India adoption

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Adopt International is privileged to be licensed by India’s Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) for international adoptions from India. India follows the best practices and standards according to the Hague adoption guidelines. In the case of an abandoned child, the child is declared legally free for adoption only after diligent efforts are made to locate the birth family. In the case of a relinquishment, options to maintain the child in the birth family are explored first. When a child welfare committee determines that a child may be placed for adoption, CARA seeks a domestic family first and then an international adoptive family with preference for Indian NRI and OCI families.

Children between the ages of 0-16 years are available for adoption. India categorizes children into two categories “In Good Health” and “Special Needs”. Non Resident Indian (NRI) and Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) Prospective Adoptive Parents (PAPs) may request to be matched with a child in good health. The wait time for a referral is lengthy and unpredictable and can take up to 4 years. Non-Indian PAPs will be in the foreign category and must be open to a child with known special needs, or a child over the age of 8 years in good health, or sibling sets of 3 or more in good health.

Children in Good Health

Children with Special Medical Needs

Relative Adoptions

Process Overview

Our India Program Director, Sharmeela Shah, guides clients through the India adoption process. Families living outside of California and Hawaii will complete their home study through any of our partner Hague-accredited agencies and then work with Adopt International for India specific adoption services. Adopt International also assists with relative adoptions on a case-by-case basis.

Families in our program are guided with making all the necessary arrangements for travel to India to receive their child. We do not have a staff person in India to escort the family during their stay and travel. This helps to keep our fees low and is ideal for families who have connections in India or are comfortable with traveling internationally on their own.

Who are the children that need families?

In India adoptions, poverty and/or teenage pregnancy are the two primary reasons for child relinquishment and abandonment. Thorough investigations take place to locate the parents of an abandoned child and counseling is offered to birth parents relinquishing a child. Only those children declared to be legally free for adoption are referred to the PAPs. For each adoption CARA follows strict Hague-compliant guidelines.

Children available for adoption are in two categories: “In Good Health” and with “Special Need”. Referrals of children “in good health” come directly from CARA and the wait time is based on the number of registered families on CARA’s waiting list and the number of children legally free for adoption. Profiles of children with special needs are listed on the CARA’s portal and can be viewed by CARA registered families and Adoption Service Providers. The CARA system is intended to be transparent and fair.

NRI and OCI PAPs waiting to be matched with children in “good health” could receive referrals for children that are low in weight or have developmental delays believed to be caused by institutionalization. Therefore all PAPs must be open to considering a child with these commonly seen conditions.
While awaiting a CARA referral, PAPs who are open to a child with a correctable or manageable need(s) may view profiles and be matched with a waiting child. The wait time may be shorter for PAPs that are open to considering children with known special needs. To be matched with a child with a special need your home study report should mention that you are approved to consider children with special needs.
At the time of CARA registration, PAPs are allowed to choose their preferred category/selections. These include choosing whether they desire a single child or siblings, the gender of the child, the health status of the child, and a State or Zone preference, if any.

Children in “Good Health” (India to U.S.)

