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- Graphs for 2005 - 2007 -- See below.

The following graph projects the trend of 2001's referral wait time onto 2002 and shows (with data points in green for 2002, pink for 2003 and after) the extent to which CCAA's efforts countered that trend. The quota CCAA imposed on new dossiers (near the end of 2001) allowed referral times to shorten once the backlog had been processed (which we predicted would be around midyear, 2003).

PLEASE note that the projection was intended simply to show what could have been expected had CCAA not changed procedures. The quota regulated incoming applications to allow the CCAA backlog to be reduced and was paced to take over a year to reduce waiting time below the 13-month mark. --B.C.

- 2005-Present: Waiting Time

-- 14 months= 426 days
xx15 months= 456 days
xx16 months= 486 days
xx17 months= 517 days
xx17 months= 517 days
xx20 months= 608 days
xx22 months= 669 days
xx24 months= 730 days

Discussion Once the I-171H is issued, some time elapses before the applicant's dossier arrives in Beijing and is logged-in. The "referral wait" follows. Between referral and travel date, an average of 40 days elapses. Another 10 days (rough minimum) elapses prior to the child's consulate visa appointment. The age of the I-171H document at the completion of the consulate visit is the total of the "referral wait," the 50-day (or so) block and whatever time elapsed between its issue and the dossier's log-in in Beijing. China's CCAA imposed a quota on incoming dossiers, beginning December 1, 2001. The quota was officially lifted one year later, but with a warinig to agencies to avoid large increases in submissions. The singles quota was raised 60% at that time (beginning of 2002), allowing agencies to sumbit 8% of their dossiers in behalf of singles, up from the previous 5% limit.,-------B.C.   I-171H Expiration Issue In late 2001 and early 2002, parents appealed to INS (now restructured as Citizenship and Immigration Services, USCIS) to extent the validity period of the I-171 to two years, but INS officials responded (Feb., 2002) to say that INS thinks it is not in the best interest of the child to extend the validity period of the I-171 another 6 months (from the current 18 mo.), since 18 months already is a lengthy period, considering changes that may occur in a family's circumstances. --BC

- The editors suggest: While you wait ... -- Be productive. -- Make lists. -- Assemble a basic library. --- (See booklist.) -- Learn some Chinese. --- (See Vocabulary Cards for China-adoptive Travelers.) ----   CD is optional  -- Newsletter: Current information, --- book reviews and cultural --- information (seasonal --- traditions, language, --- Chinese media): ----- ---------

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