We are a licensed not-for-profit adoption agency fully approved and authorized by New York State. Currently we are in the first group of agencies nationwide seeking Hague Accreditation through the Council on Accreditation and State Department. The agency is directed by a Volunteer Board of Directors, some of whom are also adoptive parents. Our goal, along with our commitment, is to find homes for orphaned children as we help adoptive parents build their family.
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Our team is available Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. We also have a voice mail system which allows you to leave a message for an individual staff member, or simply leave a message in our general mail box and an agency representative will get back to you as soon as possible. You may also contact us by fax (315-475-7727) or by e-mail (newlife@newlifeadoption.org)
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Absolutely! You can count on us every step of the way of your adoption process. First we help you compile your dossier. We will make sure your documents meet all the necessary requirements. Then we prepare your dossier for you and send it to China. We arrange your trip to China to adopt your child. Our own trained staff performs all this work for you. We do not rely on facilitators or other adoption agencies to do this work for us. For a domestic adoption we will compile your documents and help you build a profile. We want your adoption to be easy and enjoyable.
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For a regular adoption, total time from initial application to placement is generally 32-36 months. There are many documents to complete before your home study begins. After your home study is complete, we must wait for approval from USCIS (US Citizenship and Immigration Services). After USCIS approval is received, your dossier is prepared and sent to China. It currently takes about 25-30 months to receive a referral (a picture of the child specifically picked for you) from China after they receive your dossier. Soon after you receive your referral, you will travel to China to be united with your child.

Special Needs adoptions are processed faster in China. Total time would only be 10-14 months.
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You must be at least 30 years old to adopt from China. If you are married, your spouse must also be 30 years old. It is most desirable is neither spouse is over the age of 50. If you and/or your spouse will be turning 30 in the next six (6) months you can certainly start the process.
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Yes. We have clients from all over the United States; for example Virginia, Missouri, Connecticut, Ohio, New Jersey, Oklahoma and Michigan, just to name a few.
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The total all inclusive (from pre-application through post placement, with travel expenses) cost ranges from $23,000 - $26,000, based on one or two people traveling. The adoption tax credit is very helpful to adopting families; we encourage prospective parents to research the credit and to speak to a tax specialist.
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The Federal Adoption Tax Credit became law in New York State on January 1, 2002. For 2007 the tax credit was $11,390. Effective January 1, 2008, the tax credit allowed for an adoption of a child is $11,650. The available adoption credit begins to phase out for taxpayers with modified adjusted gross income in excess of $174,730. and is completely phased out for taxpayers with modified adjusted gross income of $214,730. or more.

First Niagara Bank and Fulton Savings Bank (two New York State banks) offer special programs to assist New Life families with their adoption. You can find links to their web sites in Links: Financial Resources. Or contact New Life and we will introduce you to the banks.
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Most of the children are between ten (10) months and 2 years old. You can request the age of the child you wish to adopt, and every effort will be made to select a child as close to that age as possible.
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Effective December of 2001, China gave each agency a quota for single parent adoptions. New Life is currently accepting applications from singles for children without special needs.

There is no waiting list for single parents interested in special needs children. We welcome the opportunity to assist single parents in expanding their family through adoption of a special needs child.
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Yes! We would be happy to send you a contact list of families who will gladly speak to you about their experiences with New Life throughout the adoption process.
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Not to worry, you can count on New Life to guide you through your adoption; we do not want any aspect of your adoption to be stressful or unhappy. You only have to provide the agency with the properly completed notarized documents. We know the in's and out's of the authentication process, we will review your documents and our trained team of professionals will do the rest for you.
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New Life strongly recommends that both parents travel together to complete the adoption. Some states require both parents to travel. In the event that one parent must stay home due to a family or medical emergency, there is additional paperwork and costs. If both parents travel and see the child prior to the adoption, the child is automatically a U.S. citizen when you come home. If only one parent of a two-parent family sees the child prior to the adoption, the child is NOT an automatic U.S. citizen and must be naturalized.

