India is a party to the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (Hague Adoption Convention or Convention).  Intercountry adoption processing in Convention countries must be done in accordance with the requirements of the Hague Adoption Convention; the U.S. implementing legislation, the Intercountry Adoption Act of 2000 (IAA); the IAA’s implementing regulations and U.S. adoption-related immigration policies; as well as the implementing legislation and regulations of India.  Please see below in the Who Can Adopt, Who can be Adopted, and How to Adopt sections for more detail on the intercountry adoption steps involving India.

India’s intercountry adoption procedures are governed by regulations implemented in 2017 and updated in 2022.  Please refer to the Central Adoption Resource Authority's (CARA’s) website for information. 

We are aware there are also prospective adoptive parents who reside abroad who wish to adopt a child from the United States.  Please see our section on Adoptions from the United States for more information on the process for adopting a child from the United States.  

In addition to being found suitable and eligible to adopt by USCIS, prospective adoptive parents (PAPs) seeking to adopt a child from India must meet the following requirements imposed by India:

• Minimum Residency: There are no residency requirements.  However, some Specialized Adoption Agencies (SAAs) may ask PAPS to reside with the child for seven days before departing India in order to bond with the child. 
• Age of Adopting Parents:  
  • If single, the PAP must be no more than: 
    • 45 years of age if adopting a child aged four years or younger; 
    • 50 years of age if adopting a child between five and eight years; or 
    • 55 years of age if adopting a child aged eight years and older. 
  • If married, the PAPs combined age must be no more than: 
    • 90 years if adopting a child age under four years; 
    • 100 years if adopting a child between four and eight years, or 
    • 110 years if adopting a child eight years and older. 
  • These provisions may be relaxed in exceptional cases, such as the adoption of older children, siblings, and children with special needs, and they do not apply in cases of relative adoptions or adoption by a step-parent. 
  • The minimum age difference between the child and either PAP shall not be less than 25 years. 

For more specific information about the age restrictions for PAPs, please refer to CARA’s Adoption Regulations. 

• Marriage:  A married couple must be in a stable marital relationship for at least two years before they are eligible to adopt.  The couple’s age at the time of marriage must be in compliance with Indian law, which allows women to marry only at the age of 18 and men at the age of 21.  Couples are not able to register on the Child Adoption Resource Information and Guidance System (CARINGS) website to request child matching if their marriage dates do not comply with the above rules.  Cohabitating couples are not permitted to adopt.

Single individuals are allowed to adopt in India, but single males are not permitted to adopt female children.

• Minimum Income: None. 

• Other requirements: Only families with fewer than three children (whether biological or adopted) are permitted to adopt an Indian child, unless the prospective adoptive child has special needs or is designated hard to place, or in the case of relative adoptions or adoption by a step-parent. A second adoption from India will be considered only after the legal adoption of the first child is completed, except in the case of siblings adopted at the same time. PAPs must be free from any contagious or terminal disease or any mental or physical condition that may prevent them from taking care of the child. India requires prospective adoptive parents to obtain a psychological evaluation conducted by a licensed/trained practitioner, which an accredited adoption service provider must submit with home studies in the CARINGS portal.

Same-sex couples are not eligible to adopt in India. 

Overseas Citizens of India (OCI card holders) and foreign nationals of countries who have been living in India for one year or more may complete an adoption of an Indian child through India’s domestic adoption procedures. Such individuals may register to adopt an Indian child on CARINGS website. You must submit the required documents (including a No Objection Certificate from U.S. Embassy New Delhi).  Upon receipt of the application and required documents, CARA will refer the case to a SAA to prepare the home study report. After the home study report is completed, it will be uploaded to CARINGS by the SAA. Note: a home study submitted to USCIS in support of a Form I-800A must meet U.S. requirements, including being prepared by an individual or agency who meets the definition of a home study preparer at 8 CFR 204.301 and is authorized under 22 CFR part 96 to conduct home studies, and fulfills the requirements of 8 CFR 204.311.

For more information, please also refer to CARA’s adoption regulations.

Because India is party to the Hague Adoption Convention, children from India must meet the requirements of the Convention in order to be eligible for intercountry adoption.  For example, the adoption may take place only if the competent authorities of India have determined that placement of the child within India has been given due consideration and that an intercountry adoption is in the child’s best interests.  

In addition to qualifying as a Convention adoptee under U.S. immigration law, the child must also meet the following requirements imposed by India: 

Eligibility for adoption: District Child Welfare Committees (CWCs) determine whether an orphan or abandoned or surrendered child is legally eligible for adoption. 

