips for those who still must file the
I-864/A or I-864A are here.)
CCAA to provide developmental and more
extensive medical information at referral.
May 3, 2001 ----- The China Center for Adoption
Affairs has announced it will provide more detailed referral
medical information and has also specified developmental information
to be included with the referral information sent to prospective
parents. A CCAA statement is at http://www.china-ccaa.org/sy-xcse.htm.
INS also posts Q&A sheet and statement
on "Child Citizenship Act of 2000"
February
27, 2001 ----- The Q&A
fact sheet isat http://www.ins.usdoj.gov/graphics/publicaffairs/factsheets/chowto.htm.
The "Backgrounder"
is at http://www.ins.usdoj.gov/graphics/publicaffairs/backgrounds/cbground.htm.
"Child Citizenship Act of 2000"
Q&A sheet is posted by State Department
February
26, 2001 ----- See the
Q&A-style fact sheet and a general statement at State's website.
The Q&A
sheet is at http://travel.state.gov/childcitfaq.html and
has a link to the main page, from which the descriptive "Notice to the Press"
can be accessed (http://travel.state.gov/childcit.html) as well
as passport information.
(And see June 6, 2002 entry linking to overview article on the
Act.)
CCAA posts revised guidelines for homestudy
and dossier
Jan. 5, 2001 ----- Revised CCAA requirements add
new items and are generally more exacting. The new
CCAA guidelines go into effect February 1, 2001.
CCAA announces speed-up and document
requirement
Nov. 29,
2000 ----- Three CCAA
(China Center of Adoption Affairs) policy changes are announced.
----Beginning December 1, 2000:
1. there will be no required waiting period between
issuance of travel permission and adoption finalization. (This
means the 15-day waiting period is dropped.)
2. CCAA will use express mail to send travel permission
to adoption agencies.
3. Adoptive parents must present their ORIGINAL travel
permission document
in the province at the time of adoption. No copies will
be accepted. (This refers to the "notice of coming to China
for adoption" document from CCAA.)
Consulate at Guangzhou posts new security
procedures, entrance instructions and procedure for facilitators
June 2, 2000 ----- Beginning Monday, June 5, 2000
ALL American Citizen Services' (ACS), INS,
and Adoption Unit applicants (for the child's visa) shall use
the Consular Visa entrance, the third doorway from the wrought
iron automobile access gate. The door has a sign above it that
reads in both English and Chinese "Entrance." If one
is facing the door from the outside of the Consulate, he or she
would see a number "2" on the left side of the door
and a number "3" on the right side of the door. In
the future, a sign will be posted marked, "ACS, INS and
Adoption Unit applicants."
Security inspection will be conducted
there rather than in the Consulate lobby and may take more
time than previously. All visitors including U.S. citizens,
entering any official facility are screened and searched with
a metal detector. All packages, briefcases, purses, etc., are
searched.
Starting June 5th, facilitators
or traveling agency representatives should directly approach
the window to the immediate left of the door marked "Entrance"
with a picture form of identification (of facilitator).
The facilitator should tell the guard manning the window the
name of his group and their appointment time. The security
guards will process all individuals and groups in the order that
they arrive regardless of scheduled appointment times. As
such it is vital that groups be on time to their interviews.
It is recommended that adoptive parents not bring their child's
stroller. The consulate understands the comfort and convenience
provided by a stroller, however, all strollers brought onto the
compound must be searched, slowing the access process even more.
(Full procedural statement is on
separate page.) ---from a Consulate release
Consulate at Guangzhou requires agencies
to include Guangzhou case numbers with request for visa interview
June 2, 2000 ----- When an agency requests a visa
appointment, the family's Guangzhou
case number should be included in the request along with the
parents' names. Guangzhou case numbers start with the three letters
GUZ followed by 10 numerals. For example, GUZ1999060118 or GUZ2000060119.
