We are currently seeing families coming home with children aged 3-6 years old with moderate to significant medical special needs as well as children 6+ years old with minor to moderate needs. The majority of the files we receive are between 5-9 years old with a range medical special needs.

After families finalize their home study, they can submit a matching request for a waiting child. Cathwel then holds a matching meeting to choose the family best suited to pursue the child(ren)’s adoption. There may be multiple families submitting matching requests for one child.  Cathwel then presents the adoption plan to the child’s legal guardian for their approval. There is a final court process which results in the adoption finalization.

The process of adopting from Taiwan, if matching with a child 5 or more years old, is estimated to take 2 years. Families pursuing a child under 5 years old, should expect the process to take 2-3 years.

Depending on the requirements of the judge presiding over the child’s case, the family may be requested to travel to Taiwan once or twice. If asked to travel twice, the first trip would entail the court hearing with a judge and a meeting with the child. Both trips are approximately 7-10 days. During the second trip the family will travel to the child’s county, have a period of gradual bonding, receive the child in to their care, and attend the child’s visa appointment before returning to the states. The adoptive family may have the opportunity to meet the child’s birth family during one of these trips. Upon landing in the United States, the child receives US Citizenship.