Sibling adoptions are encouraged. Twins or siblings, as well as children over five years of age, shall be available for adoption by OCIs and foreign PAPs living in India thirty days from the date the children are declared legally eligible for adoption, and by resident and non-resident Indians (NRIs) from the date the children are declared legally eligible for adoption by the District CWCs. 

Intercountry adoptions of children with special needs or medical conditions follow the same procedures as other Convention adoptions. 

PAPs can foster a child in India, after presenting a “No Objection Certificate” (NOC) from CARA and submitting a Pre-Adoption Foster Care Undertaking to the SAA (please refer to Section 16 (2) of CARA’s 2017 Adoption Regulations).  (Note: CARA will not issue the NOC until they have received an Article 5/17 letter from U.S. Embassy New Delhi.) 

Intercountry relative adoptions are only approved in exceptional situations, such as the parents’ death or in other limited circumstances that serve the best interests of the child.  Please refer to CARA’s website for more information concerning relative adoptions.  Intercountry relative adoptions generally follow the same procedures as other Convention adoptions but may require additional steps according to Articles 53 and 54 of CARA’s 2017 Adoption Regulations. 

CARA does not process cases involving the adoption of Tibetan children.  If PAPs wish to adopt or gain guardianship of a Tibetan child residing in India, they should consult with the Indian Ministry of External Affairs.  

Please note, for relative adoptions, a child with living birth parents would generally not qualify for a Hague Adoption under Indian law unless the birth parents, due to incarceration, mental illness, or other serious concerns, are incapable of providing proper care to the child in a manner consistent with the local standard. 

Age of Adoptive Child:  Children up to 18 years of age that have been cleared by the District CWC are eligible for intercountry adoption.  Please note that for a child to meet the definition of Convention adoptee under U.S. immigration law, a Form I-800, Petition to Classify Convention Adoptee as an Immediate Relative, must be filed on the child’s behalf while the child is under the age of 16 (or under the age of 18 if the child is the birth sibling of another adopted child who meets the age and other requirements to immigrate based on adoption by the same adoptive parent(s)).  Please see the USCIS website and Form I-800 instructions for special rules on filing dates for children aged 15-16 or siblings under 18.  

Caution:  Prospective adoptive parents should be aware that not all children in orphanages or children’s homes are eligible for adoption.  In many countries, birth parents place their child(ren) temporarily in an orphanage or children’s home due to financial or other hardship, intending that the child return home when possible.  In such cases, the birth parent(s) have not relinquished their parental rights or consented to the adoption of their child(ren).

Warning:  Do not adopt or obtain legal custody of a child in India before: 1) USCIS has approved your Form I-800A, Application for Determination of Suitability to Adopt a Child from a Convention Country, 2) the Central Authority of India has determined the child is eligible for intercountry adoption, 3) USCIS has provisionally approved your Form I-800, Petition to Classify Convention Adoptee as an Immediate Relative, and 4) a U.S. consular officer has issued an “Article 5/17 Letter” in the case. Read on for more information.

India’s Central Adoption Authority:
CARA, Ministry of Women and Child Development

The Process

Because India is party to the Hague Adoption Convention, adoptions from India must follow a specific process designed to meet the Convention’s requirements.  A brief summary of the U.S. Convention adoption process is provided below.  You must complete these steps in the following order to meet all necessary U.S. legal requirements.  Completing certain steps out of order may cause significant delays or result in the child not being eligible for an immigrant visa to the United States.

1. Choose a U.S. Accredited or Approved Adoption Service Provider To Act as Your Primary Provider That Has Been Authorized by India’s Central Authority to Operate in India

2. Apply to USCIS to be Found Suitable and Eligible to Adopt (Form I-800A)

3. Apply to India’s Authorities to Adopt, and Be Matched with a Child

4. Apply to USCIS for the Child to be Found Provisionally Eligible for Immigration to the United States as a Convention Adoptee (Form I-800)

5. Apply for U.S. Visa and Receive U.S. Agreement to Proceed with the Adoption (Article 5/17 letter)

6. Adopt the Child in India

7. Secure a U.S. Immigrant Visa if You Intend to Reside with Your Child in the United States

8. Obtain U.S. Citizenship for Your Child 

1. Choose a U.S. Accredited or Approved Adoption Service Provider to Act as Your Primary Provider That Has Been Authorized by India’s Central Authority to Operate in India

The accredited agency or approved person you identify as the primary provider is responsible for:

• Ensuring that all six adoption services defined at 22 CFR 96.2 are provided consistent with applicable laws and regulations;
• Supervising and being responsible for any supervised providers, and otherwise complying with the requirements regarding the provision of adoption services using other providers (see 22 CFR 96.14); and
• Developing and implementing a service plan in accordance with 22 CFR 96.44.

