Question 4: The Cost?

*Written at the beginning of March.

I was out and about last week and was talking to someone about the adoption.  In the course of the conversation, this woman commented that China makes a lot of money off their kids.  In the adoption process so far, we've had a few (a very few) strange comments.  I'm new to this so I don't have a response already formed and ready for when people say certain things.  (A woman asked me if I could no longer have children of my own a few weeks ago.  It really took me off guard.  I was not only surprised by the question, but had no idea how to respond.)

So, I'm thinking that as questions come up, I'd like to take the time to write out what my response should have been... or would be for the next time someone asks.  It will be good practice for me.  Plus, it will help educate anyone who reads this blog about adoption.  I'm sure that some questions are pretty common.  We hope that by using this blog as a platform, we can answer people's questions in a way that helps everyone become more informed.  Ultimately, our goal is to protect our children so that they can receive the best love and support and encouragement possible.

At the same time, it's kind of like when you're pregnant and someone makes a comment about your size or that you must be having twins or asks you when you're due but you have already given birth... some questions sting a little, so hopefully I can address those here too.  But we all know pregnant women inevitably get comments about their size and we can sympathize and help them laugh (cry) it off... so I may need people to help me do that with adoption comments... I just don't know what they will all be yet.

SO, without further ado, I'd like to address the woman's comment about China making lots of money off their kids.

China making lots of money on kids is incorrect.  For a lot of reasons.

First of all, making money on the adoption process by any country would be considered one, unethical, and two, child buying/trafficking.  Phil and I and our agencies are completely 100% against child buying and in no way will now nor ever agree to participating in such a thing.  Now, some countries are involved in this unethical trade.  And culturally, some countries cross the line because their "fees" are arbitrary and the prospective adoptive parents (PAP) need to "tip" their way through the process.  Documents could all of a sudden be "lost" and extra money would be requested to track them down.  Or a new document is now required - costing more money.

China, however, does not go about international adoption like that.  The US does not either.  Both countries, as well as a number of other countries, are part of an international agreement called the Hague Adoption Convention.  Here is a little bit about the Hague Convention from the US Department of State's website for Intercountry Adoption:

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Understanding the Hague Convention

The Hague Adoption Convention on the Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Inter-Country Adoption (Hague Adoption Convention) is an international agreement to safeguard intercountry adoptions. Concluded on May 29, 1993 in The Hague, the Netherlands, the Convention establishes international standards of practices for intercountry adoptions. The United States signed the Convention in 1994, and the Convention entered into force for the United States in April 2008. Read thefull text of the Hague Adoption Convention.The Hague Adoption Convention applies to all adoptions between the United States and the other counties that have joined it (Convention countries). Adopting a child from a Convention country is similar in many ways to adopting a child from a country not party to the Convention. However, there are some key differences. In particular, those seeking to adopt receive greater protections if they adopt from a Convention country. (See our chartcomparing the Convention process and the non-Convention process.)Convention Facts

• It requires that countries who are party to the Convention establish a Central Authority to be the authoritative source of information and point of contact in that country. The Department of State is the U.S. Central Authority for the Convention.

• It aims to prevent the abduction, sale of, or traffic in children, and it works to ensure that intercountry adoptions are in the best interests of children.

• It recognizes intercountry adoption as a means of offering the advantage of a permanent home to a child when a suitable family has not been found in the child's country of origin. It enables intercountry adoption to take place when:
• The child has been deemed eligible for adoption by the child's country of birth; and
• Proper effort has been given to the child's adoption in its country of origin.
• It provides a formal international and intergovernmental recognition of intercountry adoption, working to ensure that adoptions under the Convention will generally be recognized and given effect in other party countries.

Keys to the Convention Process

• Accredited Adoption Agencies:
 Only adoption service providers that have been accredited on a Federal level may offer certain key adoption services for Convention adoptions. When adopting a child from a Convention country, prospective adoptive parents know that their agency has been evaluated by one of the Department of State's designated Accrediting Entities. These Accredited Entities evaluate agencies using uniform standards that work to ensure professional and ethical practices.

• Transparency:
 When adopting from a Convention country, accredited adoption agencies must itemize and disclose in writing the fees and estimated expenses associated with the adoption ahead of time. The adoption service provider is only permitted to charge for unforeseen expenses under very specific circumstances. There is also an official mechanism for lodging a complaint against an accredited agency to the Department of State.

