Frequently Asked Questions:
Can I adopt if I am still trying to get pregnant? what if I get pregnant during the process?
Can I do both - adoption and surrogacy (IVF) at the same time to see what works?
Can you do more than one adoption at a time? Can I adopt domestically and internationally? Can I do adoption and foster care simultaneously?
No to all of these questions above. If you are pregnant or planning to conceive, please wait for that process to finish. We want to insure that the family is in a stable place with each child. That the mother has recovered from the pregnancy with no postpartum issues and they are ready for another addition to the household. If you get pregnant, have a foster child in the home or have another adoption in process, we will close the file. After a year of stability, contact us to start again. As the info has changed and dates are old, you will have to restart a new adoption process with current documentation at that time. You cannot do both surrogacy and adoption at the same time. If you are still in the surrogacy process and learning about international adoption, just let us know where you are in the process.
Do I need to use a Hague Accredited agency/ attorney in the USA? What if I know someone in country who can help me? Can I use them and Bal Jagat together?
According to the Universal Accreditation Act, all international adoptions will require a Hague Accredited Primary Provider agency in the USA with a direct country license or willing to take on the responsibility- liability for the foreign country portion. Bal Jagat may know an agency/ attorney with the foreign country license for your country. Please contact us for more information.
For more information on the Universal Accreditation Act, please visit:
http://travel.state.gov/content/adoptionsabroad/en/hague-convention/agency-accreditation/universal-accreditation-act-of-2012.html
What if the country is non- Hague?
The Universal Accreditation Act, will apply to both Hague and Non- Hague adoptions.
For the list of Hague & Non- Hague countries visit:
http://travel.state.gov/content/adoptionsabroad/en/hague-convention/hague-vs-non-hague-adoption-process.html
Have we acknowledged and resolved the losses associated with infertility?
Here are some points to resolve.
Is adoption is the “second best” choice? What are our feelings about that?
What kind of positive feelings do we have when we think about international adoption?
Have we started talking to others about adoption? What input do we get?
What about our religious beliefs?
What aspects of our background and traditions do we want to connect with our child?
How we will tell our child about his/her adoption and background?
If you have other children, biological or adopted, there are additional issues to consider.
If you are a single applicant and adopting a foreign-born child, think about the following.
Does international adoption cost money? Is it free? Is it expensive? Can I afford it?
There are costs involved with International adoption. In addition to agency fees, there are USCIS fees, travel costs (Airfare, in country expenses), parenting classes, notary fees, etc.
Can I adopt more than one child at a time?
Yes if they are siblings, and then a maximum of 2 children. No unrelated children may be adopted together. Each situation to be determined on a case by case basis. Please discuss with us at Orientation.
Are the children on your site waiting for adoption?
No. Bal Jagat- Children's World Inc. does not do any photo listing of children to be adopted.
Can I go to an orphanage and pick a child?
Usually no.
Can I adopt a family member?
Yes. Family adoptions and identified adoptions will also require a Primary Provider agency. The child must meet the orphan definition. This is on a case by case basis.
What is the difference between a domestic adoption and an international adoption?
Domestic adoption is the adoption of a child residing in the USA. International adoption is the adoption of a child residing abroad. Bal Jagat- Children's World Inc. does foreign adoption only.
Can I use a domestic adoption homestudy for an international adoption?
No. International adoption homestudies have very specific content required by USCIS (US Immigration Department) to meet Hague Requirements.
Can I adopt a Chinese, East Indian, etc..child locally in the USA? Will Bal Jagat assist me?
Yes, you can, but you must do your own inquiry with an attorney, domestic agency, or children and family services in your state. We are unable to assist you with this.
How to Begin
Now that you have considered some of the potential issues regarding adoption and decided that you would like to proceed, the following steps are a basic outline of the adoption process.
Social workers have a Master in Social Work Degree (MSW) and may also be a Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs). Social workers are able to provide you with valuable information as well as complete your assessment. The homestudy will be completed in a manner which will be universally accepted by the foreign country, USCIS (US Immigration Department), the State of California, and the other agency (if applicable).
All applicants must complete Hague Compliant parenting classes through the Adoption Learning Partners. These classes will prepare you for the international adoption journey ahead.
Please contact us to schedule an Orientation appointment today!
Can I do both - adoption and surrogacy (IVF) at the same time to see what works?
Can you do more than one adoption at a time? Can I adopt domestically and internationally? Can I do adoption and foster care simultaneously?