Only accredited agencies, approved persons, supervised providers, exempted providers, public domestic authorities, and public foreign authorities may provide adoption services in intercountry adoption cases.

Learn more about Agency Accreditation.

2.  Apply to USCIS to be Found Suitable and Eligible to Adopt

In order to adopt a child from India, you will need to meet the requirements of the Government of India and U.S. immigration law.

After you choose an accredited or approved adoption service provider, you must be found suitable and eligible to adopt by USCIS by submitting Form I-800A, Application for Determination of Suitability to Adopt a Child from a Convention Country. You will need to submit a home study, provide biometrics, and cooperate in a background check as part of this application.  Please see USCIS webpages on suitability determinations and USCIS policy guidance on adoptive parent suitability determinations. Unless an exception applies, the home study must be prepared by a person who is authorized under 22 CFR 96 to prepare home studies and who holds any license or other authorization required by the law of the jurisdiction where the home study is conducted (unless a public domestic or public foreign authority).  The home study must comply with the requirements in 8 CFR 204.311 and USCIS policy.

3. Apply to India’s Authorities to Adopt, and be Matched with a Child

Submit Your Dossier to the Central Authority 

After USCIS determines that you are suitable and eligible to adopt and approves the Form I-800A application, your adoption service provider will provide your approval notice, home study, and any other required information to the adoption authority in India as part of your adoption application.  India’s adoption authority will review your application to determine whether you are also suitable and eligible to adopt under India’s law.

Receive a Referral for a Child from the Central Authority

If both the United States and India determine that you are suitable and eligible to adopt, and India’s Central Authority for Convention adoptions has determined that a child is eligible for adoption and that intercountry adoption is in that child’s best interests, the Central Authority for Convention adoptions in India may provide you with a referral.  The referral is a proposed match between you and a specific child based on a review of your dossier and the needs of the child.  The adoption authority in India will provide a background study and other information, if available, about the child to help you decide whether to accept the referral.  We encourage families to consider consulting with a medical professional and their adoption service provider to understand the needs of the specific child, but you must decide for yourself whether you will be able to meet the needs of and provide a permanent home for a specific child.  You must also adhere to the USCIS suitability determination with respect to the number of children and capacity to deal with any special needs of an adoptive child.  Learn more about Health Considerations.  If you accept the referral, the adoption service provider communicates that to the Central Authority in India. 

Learn more about this critical decision.  

Note that India first tries to place abandoned or relinquished children with an Indian family residing in India or an NRI family. Once CARA issues the NOC, the PAPs may apply to the SAA where the child resides to foster the child in India while waiting for the court to finalize the guardianship or adoption order.  (Note: CARA will not issue the NOC until they have received an Article 5/17 letter from U.S. Embassy New Delhi).

4.  Apply to USCIS for the Child to be Found Provisionally Eligible for Immigration to the United States as a Convention Adoptee and Receive U.S. Agreement to Proceed with the Adoption

Submit a Form I-800 Petition to Obtain Provisional Determination on the Child’s Immigration Eligibility

After you accept a match with a particular child, you will apply to USCIS for provisional approval for the child to immigrate to the United States by filing the Form I-800, Petition to Classify Convention Adoptee as an Immediate Relative. USCIS will make a provisional determination as to whether the child appears to meet the definition of a Convention Adoptee and will likely be eligible to be admitted to the United States.

5. Apply for U.S. Visa and Receive U.S. Agreement to Proceed with the Adoption (Article 5/17 letter)

After provisional approval of the Form I-800 petition, you or your adoption service provider will submit a visa application to the consular section of U.S. Embassy New Delhi responsible for issuing immigrant visas to children from India. Your child will need an immigrant visa if you intend to reside in the United States with your child. If instead you intend to continue residing overseas with your child but still seek naturalization of your child by application (Form N-600K), you will not need an immigrant visa, but you may need a different type of visa to complete that process. Please discuss this with the consular officer handling your case and consult the USCIS website for more information.

