Process of Adoption
APPLICATION PHASE: The first step in beginning an adoption is to fill out a preliminary application. ICIA will review the pre-application to determine whether you are eligible for your program or programs of interest. If you are determined as eligible to adopt from the country of your choice, ICIA will mail you the legal paperwork to begin the adoption journey.
HOMESTUDY PHASE: A homestudy is your life story written in a report. The homestudy must be completed by a social worker or agency in your state of residence and they should either be Hague accredited or have had experience writing Hague homestudies.
IMMIGRATION PHASE : In order to legally bring a child into our country, USCIS must approve both the adoptive family and the child being adopted. This is the I800A and I800 process. ICIA will assist you with this process and all the steps involved in obtaining this approval. When you are USCIS approved, you are ready to get a referral of a child from India.
DOSSIER PHASE: The dossier materials and instructions will be sent to you by ICIA. The dossier consists of all the paperwork needed by the courts in the country you desire to adopt from. These papers will be used in the courts to legally grant your adoption.
REFERRAL: A child referral will be sent to you by email from ICIA. It will contain a photo, BRIEF child history, medical including HIV, HEPB, VDRL blood testing and a physical. ICIA works very hard to ensure that this medical information is correct. The medical information is completed by a pediatrician in India. After you have reviewed the referral, you will notify ICIA whether you want to adopt this child.
COURT PROCESS: Typically there are three court dates with the third date guardianship being granted. The court has to release the guardianship documents and with these documents in hand, the attorney can apply for the child’s passport. When the passport is in hand, you are able to make travel plans to go meet your child and apply for the child’s visa at the US Embassy. The trip will be approximately five working days in length.
HOMESTUDY PHASE: A homestudy is your life story written in a report. The homestudy must be completed by a social worker or agency in your state of residence and they should either be Hague accredited or have had experience writing Hague homestudies.
IMMIGRATION PHASE : In order to legally bring a child into our country, USCIS must approve both the adoptive family and the child being adopted. This is the I800A and I800 process. ICIA will assist you with this process and all the steps involved in obtaining this approval. When you are USCIS approved, you are ready to get a referral of a child from India.
DOSSIER PHASE: The dossier materials and instructions will be sent to you by ICIA. The dossier consists of all the paperwork needed by the courts in the country you desire to adopt from. These papers will be used in the courts to legally grant your adoption.
REFERRAL: A child referral will be sent to you by email from ICIA. It will contain a photo, BRIEF child history, medical including HIV, HEPB, VDRL blood testing and a physical. ICIA works very hard to ensure that this medical information is correct. The medical information is completed by a pediatrician in India. After you have reviewed the referral, you will notify ICIA whether you want to adopt this child.
COURT PROCESS: Typically there are three court dates with the third date guardianship being granted. The court has to release the guardianship documents and with these documents in hand, the attorney can apply for the child’s passport. When the passport is in hand, you are able to make travel plans to go meet your child and apply for the child’s visa at the US Embassy. The trip will be approximately five working days in length.