children-in-good-health

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At least one spouse must be a US citizen.
Couples must be married for a minimum of 2 years.
Same sex couples will not be eligible.
Single women are eligible.
PAPs must be financially stable with the ability to comfortably support a child.
PAPs with a history of substance abuse, unstable relationships, serious medical illness or unstable mental health will not be eligible. PAPs with a legal history will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
The combined age of the PAPs determines eligibility with regard to the age of the child desired. CARA counts age in years, months and days
PAPs with combined age of less than 85 years, or under age 40 for singles, can request a child ages 0 to 2 years.
PAPs with a combined age of less than 90 years, or under age 45 for singles, can request a child ages 2 to 4 years.
PAPs with a combined age of less than 100 years, or under age 50 for singles, can request a child ages 4 to 8 years.
PAPs with combined age of less than 110 years, or under age 55 for singles, can request a child ages 8 to 18 years.
There must be a minimum age gap of 25 years between the PAPs and the child.
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Children between the ages of 0-16 years are available for adoption. Children available for adoption may be orphaned or abandoned due to poverty or teenage pregnancies, and other family situations. Thorough investigations take place to locate the parents of an abandoned child and counseling is offered to birth parents relinquishing a child. Only those children declared to be legally free for adoption are referred to the PAPs.
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The adoption process from India depends on numerous factors.
Families must complete their home study through a Hague-accredited agency. For families living in CA or HI, Adopt International will conduct the homestudy. For families in other States, Adopt International will help the family identify a Hague accredited agency in their State and both agencies will contract to work together on different parts of the adoption process.
A homestudy process requires the PAPS to turn in a lot of documents. If a family prioritizes making time to provide all the required documents, a homestudy can be completed in 8-12 weeks.
Once the HS is complete, families complete the I800A form; Determination of Suitability to Adopt a Child from a Convention Country and await USCIS approval.
While awaiting I800A approval, PAPs submit the documents required for their CARA registration so that the agency can register them with CARA.
PAPS typically receive I800A approval in about 8-10 weeks.
Approval time for the CARA application can vary from a few weeks to several months.
PAPs that are only open to considering a child in good health must be prepared to wait for a long time. The wait time is not predictable and changes as more children get added to CARA’s database. Currently it takes about 4 years to be matched with a child in good health.
Male and female children are available, and families may indicate a gender preference. This may impact your wait time.
PAPS may indicate 3 preferred States of Choice or a zone of choice, though this may extend the wait time for a referral.
Contact adopt@adoptinter.org to inquiry about current wait times.
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PAPS receive a medical exam report, (MER) a child study report (CSR) and a photograph of the child referred to them. The MER provides information on the child’s health, growth measures (Height, Weight and Head Circumference), immunizations and any history of illness or hospitalization and illness. THE CSR provides information on the child’s motor, social and emotional skills, the child's personality, likes, and dislikes. The PAPs get 30 days to decide on the referral and during this time they can consult with a doctor of their choice and can also visit the child in India to help make an informed decision on the referral.
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Yes, both Prospective Adoptive Parents (PAPs) are required to travel to India to receive their child. Some Regional passport offices also require the PAPs to be present for the passport appointment for their child. Families will need to complete the final 3 steps in the process after taking custody of their child. They must travel to Delhi for the exit permit, pre-visa medical exam, and the visa interview. The in-country stay to complete these 3 steps is around 7 to 10 days. If required to attend the passport appointment the stay will be longer; around 3 weeks.

An additional first trip after referral is optional and up to the family. Some families want to meet the child prior to acceptance and others move forward without this step. This trip is typically only for a few days.

On rare occasions, an additional trip may be needed if the District Magistrate or the Family Court requires the PAPs to be present at the adoption hearing. In most cases PAPs attend the adoption hearing via video call.
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In a non relative adoption you will be seen by your social worker 4 times in the first year after arrival and 2 times in the second year. These visits are intended to offer you support with your transition into parenthood or the growth of your family. The reports are sent back to CARA and the child’s orphanage. Compliance with post adoption reports helps to keep countries open to intercountry adoption.

children-with-special-medical-needs

Special Needs Adoption (Mild to Moderate)

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At least one spouse must be a US citizen.
Couples must be married for a minimum of 2 years.
Same sex couples will not be eligible.
Single women are eligible.
PAPs must be financially stable with the ability to comfortably support a child.
PAPs with a history of substance abuse, unstable relationships, serious medical illness or unstable mental health will not be eligible. PAPs with a legal history will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Share Children listed on the CARA Portal are available to OCI and NRI families only, for the first 14 days. Therefore, the children with mild, manageable or correctable needs usually get reserved in the first 14 days. After 14 days non OCI or NRI PAPs may reserve the child.
Families without OCI or NRI status must be open to a child with a moderate need.
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In the last few years Adopt International has placed a number of children with mild, moderate and severe hearing loss, cleft lip and palate, minor/correctable heart issues (ASD, VSD, PFO, PDA), metabolic disorders, HIV +, born to a birth mother who was HIV+, premature birth, low weight, kidney issues, club foot, and amblyopia.

We also see children on the list with downsyndrome, missing digits or limbs, skeletal dysplasia, missing eye, and other more severe medical needs.
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Yes, timelines are typically shorter for special needs adoptions. We have seen wait times vary from 4 days to 3 years. Typically families that are open to considering a child with known special needs are matched in about a year.

