As with most adoptions, prospective adoptive parents must follow proper protocol. Completing a home study, filing required paperwork, and working with an approved adoption agency are the first steps in adopting from India. These steps are required and regulated by both the United States and the Indian government. India itself has its own guidelines and restrictions that differ from those required for domestic adoptions in the United States and other international adoptions. India is a member of the Hague Adoption Convention and adheres to the guidelines they set.

Prospective adoptive parents must be at least 25 years old, but not more than 45 years old if adopting a child aged four or younger. To adopt a child between the ages of four and eight a parent must be 29 to 50 years old. In order to adopt a child 8 years or older the parent must be between the ages of 33 and 55. The combined age of a married couple looking to adopt cannot exceed 110 years. 

Married couples hoping to adopt must prove that they have been in a stable relationship for at least two years. Same-sex couples are not authorized to adopt from India at this time. 

Prospective parents must meet income guidelines that are set by each individual adoption agency. They must prove that they are financially able to raise a child in a safe, healthy environment.

Single women adopting from India are free to adopt both girls and boys. Single men adopting are not permitted to adopt girls at this time.

Only families with fewer than four children, biological and or adoptive combined, are permitted to adopt from India. A second adoption from India will only be considered after the adoption of the first child is completed with the exception of siblings adopted simultaneously.

Prospective adoptive parents must not have any terminal or serious contagious illnesses or diseases. They must also be free of any physical or mental illness or limitation that may prevent them from properly caring for a child.

Take these guidelines into consideration when considering adopting from India and be sure to be patient with the process. All parties involved are doing their best to make sure these children end up the best situation possible. Adopting a child will be one of the greatest joys in your life. Follow the correct procedures and your new child will be in your arms before you know it.

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#1: Eligibility

Indian, Non-resident Indian, and Foreign citizens are all eligible to adopt a child from/in India. Eligibility requirements are the same for all.

#2: Marital Status

Single and married can adopt in India. Single people must be at least 21 yrs. However, they can be no older than 45. Unless you are adopting an older child, then you can be up to 55 years of age. Married couples need to have a combined age no older than 90. Couples should be married for more than two years. They can have divorces in their past, but only two between them.

#3: Religion

Your religion is not relevant. There is a law under which adoption takes place, called the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act 1956. It’s applicable to Hindus and religions similar to Hinduism. It means that no one can be excluded due to their religion.

#4: Other Children

Applicants may have up to two children already in the home, biological or adopted previously. If there is already a child in the home, you are expected to be open to adopting one of the opposite sex. If you are Hindu, you are required to adopt a child of the opposite sex than the one already in the home. You may be able to adopt two children at the same time if those two are biological siblings.

#5: Average Age & Wait Time 

The average age of a child to adopt is 18 months – 8 years old. The reason being India’s first priority is to place the children with domestic biological or adoptive families. Or Indo-American families first, to give them the opportunity to grow in-country or at least in the culture of their birth. The ages are increasing due to governmental processing times.

The overall timeframe to complete an adoption from India is generally 18-24 months and decreasing. While there are many older children available for adoption, generally at least half of the families in the India program are moving forward with a child under the age of three years.

Most of this time is just waiting for a referral. After being matched it takes 8-16 months for placement. Boys are generally placed sooner than girls.

#6: Openness

Open adoption is not a current practice in India. Rarely can an agency in India help facilitate some openness, but it is based on the individual case. If the birth parents are in contact with the agency, or if they are even interested, will determine the possibility of open adoption.

#7: Adoption Fees 

These really differ between agencies, and if you are an Indian Citizen vs. Indo-American or foreign citizen. There are application fees, home study fees, online training, service fees, background checks, fingerprinting, airfare, visas (if international) embassy fees, dossier fees, post-adoption visits, and finalizations. It can cost anywhere between $30,000 and $48,000, depending on location.

#8: Travel

India requires at least one of the adoptive parents to travel to India at least once. The average time there is 10-14 days. This includes meeting your matched child at the care center, some adjustment time, and final visa processing in New Delhi.

#9: Special Needs

Special needs can mean physical or cognitive needs that can require time, attention, and medical care. Or it could simply mean that the child matched is five years or older. Reputable agencies will be able to tell you social history, medical issues, and medical history if available, as well as non-identifying birth parent information if known, and a photo of the child.