• Adoption Certificates:
 Every child adopted from a Convention country receives a Hague Adoption Certificate or a Hague Custody Declaration. The certificate is issued by a U.S. consular officer after determining that the adoption (or grant of custody) has met the requirements of the Convention and the Intercountry Adoption Act. In Convention adoptions a U.S. consular officer also determines whether the child appears to meet the criteria for visa eligibility before the adoption is finalized (or custody is granted) in the country of origin. This will allow the parents to know ahead of time whether the child appears to be eligible to enter the United States.

• Updated Forms & Visa Categories:
 Forms I-800A and I-800 replace Forms I-600A and I-600 for Convention adoption cases. Through Form I-800A, which must be filed prior to Form I-800, prospective adoptive parent(s) gain eligibility to adopt. Prospective adoptive parent(s) will identify the country from which they will adopt on this form. Form I-800 later determines the eligibility of a particular child to be adopted into a U.S. family. Children adopted from a Convention country must meet the definition of a "Convention adoptee." New visa categories, IH-3 and IH-4, will be used in Convention adoption cases.

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Like I said, China is part of the Hague Adoption Convention.   And with that, we have very specific forms to fill out and clear costs that we know.  We were aware of all of this prior to signing our application.  And just in case we weren't aware of the amount of paperwork or the high costs, the agency went through all of this with us in an orientation.  Then in case we still weren't familiar with the process, the expectations of us and of the countries involved, and the costs, we had to do a 10+ hour training course explaining the Hague Adoption Convention.

So, that begs the question - why is it so expensive then if no is profiting off of the orphaned/abandoned children?  Maybe it would help if I lay out the costs:

Agency costs - both of the agencies we are using are non-profit agencies.  This means that all the fees are going towards actual expenses.  

Agency costs:

$300   Home study agency application fee

$250   Adoption agency application fee

$2500 Home study fee

$5000 Adoption services 

$250   China orphan care ministry

$1500 China Liaison fee

$195  Shipping costs for all documents

$50   General translation fee

$1750  Post adoption services

$70   Post adoption translation

Miscellaneous fees

$2000 Second Child agency fee

$600 China-Agency partnership fee

$250 Out of state Home study review fee when using a non-Hague accredited Agency

Out of pocket US Adoption Expenses

$102.50  Fingerprint fee

$.... Medical reports - depends on insurance coverage

$50  Passport pictures

$240  Passports for two parents

$890  Citizenship and Immigration Services Fee (for 2 adults adoption 1 child)

$195  NCFA Parent Training 

$150  International Adoption Clinic

$46 Birth Certificates

$23 Marriage license

$45  Fed Ex Fees

$65  State certifications ($5/doc) based on 13 documents

$39  Dossier County Certification 

$260 Chinese Consulate Authentication

$150 Authentication Courier fee

$350 Visas

Foreign country program fees

$1190  CCCWA Log in fee for a child when you do not have pre-approval 

$800  CCCWA Log in fee for a child when you have Pre-approval

$710  CCCWA Log in fee for reusing your dossier

$6825  Official fees (per child)... this is for a medical exam, consulate fees, child's visa, orphanage donation

$140  Special needs online processing fee

Estimated In-Country expenses while in China (for 2 people from LAX)

$3000 International flights

$2000 Hotel accommodations

$700 In-country flights

$460 Food

$500 Guide/Service fees

$1000 Transportation/Tours

$200 Guide/Driver Tips

$300 Visit to orphanage

Additional Post-Adoption costs

$480  Estimated Attorney fees/court costs 

So, depending on if we adopt one or two and how expensive things are in China when we are set to travel, the adoption can cost between $30K-$50.  

But as you can see, the money is being used for specific jobs performed by the agencies, physicians, government officials, etc.  All of those things cost money.  Just because an agency is non-profit doesn't mean that everything is free.  It means that after paying for all the services, there is no cash left over to stick in the bank.  

China does not make lots of money off their children.  They do not sell children and we are not buying children.  We have specifically chosen China because of the process - it is very straight forward and well articulated.  Yes, it's a mountain of paperwork.  Yes, it's a TON of money.  But I'd rather do paperwork and know that at the end of all of this, our child will be home with us, than do all of this worrying if we are even going to be able to adopt or are we just getting taken for a ride (and all of our money!).

Phil made a really helpful graphic for me to better understand what was expected of us financially and by when (if everything is on the fast track).  I think if you click on it, you can read it better.

I hope this is helpful to anyone wondering about International Adoption, why it costs so much, and why it may be easier to adopt from certain countries than others.  In the future, I may explain some of these things in further detail.  But this is all I have time for now.

Oh, one more thing, for a complete list of countries that are part of the Hague Adoption Convention please visit this link: Convention Countries.  Also, if you'd like to see a very concise, easy to read rundown of any country in the world and their adoption practices, click here.