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The Central Adoption Resource Authority (“CARA”) is the Central Authority in India. In 1994, CARA enlisted (registered) Holy Cross Child Placement Agency, Inc. as an agency authorized to provide international adoption services to American families seeking to adopt a child from India. Each year since 1994, Holy Cross has worked with authorized placement agencies in India to find loving families for Indian children. We have visited orphanages inside of India and met with CARA representatives. We are continually developing our relationships with the individuals and organizations that perform the in-country adoption procedures.
Adoption Authority in India
As part of the Ministry of Welfare, CARA regulates adoptions and maintains a list of recognized foreign adoption agencies around the world enlisted by the government of India. Holy Cross is proud to be one of the Government of India approved agencies for inter-country adoption of children from India. We can be found on the CARA website at http://www.adoptionindia.nic.in/.
Eligibility Requirements
- There is no upper age limit for an adoptive parent; however, the general principle is that the combined age of the parents should be no more than 90 years. A single parent can adopt and must be at least 25 years of age, and should preferably be between 30 and 35 years of age;
- At least one adoptive parent must be a U.S. citizen;
- CARA states that the couple should preferably have been married for at least five years to attest for the stability of the relationship; and
- The order of preference for the adoption of Indian children is 1) an Indian family in India, 2) an Indian family abroad, 3) one parent of Indian origin abroad, and 4) totally foreign.
Steps for International Adoption in India
- Begin the Home Study Process. Click here for a detailed explanation of the Home Study process. The Home Study Report will be reviewed by the Indian placement agency, CARA and USCIS to determine whether you can provide a child with proper care and a safe home. The Home Study must be submitted in support of Form I-800A. USCIS will not accept a Home Study that is more than six months old unless it is accompanied by an update that is less than six months old.
- File Form I-800A, Application for Determination of Suitability to Adopt a Child from a Convention Country, with USCIS. You can view and print Form I-800A in PDF format by clicking here http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/I800A.pdf.
- Once USCIS approves your Form I-800A, Holy Cross will forward your Dossier to CARA. CARA will then make a determination as to your eligibility to adopt under India’s laws.
- Holy Cross will also forward your Home Study Report and Dossier to an Indian placement agency in India. The Indian agency will attempt to match your Home Study Report with a child eligible to be adopted.
- Once a child is identified and cleared for adoption, the Indian agency will forward to Holy Cross the Child Study Report and Medical Examination Report (“Article 16 Report”).
- If the proposed placement is accepted, the adoptive parents will file Form I-800, Petition to Classify Convention Adoptee as an Immediate Relative, and the Article 16 Report with USCIS for permission to adopt the child. You can view and print Form I-800 in PDF format by clicking here http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/I-800.pdf.
- USCIS will provide provisional approval of your Form I-800 and forward it to the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi. You will be required to submit a DS-230 Visa Application to the Embassy along with other documents.
- The Embassy will then forward an Article 5 letter to CARA stating that you are a suitable adoptive parent and that the child can enter and live with you in the United States.
- Upon receipt of the Article 5 letter, CARA will issue a “No Objection Certificate” authorizing the Indian agency to process the case with the competent court for awarding the guardianship of the child to the prospective adoptive parents.
- On the basis of the guardianship order, the Indian agency will apply in the Regional Passport Office to obtain an Indian passport for the Child.
- You and the child will then attend a final visa interview at the Embassy where you will present the guardianship order. Your Form I-800 will receive final approval and the child will be issued an IH-4 visa.
Preparing Your Dossier
During the Home Study process, you should begin assembling the documents needed for your Dossier. Holy Cross will provide you with many of these documents, others will need to be obtained by you. The Dossier consists of documents that will be included in your legal application for guardianship in the Indian courts. Most of the documents must be notarized and certified with a Hague Convention Apostille issued by the Secretary of State’s office in the State where you reside. Once your Dossier is complete, Holy Cross will forward it CARA and an Indian placement agency to begin the referral process.
The following documents are generally needed for your Dossier:
- A favorable adoption Home Study Report;
- Copy of your Home Study agency's license;
- Recent photographs of the prospective adopting parent family;
- Certified physician’s medical/physical report for adoptive parent(s);
- Certified police clearance for adoptive parent(s);
- Certified birth certificate of adoptive parent(s);
- Certified marriage certificate of adoptive parents;
- Certified divorce decree (if applicable);
- Three letters of reference;
- Copy of biographic passport pages;
- USCIS Form I-800A approval notice;
- Federal Income Tax returns for the last three years;
- Declaration of financial status;
- Employment certificate stating your length of employment, job title, and salary;
- Bank reference letter;
- Declaration of consent and willingness of adoptive parent(s);
- Declaration concerning state of health of the adoptive parent(s);
- Undertaking from Holy Cross providing that the child would be legally adopted by the adoptive parent(s) according to U.S. laws within a period not exceeding two years from the date the child arrives in the United States;;
- Undertaking from the adoptive parent(s) that the child would be provided necessary education and upbringing according to the status of adoptive parent(s);
- Undertaking from Holy Cross providing that a report relating to progress of the child along with his/her recent photograph would be sent quarterly during first two years, and every six months for the next three years;
- Power of Attorney from the adoptive parent(s) in favor of offices of the Indian placement agency, which will be required to process the case;
- Certificate from Holy Cross providing that the adoptive parent(s) is/are permitted to adopt a child according to U.S. law;
- Undertaking from Holy Cross providing that in case of disruption of the family of the adoptive parent(s) before legal adoption has been affected, it will take care of the child and find a suitable alternative placement for the child with the approval of CARA.; and
- Undertaking from Holy Cross providing that it will reimburse all expenses to the concerned Indian agency as fixed by a competent court towards maintenance of the child and processing charge fees.
The Post-Placement Process
Click here for a detailed explanation of the Home Study and Post-Placement process. India requires four Post-Placement Reports completed at three, six, nine and 12 months after your child arrives in the United States. The Reports will be sent for review to USCIS as well as the Government of India.
Finalizing Your Adoption
India law does not allow the adoption to be finalized in India if the prospective adoptive parents are non-Hindu. The prospective adoptive parents can only obtain legal guardianship over the child. In this case, the U.S. Embassy will issue an IH-4 visa to your adopted child, which requires that the full and final adoption takes place in the U.S. according to the laws of your State of residence. After the child enters the U.S., he/she must be adopted within two years.
Once you have completed the Post-Placement process, the Post-Placement Reports will be submitted to the court having jurisdiction over your adoption, and a formal hearing will be held in order to finalize the adoption.
The Costs to Adopt in India
The program costs listed below are estimates associated with adopting a child from India. Actual costs may vary on a case-by-case basis. All fees are subject to change without notice. No fees are refundable after services are rendered.
| Fees in the United States | |
| Application | $250 |
| Holy Cross Home Study | $1,650 |
| USCIS (Form I-800A or I-800) | $670 |
| Fingerprinting (per adult) | $80 |
Agency fee:
This includes assembling documents included in your Dossier; legalizing your Dossier documents; management of your adoption case; liaison with government and agency authorities; and administrative/office expenses. | $6,000 |
| Dossier expenses | $300-600 |
| Post-Placement (per report) | $300 |
| Fees in India | |
India processing fee
This includes: Legal fees in India; translation of all your documents; medical check-ups; and all court fees. | $3000-5000
(varies) |
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