Once the match is accepted the timeline is similar to a child in good health.
What support is available to help families prepare for parenting a child with identified needs?
Pediatricians who specialize in adoption medicine are amazing resources to help PAPs evaluate potential child referrals and also in preparing PAPS to parent the child. Local Children’s Hospitals can also be a wealth of information. Adopt International can connect you to other families who have already adopted a child with an identified need to chat about their experience..
Are there resources or training Adopt International recommends or requires?
These two medical clinics have assisted families with international adoptions for decades.
University of Minnesota Adoption Medicine Clinic
International Adoption Clinic at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital.
The National Council for Adoption has some great resources for families considering adopting a child with special needs. https://adoptioncouncil.org/publications/children-with-medical-special-needs-considering-the-impact-on-child-development/
https://adoption.talentlms.com/plus/catalog
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The reporting requirements for a child with a special need is the same as a child in good health. You will be seen by your social worker 4 times in the first year after arrival and 2x in the second year. These visits are intended to offer you support with your transition into parenthood or the growth of your family. The reports are sent back to CARA and the child’s orphanage. Compliance with post adoption reports helps to keep countries open to intercountry adoption.

relative-adoptions

Relative Adoptions

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It is important to note that USCIS only approves those cases where a child has become orphaned or when the biological parents, if living, are incapable of providing care for the child.

The Prospective Adoptive Parents:
At least one spouse must be a US citizen.
Couples must be married for a minimum of 2 years.
Same sex couples will not be eligible.
Single women or single men are eligible.
PAPs must be financially stable with the ability to comfortably support a child.
PAPs should not have any history of domestic or child abuse.

The children:
The child(ren) to be adopted must be from the PAPs family tree.
Orphaned or clear factual evidence that the birth parent/parents are incapable of providing care for their child due to financial, mental health or medical issues.
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For relative adoptions we use the Hague process. On the US side there is no difference in process as USCIS issues the I800A, I800 and Article 5 approvals as with all adoptions. On the India side there are a few additional steps involved. As the child is living with family members, there are no child referral documents. Instead, the District Child Protective Unit (DCPU) where the child resides conducts a family background verification. The parent or guardian of the child in India is interviewed, documents are verified, and a family background report is generated by DCPU which serves as the child study report. CARA then issues a pre-approval letter approving the adoption plan. The adoption order is issued by the District Magistrates office, or a family court if the child resides in Maharashtra State. CARA then issues a No Objection Certificate (NOC) and a Certificate of Conformity validating that the adoption has taken place as per the Hague process.
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As with all India adoptions, documents validating stability of the Prospective Adoption Parents are needed. The homestudy process is required and conversations will focus on trauma, adjustment and appropriate developmental stages depending on the child’s age. Homestudy documents include doctor and employer letters, letters of reference, and fingerprint clearances.

In India, documents specific to a relative adoption include letters of relinquishment by a parent or guardian, death certificates of the biological parent if applicable, police reports if the birth parents has been incarcerated, letters from a doctor or therapist if the child is being relinquished due to medical or psychological instability of the birth parent. A medical report of the child to be adopted, and a letter of consent to the adoption plan if the child is over age 5, are also needed.
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For an already completed adoption, USCIS has provisions for an I-130 visa for eligible parents. Adoption agencies are not involved in this process and parents use the guidance of an immigration attorney. If the adoptive parents wish to use the Hague adoption process they must first get the existing adoption order nullified by an Indian court and then restart their adoption as per the Hague process.

If the child was adopted by an informal deed that has not been registered or recognized by CARA, the parents can contact us for guidance on restarting their adoption under the Hague process.
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USCIS requires clear factual evidence that the birth parent/parents, if alive, are incapable of providing care for their child. Proving incapacity, especially if incapacity is solely due to financial reasons, can be challenging. Adopt International thoroughly assesses and reviews the circumstances unique to each family, prior to accepting a family that requests a relative adoption process.

Multiple government agencies on the India side are involved in a relative adoption. Additionally the PAPs live in the US and it is their designated family member or the child’s guardian in India that has to work with these agencies to facilitate the adoption. Delays are therefore inherent in this process and should be anticipated.
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Frequently asked questions

