AdoptionChristian Mountain Children's Home does not operate as an adoption agency. We are often asked about adoption, but we do not deal directly with the issue. Instead, we refer those interested to the adoption agencies in Taipei listed below. International adoption is a long and arduous process that should not be entered into lightly. Even when adopting from within one's own country, there are often many difficulties that can discourage the most determined. At CMCH, many of the children are simply not available for adoption. Many of them are entrusted to CMCH for a short time until their guardians can become more financially independent. For your own reference, we are adding the following information from http://travel.state.gov/adoption_taiwan.html INTERNATIONAL ADOPTIONTAIWAN DISCLAIMER: THE INFORMATION IN THIS CIRCULAR RELATING TO THE LEGAL REQUIREMENTS OF SPECIFIC FOREIGN COUNTRIES IS PROVIDED FOR GENERAL INFORMATION ONLY. QUESTIONS INVOLVING INTERPRETATION OF SPECIFIC FOREIGN LAWS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO FOREIGN COUNSEL. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS: Persons wishing to adopt a child in Taiwan should follow through and complete adoption procedures in Taiwan and obtain a Taiwan travel document fr the child. Without the adoption completed and travel document in order, it would be illegal to take the child out of Taiwan. The articles of law relating to adoption in Taiwan are found in the Civil Code (Book of Family), Articles 1072 through 1083. Article 1073 is of particulr significance, and states: "The adopter must be at least twenty years older than the person being adopted." This applies to both prospective adoptive parents. EXIT PERMITS FOR ADOPTED CHILDREN: The administrative regulations of the Ministry of Interior relating to foster sons and foster daughters going abroad to live with their foster parents provide that in the case of an adopted child who is over the age of seven, approval to emigrate will be granted only if the adopting-adopted relationship has been established for three years before the child reaches the age of 16. Under seven years of age, there is usually no difficulty obtaining exit permission for the adopted child. WELFARE AGENCIES PROVIDING ASSISTANCE IN ADOPTION: The following list of some welfare agencies in Taiwan is provided solely for the convenience of the inquirer. They are listed in alphabetical order and the order has no other significance. The Department of State assumes no responsibility for the professional calibre of the agencies listed. Catholic Welfare Services Christian Salvation Service The Pearl Buck Foundation U.S. IMMIGRATION REQUIREMENTS: In order to meet the requirements for a U.S. visa, children adopted through the inter-country adoption process must meet the definition of orphan under the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952, as amended. Contact the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service nearest you early in the process, before a child is identified. Request a copy of the INS publication M-249Y (Revised, 1990) The Immigration of Adopted and Prospective Adoptive Children. QUESTIONS: Specific questions regarding adoptions in Taiwan may be addressed to the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy or Consulate. You may also contact the Office of Children's Issues, 2401 E Street, N.W., Room L127, Washington, D.C. 20037; Phone: (202) 736-7000; Fax: (202) 663-2674. Recorded information concerning significant changes in adoption procedures is available 24 hours a day at: (202) 736-7000, or by automated fax (calling from the telephone on your fax machine) at (202) 647-3000. If the country you are interested in is not listed, procedures have not significantly changed. Information on immigrant visas is available from the State Department's Visa Office, at (202) 663-1225. This 24 hour automated system includes options to speak with consular officers during business hours for questions not answered in the recorded material. Application forms and petitions for immigrant visas are available from the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service, the nearest office of which is listed in the federal pages of your telephone book, under U.S. Department of Justice. In addition, the State Department publishes Consular Information Sheets and Travel Warnings. Consular Information Sheets are available for every country in the world, providing information such as the location of the U.S. Embassy, health conditions, political situations, and crime reports. When situations are sufficiently serious that the State Department recommends U.S. citizens avoid traveling to a country, a Travel Warning is issued. Both Consular Information Sheets and Travel Warnings may be heard 24 hours a day by calling the State Department's Office of Overseas Citizens Services at (202) 647-5225 from a touch-tone telephone. The recording is updated as new information becomes available. In addition, this information is accessible through the automated fax machine, as above, and is also available at any of the 13 regional passport agencies, field offices of the U.S. Department of Commerce, and U.S. Embassies and Consulates abroad. Furthermore, you may write in requesting information, sending a self-addressed, stamped envelope to Overseas Citizens Services, Room 4811 N.S., 2201 C St., N.W., U.S. Department of State, Washington, D.C. 20520-4818. |
CMCH Founders Rev. and Mrs. Hsu Yang have helped to raise around 700 children over the past 50 years. Their story.
CMCH cares for the physical and spiritual needs of nearly 100 children year-round. Children range in ages from a few months to 18 years and come to CMCH for a variety of reasons.
Our Choir toured the U.S. and Canada this summer. Sample their songs and order a CD for yourself or a loved one! Learn to do good, seek justice, reprove the oppressor, defend the fatherless, plead for the widow. |
