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 5 orphanages located in Pune, Latur, Nagpur, Orissa and Mumbia.
• 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

• Must live within the BAAS licensing area of northern California. Please read additional Legal Requirements.
• 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*:

Estimated costs for the BAAS India Program, including BAAS fees, $17,500 - $18,500 (does not include travel expenses). The following is a general estimate of the BAAS India Program fees and costs:

BAAS Fees:

• Application and Pre-Adopt Class Fee: $300
• BAAS Administration Fee: $1,000
• Homestudy Fee: $3,000
• Country Administration Fee: $1,000 (waived for BAAS India Program Clients)

BAAS India Program Fees:

• Initial Sign Up Fee: $4,000 - Includes
• Pre-Adopt counseling
• Dossier preparation
• India mailing and courier expenses
• Program Coordination.

• Referral Acceptance Fee: $1,000 (Due when you accept the referral.)
• Post referral counseling
• Post referral dossier

India Country Fee:

• Orphanage Fee: $3,500 (Due when you accept the referral.)
• CARA approved fee for a single child.  This fee is higher for siblings and twins.

Other Costs and Fees:

• Miscellaneous Fees: $1,000 - $2,000
• USCIS filing fees
• Procurement of documents (i.e., birth & marriage certificates, etc.)
• Photocopying of documents
• Notarization, Certification, Apostillization & Authentication expenses of official documents
• Court filing fees
• Post Placement Visits as required by India and the State of California ($2,100)
• Travel Expenses
• Airfare: International and Domestic
• Ground transportation
• Hotel
• Food
• Passport and Visa for Child
• Child’s medical exam

*Please note that this information is subject to change without notice as changes occur in government/country regulations and/or adoption procedures and/or adoption programs.  For the latest information, please call BAAS directly.