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 are very familiar 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. 

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 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.

Families receive a social report and pictures at the time of referral.  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 guardianship of the child to be adopted from the Indian courts.  The United States allows the child to immigrate to the U.S. with 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.  NRIs who are Hindu may be able to finalize their adoption in India if the orphanage allows that process.  The United States will issue the child an IR-3 Visa to enter the U.S.  All adopting parents must complete the mandatory post placement requirements regardless of whether the child came home on a guardianship (IR-4) or with an adoption decree (IR-3).

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 IR-3 or IR-4 visa.

Ø      To adopt a toddler or younger age child, the combined age of parents must be under 90 years old.  The CARA guidelines state that individuals must be between ages 30-55 years old.  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      Families with no more than two children will be allowed to adopt.  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 be married and demonstrate a stable relationship of at least five years.

Ø      Depending on the region of India and its judges, one or two divorces per parent may or may not be acceptable.

Ø      Single women are allowed to adopt from our India Child Adoption program.

Ø      Adopting parents must prepare and send post placement reports, including photos, to JOH as required by the court twice a year for 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.

CHILDREN AVAILABLE

Ø      Children from the ages of 3 to 12 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 are available to qualified NRI families.  The babies will be 16-20 months old and up when they come home.

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

Ø      Most children are available because they are born to unwed mothers

Ø      Boys and girls are available; Referral time is approximately 6-18 months after a completed, approved home study is received (shorter or longer time frames are possible).

Ø      Children with special needs are always available.  Please visit the JOH website to learn more.  Go to www.journeysoftheheart.net

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING JOH’S INDIA PROGRAMS

Once the approved home study and other necessary documents have been received in our offices Journeys will:

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      Provide you with dossier document list and templates as needed

Ø      Review and arrange the documents into a proper dossier for presentation

Ø      Notify you when your dossier has been sent to 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 papers and issuance of the passport.

Ø      Provide you with final approval and notification of time to travel

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

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 visa, including the NOC, the court order and the relinquishment or abandonment documents as well as the birth affidavit (if available).

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

Children From India Waiting For Adoption - Please Click Here

Introducing the Journeys of the Heart Adoption Services 'Love Grant'.  In special circumstances, Journeys of the Heart is able to offer 'scholarships' or 'grants' for children waiting for adoption.  The amount of the grant will significantly lower the overall expenses associated with the adoption of that particular child.  Please visit our Waiting Children Page to learn more by clicking here.