Adopted Children Immigrant Visa Unit

What's New

• China Adoptions Now Governed by Hague Adoption Convention – July 11, 2008
• Hague Convention Adoption and Non-Hague Convention Adoption Cases Checklists update – July 11, 2008
• New form of Adoption Checklist for Agencies - Jun 19, 2008
• Reminder:  Please wait for confirmation of appointment date before making travel reservations  - April 8, 2008
• Panel Physicians Update  - April 8, 2008
• U.S. Immigrant Visa Application Fee will Increase on JANUARY 1, 2008
• The New Version of Form I-604 (Determination on Child for Adoption)

• Adoption Appointment Confirmation Policy-January 2007

• A New Form for IR3 Cases-I864W-January 2007
• Affidavit of Support Forms – August 2006
• Medical Evaluations – August 2006
• Vaccination Affidavits – August 2006
• Oath Taking Ceremony – August 2006
• Office Relocation – August 2005

General Information

One Of 7906 Children Adopted In 2005

Hello and welcome! U.S. Consulate General Guangzhou's adoptions unit issues all immigrant visas to adopted orphans from mainland China. Adoptions from China currently account for more than one third of all international adoptions to the United States, making Guangzhou's ACIVU the largest adoption unit in the world (by volume). In 2005, Guangzhou's ACIVU processed 7906 visas for adopted orphans from China.

The rewards are obvious. However, potential adoptive parents should know that adopting Chinese orphans can be expensive, time-consuming, and difficult, involving complex Chinese and U.S. legal requirements. Chinese authorities and American consular officers give each case careful consideration to ensure that parents meet the legal requirements of both countries, for the protection of the prospective adoptive parent(s), the biological parent(s), and the child. In addition, the China Adoption Law has specific provisions specifying availability of children and acceptable adoptive parents.

Please click on our "Adopting a Child from P.R.C." to begin researching this multi-phase process.

Note: Chinese authorities are extremely sensitive about the intrusion of foreign entities. Because international adoption is often a sensitive issue for host countries, any person interested in adopting a child from China should act with discretion and decorum.

Disclaimer: The information in this circular relating to the legal requirements of specific foreign countries is provided for general information only and may not be totally accurate in a particular case. Questions involving interpretation of specific foreign laws should be addressed to foreign legal counsel. The information is based on the Implementation Measures on the Adoption of Children by Foreigners in the People's Republic of China of November 13, 1993 and the China Adoption Law of April 1, 1992.