Adoption...?

Question

How can I adopt a child from India?

Will I have to stay in Indian for 2 years before I can adopt a child?

Thank you.

Answer 1

To adopt a child born overseas you will have to meet the requirements set forth by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the foreign country in which the child resides and your state of residence.

Parents must be at least 30 years of age, have no more than three children living in their home and have been married at least three years. The combined age of both parents must be no greater than 90.

Waiting time for a referral can take from six to 12 months. Once a child is referred, the adoption process through Indian courts takes five to seven months. The last step is immigration, which takes from four to eight weeks. Most children come home in eight to 18 months from the time the family accepted the match or referral. The average time is one year.

No matter what kind of adoption you are considering, you’ll need to complete a homestudy. An adoption counselor from an agency licensed in your state will visit your home to discuss your lifestyle, immediate and extended family, finances and reasons for adopting. Homestudy guidelines vary from state to state, but the process usually takes four to six weeks.