You should receive a letter from the National Visa Center (NVC) confirming receipt of the provisionally approved Form I-800 petition and assigning a case number and an invoice ID number.  Use this information to log into the Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC) to file the Electronic Immigrant Visa Application (DS-260) for your child.  An adoptive parent should fill out these forms in your child's name. Answer every item on the form. If information is not applicable, please write “N/A” in the block.  Please review the DS-260 FAQs, our Online Immigrant Visa Forms page, or contact the NVC at NVCAdoptions@state.gov if you have questions about completing the online DS-260 form. A consular officer will review the provisionally approved Form I-800 petition and the visa application and, if applicable, advise you of options for the waiver of any ineligibilities related to the visa application.

The consular officer will send a letter (referred to as an “Article 5/17 Letter”) to India’s Central Authority in any intercountry adoption involving U.S. citizen parents and a child from India if all Convention requirements are met and the child appears eligible to immigrate to the United States.  This letter will inform India’s Central Authority that the parents are suitable and eligible to adopt, that the child appears eligible to enter and reside permanently in the United States, and that the U.S. Central Authority agrees that the adoption may proceed.

Warning: Do not attempt to adopt or obtain custody of a child in India before you receive provisional approval of your Form I-800 petition AND a U.S. consular officer issues the “Article 5/17 Letter” for your adoption case.

Remember: The consular officer will make a final decision about a child’s eligibility for an immigrant visa later in the adoption process.

6. Adopt the Child in India 

Remember: Before you adopt a child in India, you must have completed the above five steps. Only after completing these steps can you proceed to finalize the adoption.  

The process for finalizing the adoption generally includes the following:

• Role of CARA:  

  • Regulates and monitors intercountry adoptions, and performs Central Authority functions consistent with the Hague Adoption Convention.
  • Provides information regarding abandoned/relinquished/orphaned children available for intercountry adoption;
  • Coordinates matching abandoned/relinquished/orphaned children with appropriate SAA;
  • Issues the ‘No Objection Certificates” (NOCs);
  • Oversees recognition of SAAs and adoption service providers (ASPs); and
  • Issues confirmatory certificates (Article 23) for adoption cases which have to be completed in India. 

• Role of the Court/District Magistrate: The competent Indian court/district magistrate with jurisdiction issues an adoption order for the permanent placement of the child with the PAPs. Though the stipulated time for the court/district magistrate to issue an adoption order is two months, PAPs have reported that it usually takes more than two months for the courts/district magistrates to issue an appropriate order.  

• Role of Specialized Adoption Agencies (SAA): The SAA where the prospective adoptive child resides provides a background study and other information, if available, about a child to help PAPs decide whether to accept the referral or not. The SAA submits all required documents to an Indian court/district magistrate with jurisdiction within ten days of receiving the NOC from CARA.  SAAs are not permitted to file a petition in the competent court/district magistrate for a final adoption order without an NOC from CARA.

• Role of Accredited or Approved Adoption Service Providers:  The U.S. accredited or approved ASP facilitates adoptions by U.S. prospective adoptive parents in India.  The U.S. ASP either conducts or supervises another agency performing the PAPs’ home study and ensures it complies with applicable U.S. and state law. After the provisional approval of Form I-800 petition, the ASP coordinates with U.S. Embassy New Delhi for issuance of an Article 5/17 letter and the NOC from CARA.  The ASP also coordinates with the respective SAA for the issuance of the adoption certificate by the Indian court/district magistrate and issuance of the child’s passport.

As noted above, any agency or person providing an adoption service on behalf of prospective adoptive parents in any Convention intercountry adoption case must be accredited or approved or be a supervised or exempted provider.  

Adoption service means any one of the following six services, under 22 CFR 96.2 Definitions:

• Identifying a child for adoption and arranging an adoption;
• Securing the necessary consent to termination of parental rights and to adoption; 
• Performing a background study on a child or a home study on a prospective adoptive parent(s), and reporting on such a study; 
• Making non-judicial determinations of the best interests of a child and the appropriateness of an adoptive placement for the child; 
• Monitoring a case after a child has been placed with prospective adoptive parent(s) until final adoption; or 
• When necessary, because of a disruption before final adoption, assuming custody and providing (including facilitating the provision of) child care or any other social service pending an alternative placement. 

• Adoption Application: The ASP must submit an online application on CARINGS on behalf of the PAPs.

• Time Frame:  Intercountry adoption timeframes in India vary widely and may take between six and eighteen months to complete.  This includes the time it takes to complete the adoption and secure the necessary documentation after the PAPs have a provisionally approved Form I-800.  Obtaining an Indian passport for an adopted child often takes an additional two weeks, and some PAPs have reported waiting more than one month.