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To be eligible to adopt from India, the following criteria must be met:
At least one spouse must be a US citizen.
Couples must be married for a minimum of 2 years.
Same sex couples will not be eligible.
Single women are eligible.
PAPs must be financially stable with the ability to comfortably support a child.
PAPs with a history of substance abuse, unstable relationships, serious medical illness or unstable mental health will not be eligible. PAPs with a legal history will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
PAPs with a history of domestic or child abuse will not be eligible.
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Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) is India’s Central Authority that oversees in-country and inter-country adoptions for India. Adopt International is privileged to be licensed by CARA for international adoptions from India. India follows the best practices and standards according to the Hague adoption guidelines. Efforts are made to reunite or maintain the child with their biological family, and when not possible to seek a domestic family first and then an international adoptive family. CARA is the entity that matches children in good health with prospective adoptive families.
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[taken from NCFA site]

A Hague Country is a country that has signed and implemented the international treaty referred to as the Hague Convention on Adoption. It is an international agreement to establish safeguards so that intercountry adoptions take place in the best interests of the child. The Convention entered into force for the United States in April 2008. The Hague Adoption Convention applies to adoptions between the United States and the other countries that have also joined it. The Hague regulates the way adoptions are carried out and provides certain procedural safeguards internationally instead of leaving the procedure up to individual countries.

A non-Hague Country is a country that has not signed and implemented the Hague Convention on Adoption.

Note: The Universal Accreditation Act (UAA), requires that adoption service providers in the U.S. who are working with prospective adoptive parents in non-Hague adoptions must comply with the same accreditation requirement and standards for all children, regardless of their country of origin.
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The medical history of the birth parents or genetic history is not known. At referral the medical report of the child will include growth measures of height, weight and head circumference taken periodically from the time the child is admitted into the orphanage. Any major illness or hospitalization, medications the child may be taking, and immunizations given to the child are all mentioned in the referral medical report. If the child has a known special need then reports from a specialist as well as the CMO’s report validating the child’s special need will also be available.
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Children ages 0-6 years are cared for in orphanages called Specialized Adoption Agencies (SAA). Children ages 6- 12 and 12-18 live in group homes called child care institutes (CCI). They range in size and condition. Some SAAs and CCI’s are government run while others are private non profits registered with CARA. There is a process underway in India where foster families are being recruited to provide care for the children but this is in the early stages.

Costs/Fees Explained

Please inquire for the most up to date costs/fees associated with our India Country Program.

Email adopt@adoptinter.org.

India adoption

Children in Good Health

Children with Special Medical Needs

Relative Adoptions

Process Overview​

​

Who are the children that need families?

Children in “Good Health” (India to U.S.)​​​​​​

Who is eligible to adopt a child in good health from India under U.S. and Indian law?

What is CARA, and how does it govern intercountry adoption from India?

What is the typical age range and profile of children available for adoption?

What are the steps in the process (home study, USCIS approval, CARA registration, matching, travel)? How long does the adoption process from India usually take?

What is the average timeline for a referral of a child in good health?

How is the child’s health and background information shared at the time of referral?

Do I need to travel to India? How many trips are required?

How long until I can bring the child home after the match?

What kind of post-adoption reporting is required by both the U.S. and India?

​Special Needs Adoption (Mild to Moderate)

Who is eligible to adopt a Special Needs child from India under U.S. and Indian law?

What are common mild to moderate special needs seen among waiting children?

Does the process differ in any way from that of a child in good health?

Are timelines typically shorter for special needs adoptions?

What kind of post-adoption reporting is required by both the U.S. and India in a special needs adoption?

Relative Adoptions

Who is eligible for a relative adoption from India under U.S. and Indian law?

Who qualifies as a “relative” under Indian and U.S. adoption law?

What is the legal process for completing a relative adoption from India to the U.S.?

Are relative adoptions subject to the Hague process, or are they handled differently?

What documentation is required for a relative adoption?

What if I already adopted the child in India?

What are the most common challenges or delays in relative adoptions?

Are adoptive parents required to travel to India?

What kind of post-adoption reporting is required by both the U.S. and India in a relative adoption?

Frequently asked questions

Who can adopt a child from India through Adopt International?

How do I start the process to adopt from India?

What is CARA, and how does it impact the adoption process?

What’s the difference between Hague and non-Hague adoption?

What are the costs involved in adopting from India?

Can I adopt a relative from India if I live in the U.S.?

What kinds of medical or background information will I receive?

Can I move to India and foster the child?

Are children in orphanages or foster care?

Costs/Fees Explained

If you have additional questions or wish to take the next step, contact us.

Process Overview

Children in “Good Health” (India to U.S.)

Special Needs Adoption (Mild to Moderate)