Regardless of how many parents travel, we recommend that you re-adopt your child in the state where you reside. This will provide you with a permanent U.S. record of your child’s adoption and a certificate of birth data registry in English with the name you have chosen for your child. The final paperwork you receive in China can never be replaced in case of loss or damage. In many instances (applying for kindergarten, driver’s license, etc.) certified originals may be required. Unless you have readopted, it may be difficult for you to supply this paperwork.
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The entire trip to China, including travel time, is usually less than 2 weeks.
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Absolutely Not! Our clients travel together in small family groups. New Life arranges your airline trip to China through our travel agent. We organize your complete in-country trip, including transportation, hotels, meals, and sightseeing. Our bilingual guide will accompany you throughout China, and are available to you around the clock during your stay. We hold a travel meeting for all members of your group prior to your departure. At this meeting, we discuss all the information you need to make your trip both successful and happy.
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If both parents travel and see the child prior to the adoption, the child is automatically a U.S. citizen If only one parent of a two-parent family sees the child prior to the adoption, the child is NOT an automatic U.S. citizen and must be naturalized.
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Yes! China requires you to complete twelve months of post-placement supervision it is an important part of your adoption. You will send us monthly reports and photos of your child, as well as physician's reports. Your social worker will visit you at least twice and prepare post-placement reports. At the end of your post placement we will send a final report to China.
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Yes. Every winter we sponsor a large luncheon in celebration of Chinese New Year. Every summer we sponsor a picnic at an outdoor park in Central New York. Other times we offer casual gatherings at our offices. You will receive invitations to all of New Life's events.
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New Life holds free seminars at our office in Syracuse, and at other locations throughout New York State. We also provide phone seminars if you are unable to attend an evening seminar. If you prefer we are able to meet with you privately. All you need to do is call or email us, or simply look at our seminar schedule to determine the best date and time for you. You can be sure that we will walk you through the entire adoption process, that way you will know what to expect as an adoptive parent and feel prepared to begin your adoption journey.
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Traveling east on the NYS Thruway - Take Exit 39 onto I-690 east toward Syracuse. Go south on I-81. Take an immediate exit onto Harrison Street. Stay in the right hand lane. Turn right onto Harrison Street. Stay in the right hand lane and make the first right turn onto Townsend Street. Go to East Genesee Street and turn right. Continue under the elevated highway. Merge into the left lane. Proceed to the end of the narrow park. Make a U-turn around the end of the park, heading back in the opposite direction with the park on your left. Our office is on the right side of the street. There is parking on the left side of the street.

Traveling west on the NYS Thruway - Take exit 36 onto I-81 south toward Syracuse. Pass I-690 and take the Harrison Street exit. Stay in the right hand lane. Turn right onto Harrison Street. Stay in the right hand lane and make the first right turn onto Townsend Street. Go to East Genesee Street and turn right. Continue under the elevated highway. Merge into the left lane. Proceed to the end of the narrow park. Make a U-turn around the end of the park, heading back in the opposite direction with the park on your left. Our office is on the right side of the street. There is parking on the left side of the street.

Traveling north on I-81 - Take the Harrison/Adams exit as you enter the city, and proceed to the traffic light at the bottom of the ramp. Continue straight to the next traffic light, and turn right onto to Genesee Street. Merge into the left lane. Proceed to the end of the narrow park. Make a U-turn around the end of the park, heading back in the opposite direction with the park on your left. Our office is on the right side of the street. There is parking on the left side of the street.

Traveling south on I-81 - Pass I-690 in the center of the city and take the Harrison Street exit. Stay in the right hand lane. Turn right onto Harrison Street. Stay in the right hand lane and make the first right turn onto Townsend Street. Go to East Genesee Street and turn right. Continue under the elevated highway. Merge into the left lane. Proceed to the end of the narrow park. Make a U-turn around the end of the park, heading back in the opposite direction with the park on your left. Our office is on the right side of the street. There is parking on the left side of the street.
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