[Editor's note: This number is found below the Adoption Unit's
signature line in the consulate's correspondence which is included
in the "brown envelope" sent to the parents from the
consulate.]-------from a Consulate release
Consulate at Guangzhou extends scheduling
lead time, requires copy of "travel permission" letter
before setting visa interview
Dec. 21,
1999 ----- The U.S. Consulate
will require (from the parents' agency) a copy of the travel
letter when making the appointment (beginning January 1,
2000). The consulate stated this measure is taken to avoid "speculative
appointment requests."
Appointments will not be scheduled
more than eight weeks in advance of the interview date requested
(unless an agency can establish that there is a special case
calling for exception). This is an extension of the previously
announced six-week limit , a change intended to ease planning
of travel and accommodations. -------------from
a Consulate release
Consulate at Guangzhou tightens procedures
Dec. 1 for visa interview
Nov. 17,
1999 ----- The U.S. Consulate
at Guangzhou has announced that, starting Dec. 1, 1999, parents
must have all papers and forms completed (including notarization
of the I-864 or I-864a) and submit them when they arrive at the
consulate for their visa interview. If papers are incomplete,
parents will not be interviewed.
The consulate emphasized that,
"in order to bring our operation in line with the Guangzhou
Immigrant Visa office, the form 864/864a
must now be FULLY COMPLETED, SIGNED AND NOTARIZED IN THE U.S."
Parents are advised to "Please pay particular attention
to the following [part of the I-864 document] which seems to
cause the most problems: PART 4, Sections D&E ...."
(Update
note: See June 16, 2001-dated note above re. changed regulation
to see if you are required to submit these forms.)
Parents are reminded to bring
only FEDERAL tax returns*, not
state returns. [Note on tax return follows immediately below.
--ed.]
---- --------from a Consulate release
*Note re. tax returns: The
head of the U.S. consulate's Adopted Children Immigrant Visa
Unit (Guangzhou) answered an inquiry in September, 1999, about
the possible submission of of tax "transcripts" to
the consulate to meet the INS requirement of submitting tax returns.
He stated that a tax "transcript" does not count
as a tax return and does not, therefore, meet the documentary
requirement parents must meet to have their child's visa interview.
He stated that a return consists of "all schedules, W-2s,
and forms" as submitted to the IRS. --ed.
(Added note of April, 2001: The above position was softened by
Arlissa Reynolds, who succeded the officer who provided the above
position. See the "softened" position on tax "transcripts" on the page discussing the I-864 and
I-864A forms on this site.)
Consulate at Guangzhou warns again that
UAD is not adequate to obtain visa for adopted child and cites
requirements
Oct. 26,
1999 ---- Parents and
their agencies are reminded again by the Consulate that they
need to request three specific "older generation" notary
documents to obtain their child's U.S. visa--and that they need
to be sure that the new UAD (Unified Adoption Decree, also referred
to as the new Adoption Registration Certificate) which China
is using as a replacement for the 3 former documents, is free
of errors and is provided with an official translation.
The three "older generation"
documents (as were formerly issued) are (1.) the notarized and
translated certificate of birth; (2.) the notarized and translated
certificate of abandonment; and (3.) the notarized and translated
certificate of adoption.
The certificate of abandonment,
the consular officer reiterated, must state
(quote)--
1. The exact date and location where the child was found, including
the
street address, town, and city as available;
2. The exact date the child was
sent to the orphanage, and by whom; and
3. An explanation of who took
care of the child in the interim should there
be a gap between the dates of #1 and #2 above;
[We are] unable to classify the
child as an "orphan" based on information contained
in the UAD....
(end quote)
The Consulate also warned that
a UAD which has been changed (corrected) cannot be accepted without
proper legal certification of the change(s).
The Consulate and the U.S. Embassy
in Beijing have informed the Chinese Ministry of Civil Affairs
of the problems of the UAD relative to the legal requirements
for issuing a child's visa. ------
--------from a Consulate
release
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