• Adoption Fees: 

We encourage prospective adoptive parents to obtain detailed receipts for all fees and donations paid, either by them directly or through your U.S. adoption service provider, and to raise any concerns regarding any payment that you believe may be contrary to the Convention, U.S. law, or the law of India with your adoption service provider, and, when appropriate, through the Complaint Registry. Improper payments violate applicable law or create the appearance of buying a child and could put all future adoptions in India at risk. The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, for instance, makes it unlawful to make payments to foreign government officials to assist in obtaining or retaining business. Further, the IAA makes certain actions relating to intercountry adoptions unlawful, and subject to civil and criminal penalties. These include offering, giving, soliciting, or accepting inducement by way of compensation intended to influence or affect the relinquishment of parental rights, parental consent relating to adoption of a child, or a decision by an entity performing functions as a competent central authority, or to engage another person as an agent to take any such action.  

In the adoption services contract that you sign at the beginning of the adoption process, your adoption service provider will itemize the fees and estimated expenses related to your adoption process.  

Some of the fees specifically associated with adopting from India include:  

CARA’s 2017 Adoption Regulations and its April 5, 2017 circular regarding adoption fees limit the fee that may be paid by an authorized ASP to a SAA to $5,000 for each intercountry adoption. This fee covers all of the costs associated with the documentation completed by the SAA, and may include the costs of, among other things, obtaining copies of civil documents, filing court/district magistrate documents, applying for your child’s Indian passport, etc. Donating to any agency or individual is prohibited under India’s adoption laws. In cases where PAPs are adopting siblings, they must pay an additional $1,000 to the SAA.

Documents Required:  

PAPs are required to submit the following documents to CARA through an ASP (refer to Schedules 6 and 9 of CARA’s Adoption Regulations for more detail):

• Home study report (see information below for home study reports for U.S. citizens residing in India
• Psychological evaluation report by a licensed/trained practitioner;
• Recent photographs of the prospective adoptive family;
• Marriage certificate (if married);
• Divorce Decree/Declaration from the competent court or affidavit on oath pertaining to divorce in case of divorce governed by personal law where decree of divorce is not mandatory/Death certificate of spouse in case of single prospective adoptive parent (if applicable)
• Certificate of medical fitness of the PAPs, duly certified by a medical doctor;
• Declaration regarding the PAPs’ financial status, along with supporting documents;
• Two reference letters from relatives/friends regarding the suitability of the PAPs to adopt;
• Adoption decrees of previously adopted child/children, if any;
• Police clearance report(s);
• Birth certificate/passport of PAPs, as proof of age;
• Proof of residence;
• Approval of the U.S. central authority (the Article 5/17 letter, discussed under “Apply for the Child to be Found Eligible for Adoption” above);
• Proof of citizenship/nationality of PAPs, such as a copy of U.S. passport;
• Consent of the older child/children in the adoptive family (if more than 5 years of age);
• Statement from the ASP that follow-up reports on the welfare of the child will be sent semi-annually for a period of two years or until such time as the legal adoption is completed and citizenship is acquired in the receiving country;
• Power of Attorney from the PAPs in favor of the SAA to process the case if the PAPs are not in India;
• Statement from the ASP committing to care for the child and, with CARA’s approval, to find a suitable alternative placement if the adoption is disrupted before a final adoption is completed. The ASP will report the alternative placement to the appropriate parties, including the Indian court/district magistrate handling guardianship/adoption proceedings; and
• Statement from the ASP that it will pay any required adoption fees to the applicable Indian placement agency.

Additional documents if applicable:

• In cases where the couples’ combined age is over 90 years, a document from a younger family member expressing their willingness to look after the child in the event the adoptive parents become incapacitated.

Home Study Reports for U.S. Citizens Residing Abroad:

• CARA has advised the Department of State, the U.S. Central Authority, that PAPs residing in India for a year or more may ask CARA to nominate a SAA to prepare their home study report.  

Any home study must be prepared by a person who is authorized under 22 CFR 96 to prepare home studies and who holds any license or other authorization required by the law of the jurisdiction where the home study is conducted (unless a public domestic or public foreign authority).  The home study must comply with the requirements in 8 CFR 204.311 and USCIS policy.  An accredited agency must review and approve the home study if not performed in the first instance by an accredited agency, unless a public domestic or public foreign authority conducted the home study.

Note: Additional documents may be requested.

• Authentication of Documents: You may be asked to provide proof that a document from the United States is authentic. The U.S. Department of State’s Authentications Office has information on the subject.

