Intercountry adoption between the PRC and the United States is not currently possible, with very limited exceptions (see below).  The PRC Ministry of Civil Affairs announced that the PRC will no longer carry out intercountry adoptions as of August 28, 2024, except for certain cases involving relatives (see below).

Relative Adoption

The PRC Ministry of Civil Affairs indicated that foreigners may still be able to adopt stepchildren and children of “collateral relatives” within three generations in the PRC.  The PRC specified that a prospective adoptive parent may only adopt a child to whom they are related by blood of the same generation within three degrees of kinship.  The PRC clarified that at least one prospective adoptive parent must: 

• be related to the child by blood (not marriage),

• share a common grandparent with a biological parent of the child, and

• adopt only children of siblings and first cousins. 

Prospective adoptive parents who qualify for an exception must still meet all Hague Adoption Convention requirements.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.

To bring an adopted child to the United States from the PRC, you must meet certain suitability and eligibility requirements.  USCIS determines who is suitable and eligible to adopt a child from another country and bring that child to live in the United States under U.S. immigration law.  For more information, please see USCIS webpages on suitability determinations and USCIS policy guidance on adoptive parent suitability determinations. 

Additionally, a child must meet the definition of a Convention adoptee under U.S. immigration law in order to be eligible to immigrate to the United States with an IH-3 or IH-4 immigrant visa. 

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