Children of the World, Inc has been placing children from India with US families for 20 years. We have also participated in disaster relief and medical and anti child trafficking programs.

Children available to US families who have no Indian heritage will be children with varying degrees of medical special needs. The children are well cared for in orphanages and receive excellent medical evaluations. Families can specify age, gender and type of medical need they feel prepared to parent.

 
 

ADOPTING FROM INDIA

APPROXIMATE COST

$35,000

AVERAGE TIME OF COMPLETION

18-24 months

YOUNGEST AGE OF CHILDREN AVAILABLE

1-3 years and up- all children placed have medical special needs, unless family has Indian heritage

AGE REQUIREMENTS FOR PARENTS

25+ YEARS

TRAVEL TIME IN COUNTRY : 
2-3 WEEKS

NUMBER OF TRIPS REQUIRED: 
1 trip*

CHILDREN ALREADY IN HOME: Maximum of 4 children already in the home.
The youngest child has to be at least 1 year old. 

LENGTH OF MARRIAGE REQUIRED: 
2 years

AGE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CHILD & PARENT: 
Minimum of 25 years

SIBLING GROUPS AVAILABLE:
Yes, but sibling groups are typically older children

POST PLACEMENT REQUIREMENTS:  
Quarterly reports for the first year and semi-annual reports for the second year, prepared by a social worker; Annual reports prepared by parents until the child reaches the age of 18.

PARENT REQUIREMENTS: 
Physically, mentally, and emotionally stable. 
Financially capable and motivated to adopt. 
No life threatening medical conditions.

COMBINED AGE OF PARENTS: 
Maximum of 110 years

AGE OF SINGLE PARENT:  
Maximum of 55 years

CITIZENSHIP:                                                               At least one parent must be a US citizen (by birth or naturalization)

**The age of the child you may adopt depends on the sum of the ages of both parents. If your combined age is less than 85 years, you may adopt a child age 0-2 years.  If your combined age is less than 90 years, you may adopt a child age 2-4 years old.

For more specific information about adoption requirements, adoption process, and country information, visit the US State Department website here.

Please note that the information below is subject to change without notice as changes occur in country and government regulations.

PREPARATION
HOME STUDY & DOSSIER
MATCHING WITH A CHILD

  • Research information on adoption service providers, country, and special needs.

  • Choose an agency and complete the application process.

  • Begin mandatory adoption education.

  • Identify a home study agency. Complete home study paperwork. If you live in Alabama, Children of the World will complete your home study.

  • Social worker makes home study visits. Social workers prepare, review, and approve home study report.

  • Complete dossier paperwork. Children of the World compiles and authenticates the dossier for you.

  • Children of the World will register you with CARA (Central Adoption Resource Authority.) You receive CARA approval. 

  • Children of the World monitors the CARA website for available children and identifies a child that meets your criteria.

  • Children of the World presents a referral file (child’s file) for your review and for medical review.

  • You choose to accept a referral and be matched with a child.

IMMIGRATION
TRAVEL
GETTING HOME

  • Begin the I-800 Process with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to approve you to adopt a child internationally. Submit I-800a and I-800 form with our assistance.

  • I-800 approval is received which verifies that you are approved to adopt a specific child that you have accepted.

  • Adoption decree in India is processed by the District magistrates. You are not present for the court process.

  • Court orders are issued. CARA reviews the court orders and issues a No Objection Certificate.

  • Indian birth certificate and child’s passport are obtained by orphanage staff.

  • Families are scheduled for travel only after the child’s birth certificate and passport are received in order to avoid unnecessary delays for you while in country.

  • You travel to India and are assisted by our in-country contacts. You typically spend 3-5 days in the city where the child resides and then travel to New Delhi to complete the embassy process.

  • Add your adopted child to your insurance.

  • Complete the legal processes in the U.S. which vary state by state, but usually consists of name change or re-adoption.

  • Apply for State Birth Certificate and Social Security Card for your child.

  • Change your child's name on their Certificate of Citizenship, if necessary.

  • Complete the required post placement visits by the social worker. The social worker will prepare the reports at the requested time according to the post placement schedule. Parent reports are completed annually until the child is 18 years old.

  • Consider ReAdoption. What is Readoption? In the case of intercountry adoptions, some countries issue a final adoption decree to the adoptive parents while they are in the country. But the parents may seek a readoption, an additional adoption in their home state beyond the one that occurred in the child's country. A readoption allows them to obtain an adoption decree and birth certificate from their state. Your adoption agency can provide information on readopting.

The process may appear overwhelming but Children of the World staff are available to assist in every step of the process.

 Learning More About International Adoption

Ready to learn more about international adoption, and how Children of the World can play a part? 

Visit our Beginning Your Journey Page for answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), review the minimum criteria for prospective adoptive parents, find resources to educate yourself on the topic, and learn how to begin the adoption process.