I. Age

• Must be at least 29 ½ at application/child match
• There must be no more than 50 years’ age difference between the younger parent or single applicant (at the time of dossier log-in) and the adoptive child

II. Marital Status

• Married heterosexual couples
• Single heterosexual females
• If one or no previous divorces, a minimum of 18 months marriage at the time of application (two years at time of dossier log-in), may include time residing together before marriage
• If two previous divorces for either applicant, 4 ½ years marriage at the time of application (five years at time of dossier log-in), may include time residing together before marriage
• No more than two divorces per applicant

III. Health Conditions

• Applicants must be in good physical and mental condition necessary to provide responsible care for an adopted child:
  • If diagnosed with anxiety, depression, mania, phobia, or OCD, must be with minor symptoms and under good control with a small dose of medication
  • If one parent has (or has had) lupus, nephrosis, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, hearing or language function impairment, or organ transplant within the last ten years, etc., must be under good control AND the other parent healthy (couples only)
  • Single applicants with hearing or language function impairment may adopt child with identical condition only
  • IMust not have significant vision loss, limb impairment or paralysis, schizophrenia, or infectious diseases (such as HIV).
  • If history of skin, thyroid, breast, or testicular cancer, must be cancer-free 3+ years, all other cancer histories must be cancer-free 5+ years
• Body Mass Index (BMI) must be under 40

IV background

• Minimum high school education or GED/vocational equivalent
• At least one applicant must be a US Citizen

V. Family Financial Conditions

• Couples: At least $10,000 annual income per household member, including the child to be adopted, minimum $80,000 net worth (assets minus liabilities)
• Singles: At least $20,000 annual income plus $10,000 per child in the home, including child to be adopted; minimum $100,000 net worth

VI Moral Characters

• No alcohol abuse within past ten years; no history of drug use or experimentation
• No history of domestic violence, sexual abuse, or child abuse
• No criminal violations in past ten years

VII Children in the House

• Couples: No more than five minor children living in the home
• Singles: No more than two minor children living in the home
• Youngest child in the home must be at least age 2 ½ at time of application (age 3 at time of dossier log-in)
• For a subsequent China adoption, must be at least 6 months at the time of application (1 year at time of dossier log-in) from previous adoption finalization