Adoption in HK by Expat

Hi there,

I know this topic has surfaced before and I read thru some of the posts....it looks like it was a couple yrs ago and the thread became inactive...


Just wondering if those who went thru the local adoption in HK could contact me or leave me your email address. I'd like to discuss everything from home study to placement and costs. I've done a great deal of research overseas and was told that the wait period is eternal (4-5 yrs wait time AFTER receiving of dossier)....


So i am thinking of returning to Hk. My situation is a bit unique. I was born in Hk and left HK when i was a young child to immigrate overseas with parents. We went back to HK for vacations on a USA passport. But in 2001 i did go back to get my HKID, which was quite a hassle. Had to deal with months of interviews, interrogations, submission of docs. Should have done it in 1997.


anyhow, I'm not sure if anyone would know this...but do i still need to establish residency as an expat when i return? I have tried to find answers but can't seem to find one. I contacted the Social Svs dept last year but i think my situation is too unique.


Ok, look forward to hearing from all of you.


Prospective Adoptive mother....

We're in the process of adoption. We're both from Singapore. We've been in the process for a long time. And one of the reasons is that my husband was posted back to Singapore to work last December and we were taken off the list. This is after we were done with the homestudy and everything. We were just waiting to be matched. However, the good news is that, come this September, husband will be back in HK and we can be back in the game.


The process can be long and tedious. There's 3 workshops that you and your spouse have to attend. The waiting time for the workshops can be quite long. Sometimes, about 3 to 6 months. After that, the interviews will take place and then interviews with the referees too. During that period homestudy will be conducted too. So all in all, you can be looking at a timeframe of 6 months to 12 months from the time you place your call to Social Welfare Department to book your first adoption workshop to being placed in the matching pool.


Hopefully, this information is helpful and useful to you. Oh, cost is nothing much. You've got to pay for your own medical checks and only after being matched and the court order goes through that you pay something like less than HK4000. But I'm not really sure of the figures.

Hi sunniefaith,

thanks for responding to me! I tried to post replies to very old threads but i guess they became inactive after years.


Seriously 6-12 months is NOTHING! I am here in the USA (where i live permanently) and we have explored intl adoption for China. The wait is 5-7 years AFTER we complete the homestudy (which takes 6 months) and classes and present everything ot the Chinese govt. It is indeed very frustrating and demoralizing (sorry, dont' mean to sound pessimistic). The costs are ridiciulously high, $30k USD they estimate. I have explored other Asian countries also for intl adoption. However, my hubs and I met late in life so he is in his mid 40s. The age limit has disqualified us for countries such as Korea. We are Chinese-American (born in HK but family immigrated to the USA when we were kids)....Taiwan prefers Caucasian families to place. It's just sooo soooo stressful. My hubs is not happy that the China adoptions don't give priority to 'childless' prospective parents. Sometimes it feels like the agencies run these pgms like businesses. :(


Anyhow, I was thinking of Hk and doing it as a local adoption. We have a family friend who lives in China and they told me for local Chinese citizens adopting is free (kind of like HK) , with you paying for the med costs, etc. With China campaigning for their citizens to adopt i think the trend is changing. There just isn't as much supply as demand as it used to be.


Hence, I was thinking of returning to HK and doing a local adoption.


Will your family be permanently residing in HK? What is hte immigration status you have in Hk? do you guys hold a work visa or have you become PRs? I ask because I wonder if we would run into a problem if we were to move back back to our country. The child would then need a VISA as the child won't be an automatic citizen of the country their adoptive parents will be right? I read thru some of the very old threads regarding expats living in HK but the communication stopped several years ago. So i wonder about this. When they posed t his Q to the HK Social service workers, they coudn't answer it. And my situation is also kind of unique. Since i was born in Hk, I do have a HKID/residence card. However, my permanent residence is the USA. So I"m not sure if there are any "waitiing periods" necessary should i move back to HK.


Do you know any of the other expats in HK who have successfully adopted and could share with me their experience?


Also, what is the criteria for adopting in HK locally? I read a post about someone who had gotten pregnant while in the process and they coudn't continue with their process. Can someone who has children already adopt. Or do they only limit it to those who are childless? we dont' have kids so we are very anxious to build a family...


thanks so much for your help. I'm sorry if I've "overwhlemed" you with soooo many Qs....!!

Hi Maestra,


I'm on a working visa in HK and my husband is on a dependent visa. We won't be residing in HK permanently. Maybe another 2 to 4 years. But really, who knows. There shouldn't be a prob getting your child a visa to return to your home country once the process is completed. But bearing in mind, you do have to be in HK for the whole time that the adoption is processing. I don't know about the States but I've done research, I'll be able to apply for citizenship for my adopted child. I'm sure you'll be able to do the same with your adopted child for the States. I've met at least 2 couples from States and they have adopted and their kids have American passports.


From my understanding, but i might be wrong. The top priority for adoption is chinese couples with no kids and one is a stay at home parent. The next would be a chinese couple, childless and both working. Next in line would be one chinese and a foreigner with one parent not working, childless. And so on. But I'm not sure if this guideline has changed.


I wouldn't know about the waiting period for you. The best bet would be for you to get in contact with the Social Welfare Department. They are very helpful and friendly. Give them a call and then decide from there what are your plans.

Hi

We are a mixed couple (hubby English and I am Chinese) and we adopted our little girl in HK 4 years ago. I am very happy to share our experience if you can leave me your email/phone number. BTW there is a support group for English speaking adoptive parents (current or pending)


www. AFHK.org,hk


Basic answers to your questions about adoption in HK may be found in the Social Services web site - ALL legal adoption in Hong Kong are run through them irrespective where the children may be cared for.


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

Hi lambstones,

I've left you a private mesg with my email addy. Thanks.

Hi,


My husband and I have recently adopted - we started the whole process last July, were approved in December and matched late March, so at the moment still in the post-placement phase. Both of us are Caucasian and both of us work so we were pleasantly surprised it went so quickly (no previous other though). I know they have their broad criteria but so many other things enter into the process it is very hard for them to tell you how long you'll be waiting


Normally you have to reside in HK for a year to be eligible and have to be prepared to stay for 6 months after the placement as the adoption is only finalised at that stage. But your situation may be different.


My understanding is that you get a HK passport at the time the adoption is finalised and then you can finally leave the country for a holiday, yay! Thereafter you can apply for citizenship/passports from your own country. As HK is part of the Hague Convention it should not be too difficult to obtain but your best bet is to contact your Consulate in HK as for the main countries they know the process quite well.


Happy to share more information, feel free to PM me.


Saraddcl, I am Belgian too so not sure if you would be looking to obtain Belgian citizenship but if you want information about that I've been in touch with the Consulate - I think I'm the first Belgian to be adopting here. If you want some info don't hesitate to ask. Also please consider that Cambodia and Vietnam programmes are closed for most countries however maybe not France due to their historical relationship with these countries - the US State Govt website it quite helpful in that regard. Ethiopia would certainly be an option, either privately or I think through an agency in China. In HK, International Social Services take care of the international adoptions and they have links with Philippines, Thailand, China, India and Russia so if you are considering another country you will need to do it independently unless you find an agency in another country willing to take on your file. ISS can give you their broad criteria over the phone.


Hope this helps.

Hi FloS,


Can I ask if you have adopted a boy or a girl? and his/her age? If this is too personal just ignore:) Thanks.

Hi Nadine,


Have PM'd you.