India

Bay Area Adoption Services is privileged to be among the agencies licensed by CARA for international adoptions from India. Through our full service India program, BAAS assists clients with all the necessary steps for completing an adoption from India. This includes: conducting the homestudy, dossier preparation, obtaining a referral, pre and post referral counseling, post placement visits, and assisting families to finalize their adoption after they return home with their child.

BAAS India Program

• Families can accept referrals through the BAAS full service program. We currently work with 3 orphanages located in Pune, Latur, and Nagpur.
• Families can complete their homestudy with BAAS and choose to transfer to any other full service India program.
• As a part of our full service program, BAAS will also work with families that have selected an orphanage of choice and will manage and coordinate the adoption process on their behalf.
• BAAS does not support independent adoptions. As per CARA guidelines “No application by a foreigner, NRI/PIO for taking a child in adoption should be entertained directly by any social or child welfare agency in India.”

Eligibility

• Couples married for a minimum of 5 years and between the ages of 30 to 45.
• Combined age of couple cannot exceed 90 years.
• At least one spouse must be a U.S. citizen. 
• OCI and NRI couples are in the preferred category and wait times are slightly shorter.
• Non Indian couples must be open to considering mild to moderate special needs, older children, or siblings 
• Same sex couples are not eligible.
• Single Indian women are eligible.
• Single non Indian women must be open to considering mild to moderate special needs, or older children.
• Those between the ages of 45 to 55 years may be eligible to adopt an older child or one with special needs.
• A history of substance abuse, criminal background, unstable relationships, medications for psychological issues, and serious medical illnesses will not be considered by Indian orphanages. 

Type of children available

• The most common reasons for children to be abandoned or relinquished are financial hardships and/or social stigma for unwed mothers.
• Male and female children are available and families may request a gender preference.
• Children referred are typically between the ages of 10 months to 3 years.  The wait time is longer for children under the age of 1 year.
• Older children upto 12 years of age and sibling groups may also be available.
• The children are generally well cared for in the orphanages and receive regular medical checkups.
• Many of the children referred for intercountry adoption, are born premature, with low birth weight, and may have mild to moderate special needs. 

Adoption Process:

• Apply to BAAS and attend a mandatory Preadopt class.
• Complete the homestudy process.
• Receive CIS approval.
• Prepare dossier.
• Wait for a referral; varies from 6 to 18 months depending on legal status of the adoptive parents and type of child requested.
• Accept referral.
• Wait for CARA clearance (NOC).
• Wait for legal clearance from the Family Court.
• Travel to India and receive guardianship of child (about 2 weeks).
• Apply for child’s visa; your child will have an Indian passport and needs a travel visa. 
• Return to U.S. with your child.
• Complete post placement visits.
• Finalize adoption through U.S. courts and obtain U.S. citizenship for your child.

Fees and Costs:

Approximately $16,000 as outlined in the detailed fee structure below.
India Country Program fees are as follows:

BAAS fees:

• Application and Preadopt class ($300)
• Program fee ($1,300)
• Homestudy ($2,600)

First India program fee: $ 4000 (Due when you sign up for full service.)

• Preadopt counseling
• Dossier preparation
• India Staffing and expenses
• Coordination

Second India program fee: $4,500 (Due when you accept the referral.) 

• Post referral counseling
• Post referral dossier
• Program management
• $3,500 to be sent to the orphanage as CARA approved fees for a single child. This fee is higher for siblings and twins. 

Third India Program fee: $ 1,500
(Due before you travel to bring your child home.)  

• Humanitarian aid   

Other costs that clients will incur: $6,000 (approximately)

• Post placements ($1,500)
• Airfare; international and domestic
• Ground transportation in India
• Hotel
• Food
• Passport and visa for child
• Child’s medical exam.
• Court documentation expenses.
• Notary, authentication, apostilling expenses