Journeys of the Heart Adoption Services (JOH) is pleased to offer an India Child Adoption Program that is available to families with and without Indian heritage.  On April 1, 2008, the Hague Treaty officially went into effect for the United States.  It has been signed by many countries and strives to protect the children involved in international adoption by ensuring ethical and standardized practices throughout the United States and other countries which have signed the treaty.  India is one of the countries that has signed the Treaty as well, therefore, in order place children from India a US agency must have received Hague accreditation.  JOH received this accreditation in March 2008. 

Non-Resident Indian (NRI) families in which one spouse has an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card or is an Indian citizen with one parent being an American citizen are eligible to adopt a healthy infant.  Non-Indians or Non-NRI families are eligible to adopt children of all ages who have medical or physical issues (some minor and/or correctable) or healthy children five years old and above.  See Journeys’ waiting children page at our website www.journeysoftheheart.net.

International adoptions have been occurring in India for over 30 years.  While Indian adoption laws and regulations do change from time to time, international adoptions have always continued.  Many children who grow up in orphanages would face a life on the streets without job skills, family, or status in Indian society.  International adoption, when no family within India is found, is their best hope and truly in their best interest.

JOH’s India program coordinators visit India as frequently as possible and have strong working relationships with the orphanages and staff who provide excellent care to the children.  All the orphanages JOH works with are licensed by CARA, the Central Adoption Resource Authority in New Delhi, and have years of experience in processing adoptions.  JOH has been by licensed by CARA to complete international adoptions in India since 1999.  JOH’s current CARA license is valid through June, 2014.

Indian law gives the birth mothers the right to change their minds for up to two months after the child’s abandonment or relinquishment.  After this two month period, Indian citizens living in India are given a chance to adopt the child.  If no family in India adopts the child then the child can be cleared and referred for international adoption, with first priority given to NRI/OCI families. 

All children referred to adopting parents have the appropriate clearances and are legally available for adoption. 

Time frames for completion of the adoption depend upon the region of India where the child resides, the judge, and other factors specific to the case.  Strikes, holidays, change of judges and other officials, as well as political and social situations can affect the time frames.

Medical testing for HIV and Hepatitis B, as well as a routine medical exam are performed on each child and results are available to adopting families.

Families also receive a social report and pictures at the time of child referral.  Background and birthparent information is generally not available to adoptive parents.  JOH does its best to obtain updated information during the process, but JOH cannot guarantee the frequency of updates.

Most international adoptions in India result in the adopting parents receiving a legal guardianship from the Indian courts.  In guardianship cases, the United States allows the child to immigrate to the U.S. with an IH-4 visa or an IR-4 Visa.  All guardianships must be finalized in the United States and can be done so after the adopting parents satisfy the post placement requirements of their state of residence, and then “Finalize” the adoption in a local US court.  NRIs who are Hindu may be able to adopt under the Hindu Adoption Act, and receive a full and final adoption in India.  In cases of full and final adoptions, the United States will issue the child an IH-3 visa or an IR-3 Visa to enter the U.S.  In the case of a final adoption, adopting parents must still complete the mandatory post placement requirements and do a local court “Recognition of a Foreign Adoption”.

***Faster referral times are possible for families who have a valid I-600A initiated prior to April 1, 2008.

REQUIREMENTS

Ø  The United States requires that one parent be an American citizen in order to adopt and have an adopted orphan child immigrate to the United States on an IH-3/IR-3 or IH-4/IR-4 visa.

Ø  The CARA guidelines state that individuals must be between ages 30-55 years old to adopt.  However, to adopt a toddler or younger age child, the combined age of parents must be under 90 years old, with preference for a maximum age of 40 for infant referrals.  Flexibility regarding age is possible but that should be confirmed with the India Program Coordinator. No parent over the age of 55 is eligible to adopt.

Ø  Single women are eligible to adopt through the India Program.

Ø  In most cases, families should not have more than two children already in the home.  Exceptions can be made when seeking to adopt a child with a serious special need, as well as children who have waited a long period of time.

Ø  Couples need to demonstrate a stable relationship of at least five years, and have been married a minimum of 3 years.

Ø  Depending on the orphanage or court, a history of divorce may be acceptable.  JOH does work with some orphanages which are open to couples with a history of divorce.

Ø  Adopting parents must prepare and send post placement reports, including photos, to JOH as required by the court quarterly for the first two years unless the court order states differently.  JOH will forward the reports to India.

Ø  The India program is open to consideration for families with unique circumstances, particularly for the children who have medical or physical issues.

Indian adoption law prohibits homosexuals from adopting; JOH must abide by the laws of the countries we work with.

CHILDREN AVAILABLE

Ø  Children from the ages of 3 to 15 years old are available while most fall into the range of 5 to 8 years old.  Infants and toddlers with special needs are occasionally available.  Siblings are occasionally available and are always placed together.  Infants will be 16-20 months and up at the time that they come home.

Ø  Healthy infants ( 6 to 12 months at time of referral) may be available to qualified NRI/OCI families. 

Ø  Usually no background information prior to the child’s admission to the orphanage is available.

Ø  Most infants entering orphanages have been born to unwed mothers.  Older children may come into care due to the loss of a parent, poverty or other circumstances.  

Ø  Both boys and girls are available for adoption; Referral times vary depending on the age, gender and number of families in the program.  Currently our referral time for infants and young toddlers is approximately 18-24 months after receipt of your I-800a approval.  The referral times for older children and children with special needs may be less.

Ø  JOH generally has a number of “waiting” children with special needs.  Please visit the JOH website to learn more.  Go to www.journeysoftheheart.net

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING JOH’S INDIA PROGRAMS

In accordance with Hague laws, families must have an approved I-800a in order to be officially matched with a child.  Once the immigration approval (I-800a) and other necessary documents have been received in our offices Journeys will:

Ø  Provide you with dossier document list and templates as needed.  Guide you through the dossier preparation.  Review and arrange the documents into a proper dossier for presentation

Ø  Notify you when you have been referred a child if you have not already chosen a waiting child

Ø  Provide you with the referral information.

Ø  Once child referral is accepted by adoptive family, JOH will assist with preparing Child Acceptance documents and forward all dossier and Child Acceptance paperwork to appropriate entities in India.

Ø  Communicate with the orphanage regarding details of your case as appropriate.

Ø  Provide you with updates, as available, including receiving the CARA approval (NOC - no objection certificate), receipt of guardianship or adoption documents, issuance of the child’s Indian passport.

Ø  Provide you with thorough travel preparation and notification of time to travel.

Ø  Guide you through all steps necessary for obtaining your child’s visa in India.

The orphanage staff in India will:

Ø  Handle all adoption formalities and any other relevant matters including obtaining the child’s passport.

Ø  Provide the family with the necessary Indian documents for processing the immigrant visa.

For more information on Journeys of the Heart India Child Adoption Program please email Katie Balske at Katie@journeysoftheheart.net  or Jenny Mills at jenny@journeysoftheheart.net or call the JOH Home office (503) 681-3075, 9 AM to 5 PM, Pacific Time.

The Journeys of the Heart India Child Adoption FAQ - Read it here

Children From India Waiting For Adoption - Please Click Here