7.  Secure a U.S. Immigrant Visa for Your Child If You Intend to Reside with Your Child in the United States

Once your adoption is complete or you have obtained legal custody of the child for the purposes of emigration and adoption of the child in the United States, there are a few more steps to take before your child can enter the United States.  Specifically, the consular officer will need to issue a Hague Adoption Certificate and grant final approval of the Form I-800 petition.  Then you will need to obtain three documents before you secure a visa so your child can travel to the United States:

Birth Certificate

You will need to obtain a new or updated birth certificate for your child.

If you have finalized the adoption in India, you will need to obtain a new birth certificate for your child with your name on it. 

Once the PAPs receive an adoption order, the SAA shall apply for your child’s birth certificate in the municipal office of the region where the child was born.  They will need the adoption order, the NOC from CARA, and any document related to the birth of the child as supporting documentation.  The birth certificate will indicate the name of the PAPs.  The municipal office will issue the birth certificate with the child’s name as it appears on the adoption order, which may be changed by the adoptive family by requesting the court/district magistrate to endorse it using the name as it appears in the petition filed by the SAA.  This process takes at least two weeks.

Please note this requirement is mandatory for visa processing.  Families can inform U.S. Embassy New Delhi if birth certificate processing is delayed by more than two weeks or in the case of a SAA claiming that a birth certificate is not possible to obtain.

Indian Passport

Your child is not yet a U.S. citizen, so he/she will need a travel document or passport from India.

The SAA shall apply at the nearest Regional Passport Office for an Indian passport after they receive an adoption order and the Article 23 Conformity Certificate for the child. The application should include the adoption order, the NOC from CARA, the Article 23 Conformity Certificate issued by CARA, and the child’s birth record. It generally takes approximately two weeks to obtain an Indian passport. Some parents have reported, however, that the issuance of an Indian passport may take more than one month.  If your child’s passport is not issued within three weeks, please contact the U.S. Embassy at NDAdopt@state.gov for assistance.  Please see the information below pertaining to the Government of India’s requirement to surrender an Indian passport when one acquires foreign citizenship.

U.S. Immigrant Visa

After you obtain the new birth certificate and passport for your child, you will then need to apply for a U.S. immigrant visa for your child from U.S. Embassy New Delhi if you intend to bring your child to reside in the United States with you.  After the adoption is granted, visit the U.S. Embassy for a final review of the case, the issuance of a U.S. Hague Adoption Certificate or Hague Custody Certificate, the final approval of the Form I-800 petition, and, if applicable, to obtain your child’s immigrant visa.  This immigrant visa allows your child to travel home with you and be admitted to the United States as your child.  Please contact U.S. Embassy New Delhi by email at ndadopt@state.gov to schedule your child’s immigrant visa appointment.  As part of this process, you must provide the consular officer with the Panel Physician’s medical report on the child if you did not provide it during the Form I-800 provisional approval stage. 

Read more about the Medical Examination.

You will have already completed an Electronic Immigrant Visa Application (DS-260) online at the Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC) after receiving a letter from the National Visa Center (NVC) confirming receipt of the provisionally approved Form I-800 petition and assignment of a case number and an invoice ID number.  Print and bring the DS-260 confirmation page to the visa interview. Review the DS-260 FAQs, our Online Immigrant Visa Forms page, or contact NVC at NVCAdoptions@state.gov if you have questions about completing the online DS-260 form.

Please note that U.S. Embassy New Delhi processes immigrant visas for non-U.S. citizens located in India.  Additional information concerning immigrant visa processing at U.S. Embassy New Delhi can be found on the U.S. Embassy New Delhi website.

Upon receipt of the case at post, the Consular Section generally notifies the petitioner. Visa issuance after the final interview generally takes 24 hours.  Immigrant visas for adopted children may be picked up at 2:00 p.m. local time at the U.S. Embassy.  Adoptive parents may enter through Gate 6, the same gate used for entry on the day of the immigrant visa interview.  It is not usually possible to provide the visa to adoptive parents on the same day as the immigrant visa interview.  You should verify current processing times with U.S. Embassy New Delhi before making final travel arrangements.  Additional information on immigrant visa processing can be found on our website.