The children available for adoption in India have ranged in age from infants to teenagers, with medical needs such as HIV, blood conditions, heart conditions, vision impairment, hearing impairment, cleft lip and palate, cerebral palsy, developmental delays, and other correctable medical conditions. Families who are of Indian heritage and have either OCI or NRI status may request to adopt healthy children. However, all foreign families must be open to adopting a child with a medical need, a sibling set, or a healthy older child.

About 47 percent of children in India are malnourished. So, all adoptive parents must understand the effects of malnutrition on the growth and development of the child.

#10: C.A.R.A

All adoptions in India are required to follow the procedure set out by the Central Adoption Resource Agency (CARA).

CARA primarily deals with adoptions of orphans, abandoned, and surrendered children through its associated/recognized adoption agencies.

India’s international adoption process is done in accordance with Hague Convention guidelines on intercountry adoption of children.

Most children live in government-run child care facilities that are licensed by CARA. 

Children may be orphaned in India due to poverty, disease, family or personal issues. India follows the best practices and standards according to the Hague international adoption guidelines to try to reunite the child with their biological family if at all possible, and when not possible to seek a domestic adoptive family, and then international adoptive family

India is a beautiful country with beautiful children waiting to find their forever family. I have had the opportunity myself to travel there once and travel from Mumbai, a huge city, to Pune and neighboring cities/states that are extremely rural. I was able to meet so many people and children from all backgrounds. It was an eye-opening experience for me. I had no idea of some of the living conditions and the level of poverty some people faced. To see kids walking along the street, begging for food and love, was heartbreaking!

If you are looking into adopting a child or children from this country, I hope this can help you get started on your journey.

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You may need to investigate more than one country to see which is the best fit for you in terms of your family and the country’s requirements. The Hague Convention, established in 2008, standardized the process somewhat amongst countries and established certain countries that are designated by the US government as being in compliance. The Hague Convention not only established consistency for requirements made of adoptive parents, but it also established consistency for the care of children being adopted into the US in their native country and helped ensure that adoptions from those countries are as ethical as possible. Some countries have moved in and out of Hague Compliance, and the list of countries that are Hague countries is generally in flux. To best determine which country will be the best fit for your family, make sure you are working with an agency in the US that has a lot of international adoption experience. 

International adoption is a wonderful way to strengthen your forever family and bring more love into your life. Although the process and requirements can seem daunting, don’t give up hope. You can find help and resources. Learn more about international adoption today and learn what your next step is. Before you know it you’ll be welcoming the next piece of your forever family into your home.

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This is how international adoption changed my life.

Fifteen years ago I was an empty nester and a newlywed….an old newlywed. Okay, not that old. I was old enough to know that when my new husband mentioned having more children it would turn my world around and sacrifices would have to be made.

I was old enough that chances of getting pregnant were slim and chances of being chosen as an adoptive couple for an infant were even slimmer. Previous experience with the United States foster care system made me think twice about that route, so I started looking at other options. I searched the internet and found beautiful children needing homes in other countries via international adoption! Research led me to Ukraine. 

In Ukraine we found our sons. A quiet ten year old with a strong will and determined strength and a stubborn five year old who wanted a Mom and Pop more than anything came home with us. I was right. They turned my world around.

Where I had been focused on career and professional growth, I now focused on teaching two little boys what family was all about. Where I was worried about how my home was decorated, I now had slips of paper labelling everything. Chair, lamp, door, bed were all English words and letters they had never seen. Where I was a go-with-the-flow drop-by-any-time home, we were now sticklers for a schedule so the boys would know stability.

I was proud of the fact that I had broken a family pattern. My two biological children were well adjusted and knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that I loved them come hell or high water. I now was determined that these two little boys would also know that kind of love. That was a high wall to climb. We spent a lot of energy working on building strong bonds.

Those two little boys turned my world around to a wonderful place where, “You know I love you, right Mom?” means the world to me.

It’s difficult to say how international adoption changed my life. I can’t imagine my life without international adoption. I have four children, equally important and part of my heart. Two of them were just detoured to Ukraine before they got home.

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Hindsight: A blessing and a curse. Here are 18 things I wish I had known before starting an international adoption.

