So we finally received some news to the good ole' question: "When are you getting China baby?" Well not anytime soon is the answer and will be for some time.
Rick & I have our own "theories" about why the wait is getting longer. These are only our opinions and are not supported by anyone except our knowledge of what we have read and researched on our own.
- With China becoming a richer country more couples are able to "pay" the Government a fee to have a 2nd child or adopt a child.
- Older couples who never had children are now adopting them to raise them so this child can take care of the elder couple (this is huge in China- the expectation in China is that the child completely takes care of the parents this includes financial, medical, housing, etc.)
- There is an underground of "selling babies" in China. Couples have babies and sell them to other China families for money. Of course boys cost more than girls.
- Wealthy couples are adopting another baby to raise as a future son or daughter in law for their own blood child. Since they already have a child, they have the financial means to buy one they like and raise it themselves to engage in a prearranged marriage.
- And the most heartbreaking one- people are having babies, keeping them, and raising them to sell for sex so the parents can receive the money.
Now for the record, this does not apply to ALL children in China or ALL people. It does apply enough to make a difference in the numbers of children who were previously available for international adoptions. And also other groups (single people, people over 50, gays/lesbians, overweight people, etc) are no longer allowed to adopt from China either. So the Chinese government makes it rulings and we must go along with it.
Our adoption Agency here in the US (CCAI) has been flooded with calls and emails from fellow 'waiting families' like ourselves about how long the wait is and how it gets getting longer vs shorter over time. This is what they have seen based on the longer time frames:
- families can continue to wait it out no matter how long it takes
- families can close their file, get no money back, and most importantly loose the opportunity to adopt a beautiful baby from China
- pursue a special needs baby with the Waiting Child Program
- choose a concurrent adoption (meaning start the process to adopt another child from another country) while you continue to wait for your China baby
Some Figures from CCAI:
There are about 24,000 dossiers (all of that paperwork we had to complete) waiting to be matched at the CCAA (China adoption agency).
The CCAA has received 300 - 450 new dossiers every month since the beginning of the year.
The CCAA has matched 400 - 600 children every month since May 2007. In recent months, about half of matches are from the Waiting Child Program.
Every month, about 150 - 200 families transfer from the traditional program to the Waiting Child Program.
On average, about 150 - 200 families close their files every month.
There are about 24,000 dossiers (all of that paperwork we had to complete) waiting to be matched at the CCAA (China adoption agency).
The CCAA has received 300 - 450 new dossiers every month since the beginning of the year.
The CCAA has matched 400 - 600 children every month since May 2007. In recent months, about half of matches are from the Waiting Child Program.
Every month, about 150 - 200 families transfer from the traditional program to the Waiting Child Program.
On average, about 150 - 200 families close their files every month.
So with all this information, we decided to go with the first option and wait it out. We received our Log in Date (LID) in Sept 2007, so we've been waiting a little over a year now. Back in 2005 when we went to China, we knew we wanted to adopt a baby girl and bring her home. In our minds it was never about having a baby girl by 2008, 2009, etc. It was about bringing our baby girl to a country where she is respected, will have liberty and freedom in our life and be surrounded by family and friends who love and care for her. So with that said, we will continue to enjoy our time with Jonah and wait for when we receive notice to go and get our baby girl.
