Since 1978, WACAP has placed children from India with loving adoptive families throughout the United States. WACAP is accredited by the governing authority in India, the Central Adoption Resource Agency (CARA). We work cooperatively with licensed child welfare organizations in India, including the Society for Indian Children's Welfare and Ashraya Children's Home. After a family accepts a child, CARA must approve the match. Once the Indian courts grant guardianship to the adoptive family, the child's adoption is finalized in the United States. Our staff, and the staff of the agencies in India, are caring, experienced professionals who will guide your family each step of the way.

In India, children who need families range in age from infants to preteens. On occasion, siblings are available. Most children are placed directly from child welfare institutions, and the youngest children often have diagnosed medical concerns associated with low birth weight and prematurity.

When you're matched with a child, WACAP will give you photos, a video and all information provided to WACAP that you can study before deciding whether or not to adopt that child.

Guidelines in India are flexible based on the needs of the child. Married couples and single women may adopt. There must be no more than three children already in your home. Couples adopting infants must have a combined age no greater than 90, and neither parent should be older than 55. (This rule is flexible for couples who wish to adopt older children.) The couple must also have been married for a minimum of three to five years. For further information, visit the CARA Web site and click the "FAQ" link.

A licensed adoption agency must perform an assessment of your family and home. WACAP conducts homestudies in Washington, Oregon, New York, Connecticut and Alaska; in other states, we can give you the names of several licensed agencies.

The United States is expected to ratify the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption in early 2008. Families adopting from India must use a Hague-accredited or -supervised homestudy agency at that time. WACAP and our cooperating agencies will meet this requirement. However, if your family uses another homestudy agency, please confirm that it is accredited or supervised according to the Hague Convention.

You must travel to India to bring your child home. Your average stay in India will be three to five days. WACAP strongly encourages you to register your trip with the U.S. State Department beforehand. For more information about traveling to India, visit the Web site of the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi.

WACAP staff will prepare your documents to meet the Indian government's standards for adoption. Required documents include the following:

After your homestudy is approved, it takes one to 12 months to be matched with a child. This period may be shorter if you're of Indian heritage or adopting a child who's already waiting for parents. Children are ready to travel home six to 10 months after your dossier and child acceptance documents are received in India.