1. That you will need a cart full of faith. Make sure you are healthy, physically, spiritually, and mentally.
2. Take a deep breath; do not have so much urgency and angst with the process. Be patient. If a mountain pops up in your way today, don’t panic. Wait for another day, or two, or three. Many things in adoption, both international and domestic, have a way of working themselves out if we but give it a little time.
3. Do not have a timeline for love. Those you serve, you always grow to love. Especially those you call family.
4. Research the country as much as possible.
5. Learn as much as possible about RAD (reactive attachment disorder).
6. Read and study toddler adoption.
7. Read and study transracial family adoption.
8. Journal everything! It’s amazing how much you will forget in a few short years after your travel ends. You will want to know those names, dates, and special people you meet along the way.
9. Language barrier–figure out how you will overcome this. We did this through music; we would sing church songs and kid songs a lot.
10. Ask the hard questions, and worry more about the ethics of the process. I come from a small town, and my family is Christian. We were raised very sheltered; I didn’t even know child trafficking was a thing. Much of international adoption is corrupt. Child trafficking is real. It’s absolutely ongoing.
11. Learn as much as you can about the people you will be working with at the international adoption agency. Has anyone at the stateside agency ever traveled to the country you are adopting from? Learn about everyone affiliated with the adoption in country. Head of the orphanage or foster home, Power of Attorney, any and all who say they are advocating for this child. Many are in adoption for the right reasons, many are not.
12. Spend as much time as possible in country. Each country is very different, but if at all possible I would say at least a month, if not more, depending on your situation.
13. Ask the hard questions, such as what happened to this child’s biological family. If you are told they were abandoned, always keep an ear out for the story to possibly change. If it does at any time, call them out on it. These are very real red flags. Prepare yourself to walk away from this adoption if at any time you realize you are part of a corrupt situation. Be willing to report it.
14. Learn as much as you can about culture in your country. Especially if you are adopting a teenager, it will be critical in you being able to empathize in what they are losing in coming to the United States.
15. Try and meet as many families as possible adopting from your country. We did this through a private Ghana Facebook page. Families share file information which was vital to our adoption. As well as do’s and don’ts in the country. Take to heart what other families are reporting about their process. You are not exempt from it all happening to you. They will also become your biggest fan base.
16. Listen to your power of discernment. If something doesn’t seem right, it most often isn’t. Even in another country, in another language. 
17. Cost of travel, I had no idea that the average airfare to Africa was $2500 for one ticket. A last minute trip for me, my husband, and our adopted child would end up costing us $10,000. There are travel agencies that help adoptive families find cost-effective flights.
18. You don’t have to be a world traveler to adopt internationally. I had only flown one time on a 45-minute flight before our adoption adventure began. In the end, I had 20 international flights under my belt. Each trip to Ghana consisted of a 30-hour rotation. So I would transition three flights each way.

Hindsight is a blessing if anyone can learn from our journey.

Starting an international adoption is scary, but with a bit of research and dedication, you and your child can thrive.

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Adopting internationally is no joking matter but let’s keep it light hearted as we walk down a list of seven things to be if you’re going to be an international adoptive parent.

7. A Private Investigator 

No need to go sleuthing in dark alleys, but you do need to research, research, research! US agencies, international agencies and contacts, websites, and everything between need to be scrutinized. You not only want a reputable organization you can trust, but you want the right fit for your family as well. Don’t hesitate to break out the magnifying glass and look in all the nooks and crannies until you find the match you feel is best!

 6. A Documents Analyst

Don’t put that monocle away just yet. You’ve got paperwork! Informational packets to read, questionnaires to complete, documents to sign, and sign, and sign, home studies to have translated, dossiers to complete –it can be overwhelming, but think like an analyst and take it one form at a time.

 5. A Juggler

While we’re on the subject of papers, let’s not forget phone calls, emails, your day job, your family, and oh, things like remembering to shower and eat. Start now and by the time your precious adopted child arrives, you’ll be juggling flaming batons (aka life) like a pro!

 4. A Gymnast

No, no, you don’t have to don a leotard and test your balance on a tiny beam, but you will definitely need a gymnast’s flexibility. Unexpected changes, delays, and surprises are all par for the course of an international adoptive parent. The more you can stretch those muscles the better you’ll be able to bounce back in the event of a setback.

