Attending the SWD briefing session

Posted by Nadine1976 (318 days ago)

My husband and I are attending the SWD briefing session in March. Does anyone know if this is the first step towards the home study? Will we need to attend any other sessions before we can start the process? I know some of these sessions are hard to get into so registering for them now would be good to know! Thanks.

Nadine

(I am based in Hong Kong)

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Posted by Mover (317 days ago)

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by Mover (317 days ago)

Hi Nadine

My husband and I attended our briefing session just before Christmas. This is the first step - at this session they will give you forms to fill out and send back - you will then receive the full forms. At that point, but not before, you will be given a form which will set out the upcoming workshops. You have to attend 2 of these. Fill in the form straight away to register. You cannot register for the workshops before attending the intiial briefing and filling in the form you are given at that briefing.

The home visit stage comes after you have attended the workshops, filled in all the full forms and had your medicals.

Best of luck!

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by Nadine1976 (317 days ago)

Thanks Mover! That's sounds all easy enough. Good luck with everything and let's hope for a speedy process!!

Nadine

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by sunniefaith (317 days ago)

Hi Nadine,

There are in total 3 workshops that you have to attend. At the end of the 3rd workshop, they'll give you a form for both you and your husband to fill. After filling up the forms, and attaching all the required documents and the medical exams, then, your case worker will get in touch with you. This part can take a little long as they do ask for lots of documents and it can go back and forth for a couple of weeks. Oh the form, it can be quite tedious.

Next step, there's a couple interview, where you and your husband will be interviewed by your case worker. It's not really an interview, more like a sharing session where you talk about the reasons for adopting and your future plans. After the couple interview, there will be an individual interview when you and your husband will be called in individually. The case worker will prob ask the same questions to you and then to your husband to check if the answers tally and to check for descripencies.

Next step will then be the house visit. The caseworker will come and visit your apartment to make sure that it's appropriate for the child. If your home is approved, then, your local referee will be called for an interview. If you're a foreigner, you'll need 2 foreign referees and 1 local. The foreign referees will be sent a letter to write a testimony for you and your husband.

When all these are completed, then the matching starts. The matching also depends on your ethnicity as well. As most of the children in the pool are Chinese, the first priority of matching would go to the Chinese couples with no children first and then next would be a couple with a spouse that Chinese. And then next would be couples of other ethnicity.

Sorry, if I might be written something that might not be right. I'm writing all these from memory and experience. We're also in the process of adoption. All the best!

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by Nadine1976 (317 days ago)

Thanks for all the info sunniefaith! I'm just so eager to get the process going. All these requirements seem pretty fair. I dont mind the waiting as long as I know something is going on, you know! Thanks again.

Nadine

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by sunniefaith (317 days ago)

Nadine,

You're welcome. They are very helpful. Just ask them whenever you have doubts.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by Petie (316 days ago)

We would like to start the process as well but I can't find any information about the briefing sessions. How did you register for the one in March?
Thanks!

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by sunniefaith (315 days ago)

Petie,

You basically have to call SWD to register your interest. The wait for English briefing session can be a 2 or 3 months' wait.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by Nadine1976 (315 days ago)

Hi Petie. Just give them a call and they will ask you a few basic questions over the phone. I think the session in March is full but try anyway, they may have had cancelations. After you register, they will send you a letter in the mail and you just bring it with you to the session. This is the link with the info

http://www.swd.gov.hk/en/index/site_pubsvc/page_family/sub_listofserv/id_adoptionse/

Nadine

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by Petie (313 days ago)

Thanks for the help. I phoned today and we are on the June briefing!

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by sunniefaith (313 days ago)

Petie,

In June? Oh my goodness! Maybe you could ask them if they can put you on a waitlist or something like that.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by Fieter (299 days ago)

I already contacted them in early Dec and we ended up in the June brief too - apparently they are flooded with applicants!

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by JinHK (288 days ago)

Sorry to butt in here but can I ask you Sunniefaith what type of reference letter is required. We have just been asked by friends if we would write a referencel letter for them to submit during the adoption process.

What sort of things should we address in the reference letter?

Sharing your experience is appreciated.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by sunniefaith (284 days ago)

Sorry JinHK, just checked this forum today. I'm not sure what goes into the reference letter because I was not shown any of my referee's except for one, he cced me a copy. But I believe that the SWD will send you a letter with what they required from you for the reference letter. So check with your friends and ask them to check with SWD for the letter for referees.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by JinHK (284 days ago)

Thanks sunniefaith I will check with my friends.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by FloS (271 days ago)

I will be attending my initial briefing session in a few months time and the information that you have all already provided has been really helpful in getting an insight in the process. I know that I will be given all the paperwork at the meeting but I am already thinking about all the documents we will need to hand in especially as I will need to obtain these from various countries and get translated as they are not all in English (which I guess has to be done by a sworn translator). I’m assuming I will need to provide the following:
- marriage certificate
- birth certificate
- passport copies
- proof of income
- police check
- medical check
- records regarding level of education

Have I omitted anything?