The following is the list of documents required by U.S. Embassy New Delhi in order to process immigrant visas for Indian children who have been adopted by U.S. citizens:

• Updated approval notice that shows unexpired fingerprints results;

• Child's Indian passport;

• Two (2) color front portrait photographs of the child with a white background (the total frame should be 5 cm x 5 cm and the child's head size 3 cm x 3 cm);

• The original adoption order and a copy of the adoption order;

• The NOC from CARA;

• Visa Fee of $325 which can be paid in cash (Indian Rupees or U.S. Dollars) or money order. Payments cannot be made using a credit card. Please see visa processing fees page;

• Medical examination report of the child. (The medical examination needs to be done by an approved panel physician. A list of approved panel physicians can be found on . Read more about the Medical Examination; and Article 23 issued by CARA.

If you will reside outside the United States with your child, you should contact the Central or competent authority where you reside for additional information about how to bring your child to that country. 

8.  Obtain U.S. Citizenship for Your Child

If you obtain an immigrant visa for your child, USCIS will mail your child either a permanent resident card (green card), or a Certificate of Citizenship, after your child enters the United States. If you plan to reside outside the United States with your child (and, therefore, may not benefit from an immigrant visa for your child), please see the relevant section below. 

For adoptions finalized abroad before the child’s admission into the United States: 
A child who was adopted abroad and has satisfied Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) 101(b)(1)(E), INA 101(b)(1)(F), or INA 101(b)(1)(G) requirements, who is residing in the United States in the legal and physical custody of the U.S. citizen parent pursuant to a lawful admission for permanent residence generally will acquire U.S. citizenship after admission if the child is under the age of 18 when these conditions are met. 

Depending on the visa your child receives, their age, and the other INA 320 requirements, you may not need to take any additional action for your child to acquire U.S. citizenship.  However, if your child does not meet the requirements of INA 320 at the time of admission into the United States, you may file a Form N-600, Application for Certificate of Citizenship, once the requiremensts are met.  More information is available on the USCIS website.

For adoptions not finalized until after the child’s admission to the United States: If the adoption is not finalized before the child is admitted to the United States, the child’s adoptive parent(s) must complete the adoption (or re-adoption or obtain judicial recognition of the foreign adoption) in the United States before the child turns 18 for the child to automatically acquire U.S. citizenship (if the child otherwise meets the requirements of INA 320).  You may file a Form N-600, Application for Certificate of Citizenship, once the requirements are met.  More information is available on the USCIS Fact Sheet:  Securing U.S. Citizenship for Your Child.

If you reside outside the United States with your child, you may file a Form N-600K, Application for Citizenship and Issuance of Certificate Under Section 322 with USCIS to obtain a Certificate of Citizenship for your child if your child satisfies the requirements of INA 322.  

Note:  If you are a military service member or U.S. government employee who chooses to seek an immigrant visa for your child versus completing the Form N-600K process, you may need to use Form N-600 to apply for a Certificate of Citizenship.  Please note, however, that USCIS cannot mail Certificates of Citizenship abroad for children who acquire citizenship under INA 320.  

Read more about INA 320 and 322 in the USCIS Policy Manual and USCIS website U.S. Citizenship for an Adopted Child.

Indian Law Regarding Possession of an Indian Passport upon Obtaining U.S. Citizenship: Obtaining U.S. citizenship under INA 320 or INA 322 might affect the child’s Indian citizenship.  Under Indian law, the child might be required to surrender his or her Indian passport upon obtaining U.S. citizenship and could be subject to penalties for failure to do so. Under Indian law, prior to obtaining any Indian consular services, such as an Indian visa, the child might also be required to renounce his or her Indian citizenship.  Please contact the nearest Indian Embassy or consulate for details (see Contact Information below).

Overseas Citizen of India Status: An adopted Indian child may be granted an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card, if found eligible.  For more information about the procedure for applying for OCI status for your child, please contact the nearest Indian Embassy or consulate.  

Applying for Your U.S. Passport

U.S. citizens are required to enter and depart the United States on a valid U.S. passport. Once your child acquires U.S. citizenship, s/he will need a U.S. passport for international travel. Only the U.S. Department of State has the authority to grant, issue, or verify U.S. passports.

Getting or renewing a passport is easy. The Department of State’s Passport Application Wizard will help you determine which passport form you need, help you to complete the form online, estimate your payment, and generate the form for you to print—all in one place.

Obtaining a Visa to Travel to India

In addition to a U.S. passport, you may also need to obtain a visa. Where required, visas are affixed to your passport and allow you to enter a foreign nation. To find information about obtaining a visa for India, see the Department of State’s country page.

Staying Safe on Your Trip

Before you travel, it is always a good practice to investigate the local conditions, laws, political landscape, and culture of the country. The Department of State provides country information for every country in the world about various issues, including health conditions, crime, currency or entry requirements, and any areas of instability.

