ACIVU notice -- new policy on making appointments

Dear Adoption Agency,

We are writing to notify you of a change in the policy regarding appointments for adoptions at the U.S. Consulate in Guangzhou.

Until recently, we allowed agencies to make appointments for their clients even if the approval of an adoption petition, extension, or renewal of fingerprints is still pending. This will no longer be allowed. As a result of changes under the Hague Adoption Convention, U.S. Consulate Guangzhou will only schedule adoptions appointments for applicants who have BOTH an approved I-600A or I-800 form AND a current fingerprint clearance from the FBI. Please attach copies of each family’s I-171H or I-797C form as well as proof of fingerprint clearance to all of your future appointment requests.

We anticipate that this change will cause some inconvenience to your clients, and we apologize for that. But we have been dealing with a rise in the number of cases of American parents coming to adopt children in China before their paperwork is approved. In the worst case scenario, this leaves a family stranded in China, unable to return to the United States without leaving their baby behind. This is a situation we all wish to avoid. Please explain to your clients that our new policy is effectively a guarantee that when they do come to China to adopt their child, they will be issued an immigrant visa for the child without any further delays, and will be able to return home as scheduled. The change is required by the Hague convention, under which no parents will be allowed to travel to China until all of the necessary paperwork is completed and confirmed.

We encourage adoption agencies to make sure they are filing extensions and fingerprint updates WELL IN ADVANCE of receiving the referral of a child from the China Center of Adoption Affairs. This way, everything will be in place when the referral comes, allowing the adopting family to pick up their child without further complications. 

In order to give agencies time to adjust to this change, U.S. Consulate Guangzhou will implement the new policy for appointments beginning September 15, 2008.

Please feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns. Thank you for your cooperation and patience.

Sincerely,

Adoptions Unit
US Consulate Guangzhou