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India Adoption

India

About The Children

Thank you for your interest in Children’s House International’s India Program.   We are proud to say that in 2025, Children’s House is celebrating our 50th anniversary, and it all began in 1975 with India! India was our first program and our International Specialist, Lisa Anderson, has adopted two children from India and has been our India specialist for 26 years.  Lisa received a Congressional Angels in Adoption Award in October 2015!

NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING NEW RELATIVE ADOPTION CASES

Waiting Children are between 6 months and 16 years of age. The India program includes three categories, relative to your heritage:

·         NRI: One spouse is an Indian citizen and the other is a US Citizen

·         OCI –US Citizens, of which one or both parents have Overseas Citizen of India status

NRI/OCI families are eligible to adopt a child with no known health problems.   NRI/OCI families are treated on par with resident Indians.  The current wait time for a child with no known special needs is 4+ years.  Most NRI/OCI families are open to a child with minor special needs.

·         Foreign – Families with no Indian heritage or Indian families that do not qualify as NRI or OCI.  The reality of the program requires us to counsel foreign families to be open to considering a child with a minimum of moderate special needs, or a child over age 10. Applications from families hoping to adopt only healthy young children (unless they are NRI/OCI) will result in an indefinite wait for referral.  The more open you are to both genders and more special needs, the faster a referral will happen.

NOTE:  At least one spouse must be a US Citizen to adopt a child from a foreign country.  Unfortunately, Permanent Residents and those living and/or working in the USA under other types of visas do not qualify.

Eligibility

The ages couples or single applicants can adopt is broken down as follows:

Married couples combined age:
The maximum combined age for children 0 - 2 is 85 years.
The maximum combined age for children 2-4 is 90 years.
The maximum combined age for children 4-8 is 100 years.
The maximum combined age for children 8+ is 110 years.

Single women:
The maximum age for children 0-2 is 40 years.
The maximum age for children 2-4 is 45 years.
The maximum age for children 4-8 is 50 years.
The maximum age for children 8+ is 55 years.

The age of prospective adoptive parents as on the date of complete registration to CARINGS shall be counted for deciding the age group of the child you apply for. CARA counts years, months and days. Each time CARA asks for your application to be revalidated (usually 3 years), your combined age increases which may increase the age of the child you are eligible to adopt.
Waiting Children are between 6 months and 16 years of age. There are four categories: no known health issues, physically challenged, mentally challenged, and multiple disabilities.
Couples must be married for a minimum of two years.
Single women are eligible to adopt a child of any gender. Single men shall not be eligible to adopt a girl child.
The prospective adoptive parents (PAPS) should be financially stable to support a child comfortably.
Couples with two children shall only be considered for special needs children. The minimum age difference between the child and either of the PAPS should not be less than twenty-five years.
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Travel and Time Frame

Travel

India has recently made changes in the legalization process, wherein District Magistrates will now hear adoption cases instead of District Court Judges. This was done in an effort to streamline the process. This may result in faster time frames for finalization and hopefully a one-trip process.

Time Frame

NRI and OCI families are currently waiting 48+  months for a healthy referral of a young child from CARA.

NOTE: Wait times are estimated and based on our current experience. All wait times are subject to change without notice. The estimated time between referral acceptance and travel to bring your child home is 6-10 months, depending on the Magistrate.

Process

ADOPTION PROCESS

CHI has worked in India since 1975.  We have professionals in India, as well as our U.S. staff ready to assist you through all the adoption steps.  Please contact us for a conversation about your adoption.

Contact Us
1

Apply to Children’s House International’s India Program.
2

Complete the Home Study Process with a CHI Social Worker or a Local Hague Accredited Social Worker and compile your dossier.
3

Submit Approved Home Study.
4

Apply for I-800A Approval from USCIS and the case manager will upload your approved home study and dossier documents to CARA (Central Adopting Resource Authority in India). Once you are approved by CARA, you will be placed in line for a referral. At this time, you will also be eligible to be matched with a waiting child on India’s CARINGS Site.
5

Receive a referral either directly from CARA or from the CARINGS site
  1. For a direct CARA referral, you will have a limited time in which to reserve a child. Then CARA allows an additional 30 days in which to decide to proceed with the adoption. During this time, you may visit the child, request additional information, etc.
  2. For a waiting child, you will have two weeks, to ask questions and speak to a doctor about the child´s health. Time extensions are allowed to receive additional information on the child´s health.
6

Finalize Dossier and obtain Apostille seals for the dossier documents.
7

Your I-800 will be submitted to USCIS.
8

USCIS will issue provisional approval for your family and you will apply for your child's visa. Once your visa is approved, the U.S. will send Article 5 to CARA. At this time CARA will submit your case for the CARA No Objection Certificate (NOC).
9

Upon receipt of Article 5 and CARA NOC, your original dossier will be sent to the SAA. Your file will then be submitted to the Magistrate.
10

The Magistrate will grant a full and final adoption to you under the Juvenile Justice Act. Once your adoption is granted, certified copies of the adoption order are applied for. The SAA will apply for the birth certificate and passport once they receive the adoption order.
11

Once CHI has received confirmation that the SAA has received the passport, you will prepare for travel.
12

In India, you will spend a few days in the town where your child is living to become acquainted and then travel to New Delhi for necessary visa appointments and apply for the exit permit.
13

After the embassy issues, the child’s visa and the exit permit is issued, the family is allowed to travel home!

Want To Learn More
About India?

CHI will be happy to talk to you to discuss your hopes and dreams concerning adopting from India.  Please contact us for a confidential conversation about your questions and thoughts.  Please also see the following sites.

Click here to go to the State Department Website!

Click here to go to the Centers for Disease Control Website on International Adoption!

Click here to go to the CIA World Factbook on all countries!

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Want to learn more about waiting children
in India?

Waiting children on Rainbow Kids!

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Waiting children on Rainbow Kids!

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Waiting children on Rainbow Kids!

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What parents say about us?

We are happy to share our families experiences
about Children's House International

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When we set out on our adoption journey, we asked close friends of ours who they had adopted through and whether they would recommend that agency. Our friends highly recommended Children's House International and we looked no further. Children's House... Read More>>

China Adoptive Family, Adopted from China

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We had an absolutely incredible adoption experience with Children’s House International!  Throughout every step of the process, communications were timely, straightforward, and frequent.  It was clear we had chosen an agency whom we could 100% trust, and who truly cares... Read More>>

Lanstrum Family, Adopted from Colombia

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We had a wonderful experience adopting thru CHI! We selected the Bulgaria program because it was predictable, close to our family’s heritage and because we liked the idea of being able to meet our child before committing to the adoption.... Read More>>

Adoptive Parents, Adopted from Bulgaria

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I just wanted to tell you how wonderful the last 10 years have been with my son. He was adopted from Romania in 2000. What a joy he has been to our family. He is now 11, almost 12, and... Read More>>

Nancy, Adopted from Romania

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Successfully having the paperwork move through the process. There is a feeling of accomplishment with each step and knowing we properly completed each requirement was what kept us going through the wait.

Jody, Adopted from China

You may be eligible for the Adoption Tax Credit! For 2023 the maximum dollar limit for the Adoption Tax Credit is $15,950 per child. Contact your tax advisor for more information