Alphabet Soup

Chinese adoption is full of acronyms. Here is a cheat sheet to decode the strange language we are all speaking.

HS- Homestudy
SW- Social Worker
USCIS- the Department formerly known as INS
CCAA- the China Center for Adoption Affairs- the organization in China that handles ALL adoptions of Chinese children in China, whether international or domestic
DTC- Dossier to China, the date your agency sends your completed dossier to the CCAA
LID- Log in Date, the date that the CCAA accepts your dossier into the process
SWI- Social Welfare Institute, an orphanage in China, sometimes they care not only for children, but also adults with disabilities and the elderly
NSN- Non Special Needs, the path most people choose- babies do not have any known disabilities/developmental differences
SN- Special Needs, the path we are in- babies have needs that vary from minor to severe- but to the extent possible the parents are aware of the needs
WC- Waiting Child, a special needs child
LOI- Letter of Intent, the letter you send to the CCAA committing to adopt a specific SN child
LOA- Letter Seeking Confirmation of Adopter/Letter of Acceptance, the official letter that states you have accepted the referral- this used to be only in the NSN process, but now SN parents do it as well
TA- Travel Approval, official permission to come to China to get your child
CA- Consulate Appointment, the final step at the US Embassy in which you will receive all the immigration paperwork- you cannot really travel until you have a CA

And now you can speak Chinese adoption, too