Regarding the police check do they require one just from Hong Kong or all places where you have lived since you were 18? Regarding the education is this limited to your last degree (e.g. university) or would you have to provide previous levels as well (e.g. secondary school)?

I’ll wait until I’ve attending the briefing to request them but I already want to have done the research regarding where I can obtain these documents from and assess the time it will take to receive them. Certain countries I will have to deal with are known for their bureaucracy and lack of speed!

Thanks so much for the additional information that you can provide. I look forward to hearing how you all continue to get along in the process!

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by missdj (271 days ago)

Hi FloS,

Marriage certificate
Divorce, if either of you have been divorced
Highest education qualification
Copies of passport and HK id, as well as permission/proof to stay in HK for coming 2 yrs.
No police check record, they only do one here in HK
Proof of income and other financial records
Proof of residential address, mortgage or rental agreement
Medical report, they give u a form and you take it to your doctor here to do
Birth certificate of any biological or adopted children, if u have
Employment letter, stating job title, income & duration of employment
A recent photo of your family, with all live in members

Then you will also need references

And yes, a number of the stuff you will have to get from your home country and it may take a few months. We are on our second adoption

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by FloS (270 days ago)

Missdj,

Thanks for the information, that is really helpful and seems quite straightforward. Hopefully it won't be too painful a process and not slow things down too much.

Good luck with the second adoption.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by FCR (269 days ago)

Hi

Make sure that you have the originals of the above documents, your SWD case worker will take copies, but they need to view the originals.

My husband and I made our initial enquiry a year ago and are now at the stage of having our details submitted to the matching panels. It's suddenly all very real, and very exciting. The past year has passed by so very quickly, we've enjoyed a couple of "grown-up" holidays.

Good luck to everyone on this forum.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by sunniefaith (269 days ago)

We're in the matching pool too. It is all very exciting now....The waiting in anticipation starts now!

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by FCR (269 days ago)

Hi Sunniefaith

I haven't dared to buy a single item yet, but am wandering around smiling to myself.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by FloS (269 days ago)

I know this question gets asked all the time and it would be impossible to give a definitve answer but here goes anyway...
How long have you been in the matching pool and what is the expected wait these days, especially for a caucasian couple with no other kids?

Great news for the 2 of you to have reached this stage.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by sunniefaith (269 days ago)

FCR,

Been doing a lot of window shopping and walking around. Was told that there's a window of 2 weeks from the time that we're matched till we finally get our hands on the child. So will use the time to shop.

FloS,

We just got into the pool in Feb. We really don't know how long the wake will be. My husband and me are Chinese Singaporeans with no kids and were told that the wait might be shorter for us. But we're really not sure. Keeping fingers crossed. Think your wait might be shorter than those with kids. Heard from another caucasian couple that they waited for like only 2 months. But then again, this depends on the availability of the kids and also the age range that you're looking at.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by missdj (268 days ago)

All cases are different. An acquaintance friend of ours got the call for a baby, and they brought her home 3 days later. If it is an older baby or toddler it can be a few weeks.

Any Chinese or Asian couples or mixed do have priority over Caucasians. Our first child we were in the matching panel for 4 months till we got the call. This time it has been 2 months so far. Anxiously waiting now.....

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by sunniefaith (267 days ago)

missdj,

You waited for 4 months? Did you have any specifications of the child? Sorry, if you don't mind me asking? I'm just trying to figure the waiting time and not get myself overtly excited.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by missdj (267 days ago)

sunniefith,

Yes, from the time we got approved till the time we got the call that we were matched it was 4 and a half months. Is that long or short?

It really depends on each case/family, on specifications, age, medical, sex and such. This time we have been in Jan and Feb matching pools and nothing. Although we are Caucasian and maybe different spexs, we could be waiting for a few more months. I was also told there haven'nt been as many babies and there are more families waiting.

Let me know more specific what you would like to know. No problem

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by sunniefaith (267 days ago)

Thsnks missdj,

We are asking for a child that's as healthy as possible and under 1 yr too. We left the sex open. It doesn't really matter to us. So we shall see how long the wait is going to be like.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by FCR (263 days ago)

Hi FloS

We have only just received the "all clear" letter from the SWD, and have no idea how long we will have to wait. Mind you, after 12 years of trying to conceive, 7 cycles of ivf and far too many miscarriages to mention, an extra few months doesn't make much difference.

When we completed our forms, we discussed age, health etc and decided to opt for a slightly older child rather than a baby. So who knows when we will hear; until then life ticks along...

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by sunniefaith (247 days ago)

FCR,

Have you heard anything from SWD yet? I'm tempted to call to check but hubby say to wait.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by FCR (242 days ago)

Hi

I'm pleased to say that we have been matched to a lovely little toddler. We bring him home next week. It's all happened very quickly since we received the approval letter, but we are absolutely delighted with our son. All very exciting here.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by sunniefaith (242 days ago)

FCR,

Congrats! Did that happen last Thurs? Very happy for you! I'm hoping that we'll be matched real soon!

(I am based in Hong Kong)