Adoption Information: The People’s Republic of China
Please see the Department of State’s People’s Republic of China Intercountry Adoption Information webpage for the most current information on the People’s Republic of China (PRC) policy affecting intercountry adoption from the PRC. USCIS and the Department of State continue to monitor the situation, and ongoing efforts are being made by the Department of State to press for additional information. As information becomes available, we will inform prospective adoptive parents of any updates.
The PRC’s Ministry of Civil Affairs informed the U.S. Department of State that as of Aug. 28, 2024, the PRC will no longer “carry out foreign adoption work,” with very limited exceptions. The PRC’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed this change in a press briefing Sept. 5, 2024.
What this means for prospective adoptive parents:
The PRC’s Ministry of Civil Affairs confirmed they have finished processing all cases with previously issued travel authorizations. The Ministry of Civil Affairs will not continue to process additional intercountry adoptions at any stage.
According to the PRC’s Ministry of Civil Affairs, foreigners may still be able to adopt stepchildren and children of “collateral relatives” within three generations in the PRC, if they meet other eligibility requirements.
We continue to accept and process Form I-800A, Application for Determination of Suitability to Adopt a Child from a Convention Country; Form I-800, Petition to Classify Convention Adoptee as an Immediate Relative; and Form I-800A, Supplement 3, Request for Action on Approved Form I-800A, filed by prospective adoptive parents intending to adopt children from the PRC. However, unless you meet an exception above, you will not be able to complete the intercountry adoption process in the PRC. PRC authorities have indicated that Civil Affairs Departments across the PRC will no longer carry out foreign adoption work.
If you have filed a Form I-800A indicating that you intend to adopt from the PRC and you wish to change the country you are approved to adopt from, please see the Change of Country webpage for more information.
Please see the Frequently Asked Questions: Intercountry Adoption from the People’s Republic of China below for more information about USCIS case processing.
For more country-specific information, please refer to the Department of State’s intercountry adoption Country Information page or contact your adoption service provider.
Q: Is intercountry adoption between the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the United States possible?
A: No. Intercountry adoption between the PRC and the United States is not currently possible, with very limited exceptions (see below). The PRC’s Ministry of Civil Affairs announced that as of Aug. 28, 2024, the PRC will no longer carry out foreign adoption work.
Q: Are there any exceptions to the discontinuation of intercountry adoptions from the PRC?
A: The PRC’s Ministry of Civil Affairs has indicated that foreigners may still be able to adopt stepchildren and children of “collateral relatives” within three generations. Qualify for an exception must still meet all Hague Adoption Convention eligibility requirements. Prospective adoptive parents who qualify for an exception must still meet all Hague Adoption Convention eligibility requirements. For more information about the exception, please refer to the Department of State’s Country Information page or contact your adoption service provider.
Q: Why did the PRC discontinue its intercountry adoption program?
A: We cannot speculate on the reasons for the PRC’s Ministry of Civil Affairs’ decision. In a press conference Sept. 5, 2024, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning stated, "The Chinese government has adjusted its cross-border adoption policy. Hence after [Aug. 28, 2024], apart from the adoption of a child or stepchild from one’s collateral relatives by blood of the same generation and up to the third degree of kinship by foreigners coming to China, China will not send children abroad for adoption. This is also in line with the spirit of relevant international covenants.” Neither the Ministry of Civil Affairs nor the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have provided substantive reasons for this decision.
Q: I already began the process of adoption from the PRC and have been matched with a child. Will I be able to continue the process to bring this child to the United States?
A: No. The PRC has finished processing all cases with previously issued travel authorizations. Unless you meet an exception, the PRC will not continue processing cases that were not complete as of Aug. 28, 2024. The Department of State continues to advocate for pending adoption cases involving U.S. families to be processed to completion. However, it remains unclear whether PRC will eventually allow any of these cases to proceed.
Q: I already began the process of adoption from the PRC. Can I change my suitability approval to pursue adoption of a child from a different Hague Convention country now?
A: Yes. If you have already filed, or if you still have a valid approval of a Form I-800A, Application for Determination of Suitability to Adopt a Child from a Convention Country, that specifies the PRC as the country you intend to adopt from, you are allowed to request a change of Hague Convention country using Form I-800A, Supplement 3. Please visit the Change of Country page for more information. Your first and second requests to change the Hague Convention country do not require a filing fee. There is a filing fee for third and subsequent change of country requests. You can find the filing fee for Form I-800A, Supplement 3, by visiting our Fee Schedule page.
Q: I already began the process of adoption from the PRC. Can I adopt a child from an orphan (non-Hague) country?
A: If you filed Form I-800A and wish to pursue an adoption from a non-Hague country instead, you must file a new Form I-600A or Form I-600 concurrent (or combination) filing with fee to switch to the non-Hague process. Please visit the Change of Country page for more information.
Q: I am a U.S. citizen currently living in the PRC. Can I adopt while living in the PRC?
A: There is an exception for foreigners who are adopting stepchildren or children of “collateral relatives” within three generations in the PRC, as described above. If you meet this exception, you may be eligible to adopt from the PRC, if you meet other Hague Adoption Convention eligibility requirements.
Q: Since the PRC is no longer processing intercountry adoptions, will USCIS also stop processing intercountry adoptions forms for the PRC?
A: No. We continue to accept and process Form I-800A, Application for Determination of Suitability to Adopt a Child from a Convention Country; Form I-800, Petition to Classify Convention Adoptee as an Immediate Relative; and Form I-800A, Supplement 3, Request for Action on Approved Form I-800A, filed by prospective adoptive parents intending to adopt children from the PRC. However, unless you meet the exceptions listed above, you may not be able to complete the intercountry adoption process in the PRC. Chinese authorities have indicated that Civil Affairs Departments across the PRC will no longer work on foreign adoptions.
Q: Since the PRC is no longer processing intercountry adoptions, can I receive a refund from USCIS for my filing fees?
A: Fees submitted to USCIS are generally non-refundable regardless of the ultimate decision on the benefit request or how long it takes to issue a decision. If you filed a Form I-800A Application for Determination of Suitability to Adopt a Child from a Convention Country, you may submit a request to change to another Convention Country without a fee. There are fee exemptions for first and second changes of country if you wish to pursue adoption in another Hague Convention country.
Q: Can I withdraw my application or petition? How do I do that?
A: Yes, a prospective adoptive parent or their attorney or accredited representative of record may withdraw their application or petition at any time until a child is admitted to the United States. Submit a written request to the USCIS National Benefits Center to withdraw your request. Please note that we do not refund fees for withdrawals. However, you may submit a fee-exempt first or second change of country request if you wish to pursue an adoption in another Hague Convention country.
For more country-specific information, see the Department of State’s intercountry adoption Country Information page or contact your individual adoption service provider.