The PRC is a party to the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (Hague Adoption Convention or Convention). Intercountry adoption processing in Convention countries must be done in accordance with the requirements of the Hague Adoption Convention; the U.S. implementing legislation, the Intercountry Adoption Act of 2000 (IAA); the IAA’s implementing regulations and U.S. adoption-related immigration policies; as well as the implementing legislation and regulations of the PRC. 

U.S. citizens interested in adopting children from the PRC should contact the Central Authority of the PRC to inquire about applicable laws and procedures. U.S. citizen prospective adoptive parents living in China who would like to adopt a child from the United States or from a third country should also contact the PRC’s Central Authority. See contact information below. 

General Adoption Steps

Before adopting or obtaining legal custody of a child in country [Country], you must first receive approval of your Form I-800A, Application for Determination of Suitability to Adopt a Child from a Convention Country, and provisional approval of your Form I-800, Petition to Classify Convention Adoptee as an Immediate Relative, filed on behalf of the child you intend to adopt. Please see the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website for additional information about the Hague Process. 

The consular officer will then send a letter (referred to as an “Article 5/17 Letter”) to the PRC’s Central Authority in any intercountry adoption involving U.S. citizen adoptive parents and a child from the PRC if all Convention requirements are met and the child appears eligible to immigrate to the United States. This letter will inform the PRC’s Central Authority that the parents are suitable and eligible to adopt, that the child appears eligible to enter and reside permanently in the United States, and that the U.S. Central Authority agrees that the adoption may proceed. 

Warning: Do not attempt to adopt or obtain custody of a child in the PRC before USCIS has provisionally approved your Form I-800 petition AND a U.S. consular officer issues the “Article 5/17 Letter” for your adoption case. The consular officer will make a final decision about a child’s eligibility for an immigrant visa later in the adoption process. 

Caution: Although U.S. citizens generally must follow the Hague Convention process to adopt a child from a Hague Convention country, the Family-Based Petition Process (Form I-130) may be an option for U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents to petition for their adopted child. However, U.S. citizens may file a Form I-130 for a child from a Hague Convention country only if they can establish the Convention does not apply to the adoption. There are significant differences between the Hague and the Family-Based Petition Process. For more information about specific Form I-130 requirements for adopted children, see the USCIS website and the USCIS Policy Manual, Vol. 5.

ADOPTION AUTHORITY:

People’s Republic of China
The China Center for Children’s Welfare and Adoption
16 Wang Jia Yuan Lane
Dongcheng District
Beijing, China 100027
Tel: 010-655-48998
Email: cccwa@cccwa.cn 
Internet:  https://www.cccwa.cn/  

U.S. Embassy in Beijing, The People’s Republic of China 
U.S. Embassy Beijing 
No. 55 An Jia Lou Road 
Beijing, China 100600 
Tel: (86-10) 8531-4000 
Fax: (86-10) 8531-3300 
Email: BeijingACS@state.gov 
 
U.S. Consulate General of the United States in Guangzhou 
Mailing Address: 43 Hua Jiu Road, Zhujiang New Town 
Tianhe District 
Guangzhou, China. 510623 
Physical Address: Huaxia Road, Zhujiang New Town, (near Exit B1 of the Zhujiang New Town subway station, Line 3 and Line 5), 
Tianhe District 
Guangzhou, China 
Tel: 011-86-20-3814 5000 
Email: GuangzhouA@state.gov 

Office of Children’s Issues
U.S. Department of State
CA/OCS/CI
SA-17, 9th Floor
Washington, DC 20520
Tel: 1-888-407-4747
E-mail: Adoption@state.gov
http://adoption.state.gov

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)

For questions about a pending Form I-800A application, Form I-800 petition or related supplement:

USCIS
Tel: 1-877-424-8374 (toll free); 1-913-275-5480 (local); Fax:1-913-214-5808
Email: NBC.Adoptions@uscis.dhs.gov

For other USCIS-related questions: 
USCIS Contact Center
1-800-375-5283 (TTY 1-800-767-1833)
Internet: uscis.gov