I am posting this so I can keep track of the process and how much coordination goes into planning an adoption trip.
Mind you, our agency has one big group of families with Referrals" dated 2-1-07. They got referrals for several areas (provinces) in China.
Our daughter is from Liangping SWI and it is closest to the main city Chongqing. We just found out that another family has their daughter from the same SWI. There are 8 families going to Chongqing at the same time.
4 from one orphanage and 2 from ours and 2 from another orphanage. But we will all stay in Chongqing for official paperwork reasons.
Many of the bigger group- those going to other provinces, will go and tour Beijing. We will not because we will have Mei Li with us and she and I can go to Hong Kong Disney (:})while Jann plays business with his old buddies there.
Here is the email we got on Feb 28th.
Still can't book flights until we are sure.....
Dear Families,
Our staff in BJ went to the CCAA last night and asked about your travel approvals. They were told, "The Director of the Administration Office has not given permission to release our 2/1 referral Travel Approvals." We have to remember, they just returned from a week long holiday and are just getting back into the groove. Normally it takes about 4 weeks from the referral date for the travel approvals to be mailed. We hope they will be mailed shortly, since today is Feb 28th and tomorrow will be 4 weeks from referral date. We will do whatever possible to have you travel and complete the adoption process before the spring trade fair in Guangzhou (trade fair dates are: April 14-30).
Due to the information received from the CCAA, we are adjusting the tentative travel dates. I am very sorry our original estimated dates didn't work out.
What will happen when a) the travel approvals are received, b) ACS appts are requested and c) travel dates are confirmed:
1) I will send you an email to let you know that your travel approval has been received and I have requested your appt with the American Consulate (ACS).
2) When the ACS notifies me with the confirmed appt. (which can take several days), I will send you an email and ask you to arrange your US domestic and international flights. Specifics on how to make your international flight arrangements are below and also listed on our CHI website under China Travel.3) You will email me all your flight information (you can just forward your itinerary from your airline or travel agent). I will forward the groups international travel info to our staff in BJ.4) Our staff in BJ will work on the inside China arrangements in coordination with your international flights.5) The itineraries will be finalized with hotel and flight information and the BJ staff will send me the cost of the inside trip.6) I will then email to you: your detailed itinerary & your fee summary. You may receive this just prior to your departure date.7) You will send me your final travel payment in the form of a bank or certified check or money order. I will need to have this fee before you travel.
Due to the information received from the CCAA, we are adjusting the TENTATIVE TRAVEL DATES.Chongqing, Hubei, Jiangxi, Shaanxi, and Yunnan Groups
Thurs, March 29: Leave the US
Fri, March 30: Arrive in BJ (The Radisson SAS hotel is not available so you will be staying at the Wangfujing Grand Hotel: a 5 star hotel; Address: No. 57 Wangfujing Avenue, Beijing 100006, China ; Phone: 86-10-65221188 )
Sat, March 31: Sightseeing in BJ
Sun, April 1: travel to province
Mon, April 2: meet your children
Tues, April 3: adoption process (notary and registration)
Wed, April 4 - Fri, April 6: Sightseeing and free days in province
Sat, April 7: fly to GZ
Sun, April 8th: free day (Easter)
Mon, April 9th: medical exam for the children
Tues, April 10: ACS appt -first choice; (second choice: April 11th, 3rd choice: April 9th) & farewell dinner
Wed, April 11: get visa back and return home after 8:00pm OR return home Thurs, April 12th.
