How to Adopt a Child From India
If you're planning to build your family through adoption, consider adopting a child from India. During 2004 there were 406 Indian children adopted by U.S. citizens. In 2005 U.S. citizens adopted 323 children from India. While adoptions from India are not as common as adoptions from China or Russia, there are many beautiful Indian children looking for their forever families.
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Instructions
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Check the U.S. Department of State's website for specific information about adoption from India. Regulations and state department advisories can change periodically.
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Identify various agencies that facilitate adoptions from India. Agencies facilitating adoptions work with specific orphanages in India, so they will have varying eligibility requirements.
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Contact the agencies you have selected to determine if you are eligible to adopt a child from India based on their requirements. Keep in mind that some agencies require that at least one of the adoptive parents be of Indian descent.
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Select an agency or social worker to complete your home study. Some agencies have social workers who complete the home study for them. Other agencies will require you to find your own social worker.
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Complete the USCIS's Application for Advanced Processing of an Orphan Petition, also known as the I-600A form. Your agency can assist you in this process.
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Complete your dossier with assistance from your agency. While dossier requirements vary from one agency to the next, most dossiers will include the following information: certificates of birth, marriage and divorce; financial and employment statements; medical information, police clearance, USCIS approval to adopt an orphan, photos and passports.
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Send your dossier to India through your adoption agency and then wait for a referral. The wait time varies, but can be anywhere from 12 to 15 months. Families requesting a boy will have a shorter wait.
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Accept the referral for your child and then wait another 5 to 7 months for legal paperwork to be completed.
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Wait 1 to 2 months for clearance to travel to India to bring home your child. Some agencies will allow an escort to bring your child to you.
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Tips & Warnings
Prepare for delays. International adoption is not a predictable process and delays do occur. Preparation for possible delays is important.
Select your agency carefully. Ask for references from families and check the agencies status with the Better Business Bureau.
You will work with your agency to complete post-placement reports for five years.
Don't attempt to complete an adoption without an agency.
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Comments
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Yes, difficult process:(
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vcrfix
Sep 19, 2007
" Send your dossier to India through your adoption agency and then wait for a referral. The wait time varies, but can be anywhere from 12 to 15 months. Families requesting a boy will have a shorter wait." This seems the reverse that a request for a boy is a shorter wait? Can a single non-custodial parent adopt a child? -
vcrfix
Sep 19, 2007
" Send your dossier to India through your adoption agency and then wait for a referral. The wait time varies, but can be anywhere from 12 to 15 months. Families requesting a boy will have a shorter wait." This seems the reverse that a request for a boy is a shorter wait? Can a single non-custodial parent adopt a child?