 3. A Cross Country Runner

You’ve already got those legs warmed up from the stretches so go ahead and take a lap (or twenty) around the track. International adoption is not a sprint, it’s a marathon! You’re going to need stamina, especially in those last few miles when the goal is in sight but your legs are getting shaky. Plan self-care now to up your endurance game.

2. A Defense Attorney

There’s been no crime. In fact, your motives are as pure as they come, but prepare yourself to be grilled like a guest star on Law and Order. “Why did you pick that country?” “Don’t we have kids who need homes in the United States?” “How much money are you spending on this?” People often mean well, and sometimes they are just inconsiderate jerks who don’t understand boundaries. Either way, the more prepared you are to answer tough questions or to politely send your interrogators packing, the better.

 1. Job

You don’t have to become biblical Job as an international adoptive parent. I mean, really, who wants to search “potsherds” on Amazon? But you will need to tap into his infamous well-spring of patience. And not just patience for the process–it’s a doozy, but most importantly, patience with yourself. You’ll have days full of momentum and check marks on your to-do list. It’ll feel great! Then, you’ll have days when your heart is so heavy and the wait feels so long, you question it all. That’s okay, too. Curl up under a blanket and give yourself time to recover. The momentum will return and the cycle will continue. You can do this! And if you really feel the need, I guess you can rip up some of your clothes and roll around in ashes, but let’s be honest, you’re the one who has to clean that mess up so maybe just skip that part.

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International adoption can sometimes be romanticized, or can create a savior mentality. I’ve often heard, “Oh, he is so lucky you saved him!” Yes, my son is blessed, but so are we! We searched the world for him; so yeah, we are lucky to have found him, but he has completed our family and saved us more so than us saving him! Adopting internationally can be scary and it isn’t for everyone. When we adopted from Russia we thought we were prepared for what was coming. We were adventurous, loved to travel, and wanted a time frame for our first adoption situation. We had no idea the level of trust, the physical toll, the mental exhaustion, and ultimately the unknown changes that were ahead! Here are a few reasons why international adoption needs a lot of consideration before diving in.

International Adoption Involves a Lot of Trust 

Trusting complete strangers is a huge part of international adoption. Paying thousands of dollars in agency fees doesn’t sound appealing to anyone, but when you get in your chosen country, and have to carry thousands of dollars in cash to hand over to a stranger, you really hope it’s going to a good cause and not just being pocketed. Writing the checks to our agency didn’t seem half as bad. We had to have total trust in our agency and the adoption professional they sent to take care of us. We also knew when traveling abroad, we would have to trust our agency to arrange the transportation and all of our translating.

Thankfully, we had a wonderful agency that by the third trip we were quite comfortable that there would always be someone waiting for us at the airports or hotels. But, at first it was very scary to walk off a plane in the St. Petersburg, Russia International Airport. All we could do was hope someone was there to take us to a completely different domestic airport to catch our next flight! Not knowing the language and more surprising how to read the language put us at a huge disadvantage. We felt like little kids before learning to read!

International Adoption Involves Travel (Duh)

The trust factor we could work on and see that we had chosen the right agency. We could do nothing about how hard the traveling was on our bodies. Traveling through time zones, lay overs in different countries, trying to sleep on and off the planes, jet lag; these are all just words until you experience them.

On our third trip, my husband had a simple cold before we left, but after traveling it compounded and made for a miserable trip! While in Russia the time difference was 12-14 hours. That meant we were wide awake in the middle of the night, and running on excitement and adrenaline during the day. Not to mention the worry that comes with making sure you always have your passports, following all the rules so not to offend anyone, or the possibility of getting thrown in jail!

Most countries require you to travel at least once. You need to be prepared to be physically capable enough to handle the travel international adoption will bring. We made these trips four times due to some unforeseen problems that not everyone will face, but everyone should be prepared for.

Why International Adoption Risks the Unknown

We chose an international adoption because we liked many options it could offer, a timeline being one of them. We knew the risks of changes short notice, but never thought we could be affected. After making our first trip to meet our sibling referral, signing the papers to adopt our kids, and two days before making our second trip, we got a phone call that changed everything.

