Your Dossier to China
Required Documents:
With any question about your dossier or your adoption, PLEASE contact your agency for more information. We have provided the following merely as additional information and are not responsible for any errors in its completeness or accuracy.
The "official" list of requirements may be found on the Chinese Centre for Adoption Affairs (CCAA) website (although some adoption agencies may have additional documents required).
Some of these required documents, and the San Diego County source for each document, are:
- Letter of Intent to Adopt to the CCAA: This is your letter to the CCAA specifying your intent to adopt. Please check with your agency concerning specific requirements.
- Birth Certificate (necessary for each applicant)
San Diego County Birth Certificates may be obtained at the Offices of the San Diego County Assessor/Recorder/Clerk. [Forms]
Information about obtaining Birth Certificates from other areas may be found on the Assistant Stork's Vital Records website
- Proof of Current Marital Status, which will include one of the following: Single/Never Married Letter, Marriage Certificate, Divorce Decree, Spouse's Death Certificate (if single due to widowhood).
San Diego County Marriage Certificates may be obtained at the Offices of the San Diego County Assessor/Recorder/Clerk. [Forms]
San Diego County Death Certificates may be obtained at the Offices of the San Diego County Assessor/Recorder/Clerk.
Divorce Decrees are typically available from the Clerk of Superior Court in county where divorce was granted. In San Diego county, they are usually available through the San Diego Superior Courts
- Letter of Employment: Required for each working parent (applicant)
- Net Worth Statement
- Health Examination Form(s): Required by CCAA for each household member age 18 or over
- Police Clearance (Domestic) - (also known as Certificate of Good Conduct)
Required by CCAA for each household member age 18 or over
These reports are available from the
- San Diego County Sheriff's Office
- Licensing Division.
- 9621 Ridgehaven Court
- San Diego, CA 92142
- Contact them at (858)974-2020 for an application.
- Homestudy: Provided by your Homestudy and/or Adoption Agency
- USCIS Documents: The China Center of Adoption Affairs (CCAA) requires all families to work with an agency that is both U.S. Hague accredited and a CCAA-licensed agency.
- San Diego Office of the USCIS
Excerpts from this website:- Adoption Petitions:
In person inquiries: Tuesdays between 8:00 AM and 12:00 PM.
If you are not able to come to the office during that time, you must submit questions regarding adoption petitions in writing to:
Adoption/Orphan Officer
USCIS San Diego District Office
880 Front Street, Suite 1209
San Diego, CA 92101
Fax: (619) 557-5550
- Passport - Copies of the photo and signature pages of each applicant's passport.
Information about obtaining your Passport from the US State Department.
- Photos of the applicants and their home: Please contact your agency about specific requirements.
- Copy of Naturalization Certificate of each Naturalized applicant (if applicable)
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Notarization of your Documents:
This Notary Referral Directory is maintained by the National Notary Association of notaries throughout the US. This directory also indicates whether the notary is willing to "travel" (which is very useful for notarizing your physical examination forms). There are also notaries in some locations who will provide their services *free* to adoptive parents, so don't be afraid to ask! (And if you are a notary in San Diego County, please consider adding this service for adoptive families -- just think what an impact you could have helping to unite children and families!) |
State Certification of your Documents:
California Secretary of State's Authentication Information
Documents submitted for state certification must be current certified copies (e.g., Birth and Marriage Certificates) or must have been notarized by a current California Notary Public.
For documents that have been notarized by a non-California Notary Public, please see the Assistant Stork's Vital Records website for the appropriate Secretary of State contact. |
Consular Authentication of your Documents:
Visa Office of the Chinese Embassy for information about Visa applications and Document Authentication
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