Ecuador Adoption

India Process Overview

While each adoption process will vary depending on a family’s unique circumstances, here is an overview of what to expect when adopting from India:

• Pre-Application: You can begin with a free pre-application to find out if you meet basic eligibility.  You will need to meet both U.S. and India requirements. Once eligibility is confirmed, you can move forward with completing the full adoption application. 

• Application: Once you decide to move forward with adopting from India, you will complete the full adoption application with AWAA.  Submitting this application marks the first official step in the India Adoption process. After your application is approved, you will proceed with your home study. 

• Home Study: Each family will need a completed home study, which includes background checks, medical and financial records, reference letters, and psychological evaluations. Pre-adoptive education training is also required to prepare families for the adoption journey. Once your home study is completed, you can file your I-800A application and register on CARINGS. 

• I-800A: Families will need to apply for an I-800A. This is the initial approval families will apply for with the United States Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS).  This approval allows a family to bring a child to the United States through International adoption.  Families must receive their I-800A approval in order to be considered eligible to be matched with a child’s referral. 

• CARINGS Registration: Each family has a set of documents that are required to be uploaded on the Central Adoption Resource Authority’s website (CARINGS). This is the way India’s Adoption Authority (CARA) reviews and approves each case. This system ensures transparency compliance with the India’s regulations and proper tracking of each adoption case. 

• CARA Approval: Once CARA reviews all of the family’s documents, the family will receive CARA approval and are now qualified to be matched with a child’s referral, bringing them one step closer to completing their adoption journey. 

• Referral Wait Time: Waiting for a referral depends on several factors, including the family’s preferences and their approval regarding the child’s age, gender, special needs.  It is also dependent on the children available for adoption at that time. 

• Referral Acceptance and Finalization: Once a referral is received, families have the opportunity to review the child’s information with their doctor and an adoption specialist, helping them feel confident in accepting the match. Once a child’s referral is accepted, the family can begin working towards completing the final paperwork necessary to finalize their adoption and bring their child home. 

• I-800: The I-800 approval is issued by USCIS, linking the information of the child a family has decided to adopt to their original I-800A approval. Once a family has accepted a referral, typically they will be able to file the I-800 application right away, taking an exciting step closer to welcoming their child home. This step is required to receive the Article 5 and finalize the dossier submitted to India.  

• Article 5: The Article 5 is the official approval issued by the U.S. Embassy, confirming that the prospective adoptive parents are qualified and approved to adopt the child, and the child meets all the legal requirements of being free for adoption. This step is required to receive the No Objection Certificate from CARA (NOC) and submit the final dossier to India. 

• Dossier: An India adoption dossier is a complete set of official documents compiled by a prospective adoptive family and submitted to child’s orphanage as part of the adoption process.  It serves as the family’s formal application for adoption and provides a detailed overview of their eligibility, background, and readiness to adopt.  The dossier must be received for the orphanage to file for the family’s final Adoption Order.  It also includes formal referral acceptance paperwork and the final Article 5 approval.  The family will work to compile dossier through the process, submitting it to India once their Article 5 approval has been received.

• NOC: The No Objection Certificate (NOC) is India’s official approval confirming that there is no objection to the family finalizing the adoption. This approval can be applied for once the Article 5 is issued, and this approval must be received for the orphanage to file for the family’s final Adoption Order.

• Adoption Order: An Adoption Order from India is the official legal document issued by India that finalizes the adoption of a child. It confirms that the child is legally and permanently placed with the adoptive family and grants the family full parental rights. An orphanage can file for the Adoption Order to be issued once they have received the family’s dossier and the NOC approval from CARA.  

• Passport: Once the final Adoption Order has been issued, the orphanage is able to apply for the child’s birth certificate. CARA is also able to issue the Article 23, Certificate of Conformity, confirming that the adoption conformed to the adoption regulations of the Hague Convention.  Once the birth certificate and Article 23 are issued, the orphanage can apply for the child’s passport, necessary for the child to travel home to the United States.  

• Travel and Time In-Country: Once your child’s passport has been received, it’s time to plan the long-awaited trip to India — a moment filled with joy and excitement! Most families spend about 1–2 weeks in-country and typically make only one trip. You’ll first travel to the region your child is from to take custody, then fly to Delhi for final adoption appointments, including your child’s medical clearance, visa, and exit permits. Our America World team will coordinate all necessary appointments and travel plans, ensuring all documents are in order. An in-country representative will be with you every step of the way — accompanying you to the orphanage, assisting with each adoption-related matter, and providing any needed support. Our team can also arrange sightseeing opportunities to make your trip even more memorable. With years of experience navigating each step of the process, we’re committed to helping families travel smoothly and focus on what matters most — bonding with the child they’ve spent years praying and preparing to bring home.

• Post-Adoption Reporting: India requires six in-person, in-home Post Adoption Reports at 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, and 24 months after arrival home. America World also requires a 1-month self-report. India reserves the right to request additional post-adoption reports, including annual updates.