The aunt of our children, who had never visited them before, had been contacted and she wanted to keep them. Devastated is an understatement. Being mentally prepared and strong enough to handle the unknown is a must for at least one of the adopting parents. My husband helped me pull myself back together to make that next trip. Meeting our little man was such a blessing after the unknown of traveling back with no solution to losing our first kids. Leaving our kids every time in the orphanage, until we returned, was also so hard. I knew it was part of the process, but it didn’t make it any easier. All I wanted to do was take them home that moment and love on them.

No, international adoption isn’t for everyone, but neither is parenthood. It will come with a lot of ups and downs, but if you can mentally and physically handle whatever international adoption could bring it is totally worth it! I wouldn’t trade our experiences or my boy for anything in the world! 

If you are interested in beginning a foreign adoption, visit Adoption.com/international for guidance.

Samantha Morgan is a two-time adoptive mom and infertility survivor. Experienced in international and domestic adoption, Samantha loves sharing her motherhood story and experiences to help others find hope in their journey. Founder of Rush to Hope Ministries, she strives to build connections between people with similar paths so no one has to walk alone. You can read more from Samantha or get connected at RushtoHopeMinistries.com.

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With so many agencies to choose from, it can be quite intimidating. And you want to be very selective because of your finances, timeline, and sanity may depend on it! Here is my advice when choosing an international adoption agency.

First and foremost be in prayer and allow God to lead your decision; He knows where your littles will be! Have a good idea of the country or region you would like to adopt from before looking for an agency, and ask yourself some tough questions. What age range, race, gender, and disability level are you willing to accept? What is your timeline and budget? Talking about these questions will get you ready to discuss them with an agency so you are not blindsided with them all at once! Also, having these major questions worked out will help you avoid an agency steering you to a country where they need more adoptive parents, not where you feel led.

Now that you have worked all that out it’s time to find an agency. Here are seven things to consider when choosing the right international agency for you!

1. Research.

Do your homework on the country or countries you are interested in. As you search, you will find agencies who specialize in that country. Watch adoption stories on YouTube from that country, use Facebook to find groups or pages for people adopting from or that have adopted from that country.

2. Ask.

Talk to as many people as you can find, and ask them what agency they used. You want to find out if they would use that international adoption agency again, how was the communication, how was the travel arrangements, was the agency timeline and price accurate to what they paid?

3. Options.

Do not go with the first agency you find; you have options! The international adoption agency you use does not need to be in the state you live, you may never actually meet your caseworker. The only agency worker I ever met was in country! Contact several agencies before deciding on THE ONE. Call them, ask to talk with a caseworker for your country, ask them to mail or email you the country program fee schedule, and ask any other questions you may have. You will be spending a lot of money with them, consider this a job interview for them

4. Established.

Look for an agency that has been in the country of your choice for several years. Those agencies will have established good relationships with the orphanages and governments in your chosen country. This will make a huge difference. If you are really adventurous you could help an agency pilot a program in a new county, but make sure the agency has been working in similar countries.

5. Research again.

After you have narrowed the agencies you feel comfortable with, do your research on the agency. Every agency must be licensed by a state authority, and make sure you understand the difference between being licensed and being accredited. Look them up on Better Business Bureau. Read reviews, good and bad. When looking at a poor review check the date it was written. The agency may have taken that review to heart and updated policies or undergone staffing changes to alleviate those problems.

6. Agency references.

Ask for and contact references from the agency. Of course agency references will be good, but they can answer truthfully about communication between them and their caseworker, accuracy of the time frame, and travel experiences.

7. Small or large. 

Sometimes bigger isn’t always better. It’s easy to become just a number to the largest, most well-known agencies. Using a smaller international adoption agency may give you the one-on-one feel you are looking for, and less competition may mean faster placements. On the other hand, you may not need your hand held and feel a larger agency will know exactly how to get the job done.

Again, pray for God to lead you. After all this you will have a good feeling and connection with an agency. It will more than likely be THE ONE!

If you are ready to adopt an orphan and begin your foreign adoption journey, visit Adoption.com/international.

Samantha Morgan is a two-time adoptive mom and infertility survivor. Experienced in international and domestic adoption, Samantha loves sharing her motherhood story and experiences to help others find hope in their journey. Founder of Rush to Hope Ministries, she strives to build connections between people with similar paths so no one has to walk alone. You can read more from Samantha or get connected at RushtoHopeMinistries.com.

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