Your departure from Guangzhou: If flying to Beijing or Hong Kong, please allow enough time in the morning to get to your city of departure in order to catch the international flight. (Earliest flight GZ to HK is CZ301 at 8:25am/9:20am, and earliest flight from GZ to BJ is CA1310 at 8:05am/11:00am.) There are other later flights available also on those days if needed.If you need a return flight to BJ (cost is approx. $490 for 2 adults and infant lap seat) OR if you need to fly to Hong Kong (cost is approx. $270 for 2 adults and infant lap ticket) to catch your international flight, CHI can make those flight arrangements for you to fly on the morning after you receive your child's visa OR you can have your travel agent make these arrangements for you.If arriving or departing between the hours of 6:30am - 11: 00pm, CHI will arrange the hotel/airport transfer for you.Normally there is one day of sightseeing in BJ. If you want to arrive earlier than the group schedule, our staff in BJ will arrange additional touring. If you want to join in, tell your Coordinator when you arrive. Payment (in cash) for the tour will be given to our CHI office in Beijing. Additional (optional) tours are:Thursday: Summer Palace (Half day, lunch is not included) Cost: $ 30 per adult, $ 20 per child;Friday: Temple of Heaven in the morning; Lunch at Dai Jia Cun Restaurant; Hutong Tour and the Chinese Acrobat Show in the afternoon (Dinner is not included). Cost: $60 per adult, $40 per childHere is some basic information for booking flights if you would like to do some research:-Do not book a flight that will land in Canada (Cathay Pacific, etc.), even if you won’t get off the plane. The airline will not allow your child on the flight because she/he will be traveling on a Chinese Passport. A layover to catch another flight via Tokyo is permitted, but your child will not be able to leave the airport. -Note about return ticket for your adopted child:A return international ticket for your child in his/her Chinese Name is required even if your child is under the age of two. You do not have to purchase a seat ticket, but a lap ticket is required, and the cost is a percentage of your adult ticket. The ticket must be in your child’s Chinese Name, because that is the name that will appear on his/her Chinese passport. In China, the last name is always listed first, the next one or two names is considered to be your child’s first name-see child’s name as listed on referral document. All names on tickets must match the names on the passports.- VERY IMPORTANT RECOMMENDATION FROM FAMILIES THAT RECENTLY TRAVELED: When you book flights, make sure your ticket is the type where you have a seat assignment booked at the time of ticket purchase. (Many people, including those that made their reservations directly with United did not.) With seat assignments, you are confirmed and much less likely to get bumped unless you volunteer to do so. If you don't receive them until you get to the airport, you are taking a chance... FYI-The Chinese Airlines (China Southern, China Air, etc) will not give a seat assignments until you check into the desk at the airport.-Where you live will indicate (if you wish) your travel departure city:East coast families-most convenient to leave from NY or Newark (Continental, Northwest)Midwest families- most convenient to leave from Chicago or Detroit (United or Northwest)West coast families - most convenient to leave from SF or LA (United, China Air or China Southern)But you can use any airline you wish from any city in the US to get to China.-
Our staff in BJ went to the CCAA last night and asked about your travel approvals. They were told, "The Director of the Administration Office has not given permission to release our 2/1 referral Travel Approvals." We have to remember, they just returned from a week long holiday and are just getting back into the groove. Normally it takes about 4 weeks from the referral date for the travel approvals to be mailed. We hope they will be mailed shortly, since today is Feb 28th and tomorrow will be 4 weeks from referral date. We will do whatever possible to have you travel and complete the adoption process before the spring trade fair in Guangzhou (trade fair dates are: April 14-30).
Due to the information received from the CCAA, we are adjusting the tentative travel dates. I am very sorry our original estimated dates didn't work out.
What will happen when a) the travel approvals are received, b) ACS appts are requested and c) travel dates are confirmed:
1) I will send you an email to let you know that your travel approval has been received and I have requested your appt with the American Consulate (ACS).
2) When the ACS notifies me with the confirmed appt. (which can take several days), I will send you an email and ask you to arrange your US domestic and international flights. Specifics on how to make your international flight arrangements are below and also listed on our CHI website under China Travel.3) You will email me all your flight information (you can just forward your itinerary from your airline or travel agent). I will forward the groups international travel info to our staff in BJ.4) Our staff in BJ will work on the inside China arrangements in coordination with your international flights.5) The itineraries will be finalized with hotel and flight information and the BJ staff will send me the cost of the inside trip.6) I will then email to you: your detailed itinerary & your fee summary. You may receive this just prior to your departure date.7) You will send me your final travel payment in the form of a bank or certified check or money order. I will need to have this fee before you travel.
