• MOST IMPORTANT! Keep a record of everything you do - names, contacts, DNA uploads, etc. Something that does not seem important now may be an critical clue in the future.

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• DNA testing is crucial to a successful search. Many recent matches have happened only through DNA matching. Do two DNA tests if you can, but MOST IMPORTANT is an SNP/autosomal (23and Me, uploaded to GEDmatch) test, followed by an STR/CODIS/paternity test if you can afford it. Upload results from both to as many databases as possible. See all DNA details here. Even if you come across your birth family with your own search, you’ll have to do a DNA test to confirm it, so you might as well get started! :)

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• Gather all your adoption paperwork - 1/Certificate of Adoption, 2/Certificate of Birth, and 3/Certificate of Abandonment - and have it re-translated by a Chinese speaker. Some adoptees have found information in the Chinese version that wasn't included in the translated version. Keep in mind that the information in your documents may not be accurate, such as finding place, dates, who found you. You can find information about translators on our Resources page.

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• Join birth parent search Facebook groups, as well as groups for your own province and orphanage. Connect with others adopted from the same orphanage and timeframe. Compare information, photos, and details.

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• Join the search poster for your province.

 

• Consider ordering your Finding Ad (for those born 1999 or later) and a Birth Parent Search Analysis from Research-China. The Birth Parent Search Analysis will give you information on the finding patterns of your orphanage and additional information from the time you were born and relinquished, which may help you search more effectively.

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• Download the Google translate app – your new best friend! ImTranslator is also a big help on your desktop. Pleco is an excellent app to look up words or phrases (English or Chinese characters) and Written Chinese is another useful translation website. Many people end up using a combination of multiple translators.

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• Download and start using WeChat, the most common messaging app in China. Add friends to your WeChat contact list, and practice sending messages, videos, and using WeChat Moments. Also join a WeChat birth parent searching group for your province. Check our how-to guides for help.

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• Create your individual search poster and/or video and share on WeChat.

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• Join Nanchang Project's Origins Search (currently paused), open to all adoptees from anywhere in China. They're offering regional and small group searches at an affordable cost and covering the DNA testing for all birth parents who come forward. DNA testing is through 23mofang and uploaded to GEDmatch.  

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• Follow The Roots of Love on Facebook or Instagram and watch for announcements of when they may be opening up their search grants for adoptees who need financial help.

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• Check to see if there's a wide-net search project with DNAConnect.Org for your location and consider joining.

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• Consider hiring a searcher in China to help.

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• If you decide to go public with your search, try contacting newspapers in your city to see if you can interest them in publicizing your story. Here is a list of some of the major newspapers (in Dutch, use Chrome to translate).