Key Organizations

Central Adoption Resource Agency (CARA)

CARA is India's adoption authority. CARA serves as a clearing house for information regarding abandoned/rilinquished/orphaned children available for international adoption.  CARA issues No-Objection Certificates for all intercountry adoptions.

Adoption Service Provider (ASP)

All prospective adoptive parents (PAP's must use a U.S. Based, Hague Accredited ASP).

Recognized Indian Placement Agency (RIPA)

All U.S. ASPs will work with a RIPA. The RIPA can also function as an orphanage.  The Indian placement agency files the paperwork with the court.  RIPA is responsible for the matching, referral and placement decision in each case, provided the child has been declared free for international adoption.

The Process

Because India is Hague Compliant, the following six steps must be followed IN ORDER to ensure all legal requirements are met.

1. Choose an Accredited Adoption Service Provider (ASP). Only Hague accredited agencies are permitted to provide adoption services in India.  Under Indian law, foreign prospective adoptive parents are required to use an agency that is approved by CARA.

2. Apply to be found eligible to adopt. This is accomplished by submitting a state approved, adoptive parent homestudy and accompanying documents to USCIS with the I-800A form. (Requirements for an India specific homestudy are included with the dossier requirements).

a. Once the adoptive parent has been approved to adopt by USCIS, the I-800A approval will be submitted with the dossier to CARA.

b. CARA will then determine the adoptive parent's eligibility to adopt under Indian law. It is important to note that being determined eligible to adopt by CARA does not guarantee placement of a child.

c. CARA will match the adoptive parent with a RIPA.

3. Be matched with a child.

a. Matching will be done in country by the assigned RIPA. The match will be based on adoptive parents child preferences.

4. Apply for the child to be found eligible for adoption (This will be done concurrently with step 5).

a. When the Adoptive Parent accepts the referral for a child, the family will apply to USCIS to adopt that particular child.

b. CARA issues a letter of approval of the match (Artical 16).

c. If the U.S. Embassy in New Dehli determines the child meets the criteria to be placed for international adoption and is eligible to immigrate to the US, the consulate will issue what is called the Article 5 letter.

5. Adopt the Child. All four of the above steps must be completed before the adoption can be legally finalized in India.

a. Adoptive family will return the signed referral paperwork to RIPA.

b. RIPA will send required clearances to CARA for approval.

c. CARA will issue a No Objection Certificate and send it to the RIPA.

d. RIPA will obtain the court order from the Indian courts with all required documents and will approve the placement of the child with the PAP.

e. The RIPA will send the copy of the court order to all parties involved.

f. CARA issues and sends the Article 23 letter (Receipt for the US Embassy that CARA received the adoption court order.

6. Bringing your child home: Once step #5 is complete, the child is legally yours.  Adoptions are full and final in India.  The following steps must be taken to travel back to the US with the child.

a. Obtain a birth certificate from RIPA.

b. Obtain an Indian Passport. Your child will not be a US Citizen until he or she arrives in the US.

c. US Immigrant Visa.

Time Frame

3-4 months: Application and Dossier Preparation

18-24 months (After receiving approval from CARA): Matched with a child.

Up to 2 months: From the time the referral has been accepted to the time the Indian courts finalize the adoption.

These times frames can be greatly reduced in the case of older and/or special needs children.