Due to the information received from the CCAA, we are adjusting the TENTATIVE TRAVEL DATES.Chongqing, Hubei, Jiangxi, Shaanxi, and Yunnan Groups
Thurs, March 29: Leave the US
Fri, March 30: Arrive in BJ (The Radisson SAS hotel is not available so you will be staying at the Wangfujing Grand Hotel: a 5 star hotel; Address: No. 57 Wangfujing Avenue, Beijing 100006, China ; Phone: 86-10-65221188 )
Sat, March 31: Sightseeing in BJ
Sun, April 1: travel to province
Mon, April 2: meet your children
Tues, April 3: adoption process (notary and registration)
Wed, April 4 - Fri, April 6: Sightseeing and free days in province
Sat, April 7: fly to GZ
Sun, April 8th: free day (Easter)
Mon, April 9th: medical exam for the children
Tues, April 10: ACS appt -first choice; (second choice: April 11th, 3rd choice: April 9th) & farewell dinner
Wed, April 11: get visa back and return home after 8:00pm OR return home Thurs, April 12th.
Your departure from Guangzhou: If flying to Beijing or Hong Kong, please allow enough time in the morning to get to your city of departure in order to catch the international flight. (Earliest flight GZ to HK is CZ301 at 8:25am/9:20am, and earliest flight from GZ to BJ is CA1310 at 8:05am/11:00am.) There are other later flights available also on those days if needed.If you need a return flight to BJ (cost is approx. $490 for 2 adults and infant lap seat) OR if you need to fly to Hong Kong (cost is approx. $270 for 2 adults and infant lap ticket) to catch your international flight, CHI can make those flight arrangements for you to fly on the morning after you receive your child's visa OR you can have your travel agent make these arrangements for you.If arriving or departing between the hours of 6:30am - 11: 00pm, CHI will arrange the hotel/airport transfer for you.Normally there is one day of sightseeing in BJ. If you want to arrive earlier than the group schedule, our staff in BJ will arrange additional touring. If you want to join in, tell your Coordinator when you arrive. Payment (in cash) for the tour will be given to our CHI office in Beijing. Additional (optional) tours are:Thursday: Summer Palace (Half day, lunch is not included) Cost: $ 30 per adult, $ 20 per child;Friday: Temple of Heaven in the morning; Lunch at Dai Jia Cun Restaurant; Hutong Tour and the Chinese Acrobat Show in the afternoon (Dinner is not included). Cost: $60 per adult, $40 per childHere is some basic information for booking flights if you would like to do some research:-Do not book a flight that will land in Canada (Cathay Pacific, etc.), even if you won’t get off the plane. The airline will not allow your child on the flight because she/he will be traveling on a Chinese Passport. A layover to catch another flight via Tokyo is permitted, but your child will not be able to leave the airport. -Note about return ticket for your adopted child:A return international ticket for your child in his/her Chinese Name is required even if your child is under the age of two. You do not have to purchase a seat ticket, but a lap ticket is required, and the cost is a percentage of your adult ticket. The ticket must be in your child’s Chinese Name, because that is the name that will appear on his/her Chinese passport. In China, the last name is always listed first, the next one or two names is considered to be your child’s first name-see child’s name as listed on referral document. All names on tickets must match the names on the passports.- VERY IMPORTANT RECOMMENDATION FROM FAMILIES THAT RECENTLY TRAVELED: When you book flights, make sure your ticket is the type where you have a seat assignment booked at the time of ticket purchase. (Many people, including those that made their reservations directly with United did not.) With seat assignments, you are confirmed and much less likely to get bumped unless you volunteer to do so. If you don't receive them until you get to the airport, you are taking a chance... FYI-The Chinese Airlines (China Southern, China Air, etc) will not give a seat assignments until you check into the desk at the airport.-Where you live will indicate (if you wish) your travel departure city:East coast families-most convenient to leave from NY or Newark (Continental, Northwest)Midwest families- most convenient to leave from Chicago or Detroit (United or Northwest)West coast families - most convenient to leave from SF or LA (United, China Air or China Southern)But you can use any airline you wish from any city in the US to get to China.-
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