India Adoption

Country Profile: India is a country of great history. It is the second most populous country in the world, immediately following China. It borders China, Nepal, Pakistan, Bhutan, Myanmar, Bangladesh, and the Indian Ocean. It is also the largest democracy in the world.

Children Available: Babies to children age 12 are available. The adoption of two unrelated children at once is not allowed. The children are cared for in orphanges. Children are left as a result of poverty, neglect, death in the family, or single motherhood which is greatly looked down upon in India.

Requirements: Couples are allowed to adopt. Single women are permitted case-by-case, if they are between the ages of 30-45. Couples must be at least 30 years of age to adopt from India and no older than 55, however there is a requirement of a combined age difference of the parents and the child which is 90. Also, there must be no more than 45 years of an age difference between older parent and child. Couples must be married for 5 years, and must have no more than a total of 2 divorces. The number of children already in the family could be a factor for India as prioity is given to childless couples. Also, couples with just one child will be given priority. Exceptions to this are non-gender specific (open to boy or girl) and special needs adoption.

Time line: After submitting your dossier to India, the wait for referral can be anywhere between a few to 12 months. The wait is significantly shorter for special needs/older child adoptions, as well as adoptions in which at least one parent is of Indian heritage. The wait for the referral of a healthy, as young as possible, girl, seems to be the longest. After referral, the time to travel can be anywhere from 4-8 months.

Cost: $13,000- 16,000

Children placed in 2006: 320 children came home from India to the United States in 2006.

Adoption Agencies for Adopting from India:

• Americans for International Aid and Adoption
  
• Adoptions from the Heart
  
• Bethany Christian Services
  
• Children's House International
• Children's Home Society and Family Services
• Children of the Nations
• Children of the World
• Children of India
  
• Commonwealth Adoptions
• Dillon International, Inc.
• Families Through International Adoption
• Holt International
• Journeys of the Heart
• Love Basket, Inc.
• MAPS International Adoption
• World Association for Children and Parents
  

*Information is subject to change. If you have any comments, suggestions, or questions, please don't hesitate to contact me at: bound4meimei@yahoo.com