Staying in Touch on Your Trip

When traveling abroad during the adoption process, we encourage you to enroll with the Department of State through our Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive important information from the U.S. Embassy about safety conditions in your destination country.  Enrollment makes it possible for the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in India, to contact you in an emergency, whether natural disaster, civil unrest, or family emergency.  Whether there is a family emergency in the United States or a crisis in India, enrollment assists the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in reaching you.

Enrollment is free and can be done online via the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP).

Post-Adoption/Post-Placement Reporting Requirements

We urge you to comply with India’s post-adoption/post-placement requirements in a timely manner.  Your adoption service provider will be able to help you with this process.  Your cooperation will contribute to India’s positive experiences with U.S. citizen adoptive parents.

CARA requires adoptive parents to submit online post-placement reports on the child through their ASP to CARA and the SAA.  The post-placement reports should be uploaded to CARINGS quarterly by the PAPs’ ASP during the first year, and twice a year during the second year after the child’s arrival in the United States.  The reporting continues for two years after the child acquires U.S. citizenship.

In addition to the above reports, some Indian courts/district magistrates require regular follow-up visits and post-adoption counseling by a licensed social worker until the child has adjusted to his/her new environment.  The follow-up visits are generally for a period of one year or as directed by the court/district magistrate.  Copies of the court/district magistrate-ordered follow-up reports should be sent to the court/district magistrate where the adoption or guardianship order was obtained, as well as to other government offices as required.

Post-Adoption Resources

Many adoptive parents find it important to find support after the adoption.  There are many public and private nonprofit post-adoption services available for children and their families. There are also numerous adoptive family support groups and adoptee organizations active in the United States that provide a network of options for adoptees who seek out other adoptees from the same country of origin.  You may wish to take advantage of all the resources available to your family, whether it is another adoptive family, a support group, an advocacy organization, or your religious or community services.  Your primary provider can provide or point you to post- placement/post-adoption services to help your adopted child and your family transition smoothly and deal effectively with the many adjustments required in an intercountry adoption.  

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services maintains a website, the Child Welfare Information Gateway, which can be a useful resource to get you started on your support group search.

COMPLAINTS

If you have concerns about your intercountry adoption process, we ask that you share this information with the Embassy in New Delhi, particularly if it involves possible fraud or misconduct specific to your child’s case. The Department of State takes all allegations of fraud or misconduct seriously.  Our Adoption Comment Page provides several points of contact for adoptive families to comment on their ASP, their experience applying for their child’s visa, or about the Form I-800/A petition process.

The Complaint Registry is an internet based registry for filing complaints about the compliance of U.S. accredited or approved ASPs with U.S. accreditation standards. If you think your provider's conduct may not have been in compliance with accreditation standards, first submit your complaint in writing directly to your provider. If the complaint is not resolved through the provider's complaint process, you may file the complaint through the Complaint Registry.

U.S. Embassy New Delhi 
Shantipath, Chanakyapuri
New Delhi – 110021
Tel: 091-011-24198000
Fax: 091-011-24198407
Email: NDAdopt@State.gov
Internet: https://in.usembassy.gov/embassy-consulates/new-delhi/

India's Adoption Authority
Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA)
Ministry of Women and Child Development
West Block-8, Wing-2
2nd Floor, R.K. Puram
New Delhi - 110 066
Tel: 91-011 2610-5346, 2610-3378, 2610-6783
Fax: 91-011 2618-0198
Email: carahdesk.wcd@nic.in
Internet: http://cara.nic.in/

Embassy of India
Consular Wing Address:
2536 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20008
Tel: (202) 939-7000
Fax: (202) 939-7027
Internet: indianembassy.org/

India also has consulates in New York, Chicago, Houston, Atlanta, and San Francisco. Please see list of Indian consulates in United States.

Office of Children’s Issues
U.S. Department of State
CA/OCS/CI
SA-17, 9^th Floor
Washington, D.C.  20522-1709
Email: Adoption@state.gov
Internet: adoption.state.gov

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
For questions about a pending Form I-800A application, Form I-800 petition or related supplements:
USCIS
Tel: 1-877-424-8374 (toll free); 1-913-275-5480 (local); Fax: 1- 913-214-5808
Email: NBC.Adoptions@uscis.dhs.gov

For other USCIS-related questions:
USCIS Contact Center
Tel:  1-800-375-5283 (TTY 1-800-767-1833)
Internet: uscis.gov