No to all of these questions above. If you are pregnant or planning to conceive, please wait for that process to finish. We want to insure that the family is in a stable place with each child. That the mother has recovered from the pregnancy with no postpartum issues and they are ready for another addition to the household. If you get pregnant, have a foster child in the home or have another adoption in process, we will close the file. After a year of stability, contact us to start again. As the info has changed and dates are old, you will have to restart a new adoption process with current documentation at that time. You cannot do both surrogacy and adoption at the same time. If you are still in the surrogacy process and learning about international adoption, just let us know where you are in the process.
Do I need to use a Hague Accredited agency/ attorney in the USA? What if I know someone in country who can help me? Can I use them and Bal Jagat together?
According to the Universal Accreditation Act, all international adoptions will require a Hague Accredited Primary Provider agency in the USA with a direct country license or willing to take on the responsibility- liability for the foreign country portion. Bal Jagat may know an agency/ attorney with the foreign country license for your country. Please contact us for more information.
For more information on the Universal Accreditation Act, please visit:
http://travel.state.gov/content/adoptionsabroad/en/hague-convention/agency-accreditation/universal-accreditation-act-of-2012.html
What if the country is non- Hague?
The Universal Accreditation Act, will apply to both Hague and Non- Hague adoptions.
For the list of Hague & Non- Hague countries visit:
http://travel.state.gov/content/adoptionsabroad/en/hague-convention/hague-vs-non-hague-adoption-process.html
Have we acknowledged and resolved the losses associated with infertility?
Here are some points to resolve.
- Our genetic ties to the future generations of our family.
- The conception of our child together.
- The physical and emotional satisfactions of child birth/ breast feeding….etc.
Is adoption is the “second best” choice? What are our feelings about that?
- What kind of images and ideas do we have about the child’s birth parents?
- How are we going to raise our child? Are we ready to accept the child’s background and genetics?
What kind of positive feelings do we have when we think about international adoption?
- We are trying to reach out globally. We are honoring the child’s culture
- We know many of our friends and others have adopted children from foreign countries and they are very happy.
- We have heard about support groups and we will join them. We will learn many new things from them.
- We will have an international family.
Have we started talking to others about adoption? What input do we get?
- How do our extended families feel about the adoption? How will adoption impact our social structure?
- Are we able to accept the child’s country, culture, race and religion when our child grows up?
What about our religious beliefs?
- Will we have any problems/ issues in our Church? Temple?
- Is our child going to be accepted in various religious places?
What aspects of our background and traditions do we want to connect with our child?
- How will we accept the child of different race, culture, color, religion, nationality, and ethnicity?
- Are we able to make peace with ourselves if even though we “feel young,” and we cannot adopt an infant?
- Are we able to parent more than one child if siblings are available? Consider all aspects of this decision.
- How long can we both take off from our work and to be with our new child?
- After the child’s arrival, what is the child care plan?
- How are we going to finance this adoption?
How we will tell our child about his/her adoption and background?
- How are we going to tell our child about his/her adoption?
- When will we start?
- How do we feel about the child’s birth family? What if the child wants to find out about his/her background history? If he/she want to contact them by visiting his/her country in the future, are we open to it?
- How we will deal with these issues when the time comes?
If you have other children, biological or adopted, there are additional issues to consider.
- What if our other children do not accept this adopted child? They may not want to share their parents’ attention.
- What if our children are mean and cruel to him/her? Making fun of his/her appearance?
- How we will deal with these issues?
If you are a single applicant and adopting a foreign-born child, think about the following.
- If I adopt a child now, will I be able to date and get married? Will I be rejected by others since I am a parent?
- Will my future partner accept my adopted child?
- What if my spouse cannot accept my child?
- Will I be open to psychotherapy? Family counseling?
- What if my child rejects my future partner?
Does international adoption cost money? Is it free? Is it expensive? Can I afford it?
There are costs involved with International adoption. In addition to agency fees, there are USCIS fees, travel costs (Airfare, in country expenses), parenting classes, notary fees, etc.
- Many international adoptions are the same if not similar to domestic adoptions (due to attorney fees and birth parent costs).
- Families must be financially stable with no history of bankruptcy.
- The Adoption tax credit is currently $13,800.
- Certain companies do allocate funds to adoptive parents (please check with your employer).
- There are many churches and charities that offer grants for special needs adoptions (many of our families have qualified and been awarded).
- Not all fees are payable at once. Fees are due at different times during the adoption process.
- You will be paying each of these entities directly so you are aware of whom you are paying what fee to.
Can I adopt more than one child at a time?
Yes if they are siblings, and then a maximum of 2 children. No unrelated children may be adopted together. Each situation to be determined on a case by case basis. Please discuss with us at Orientation.
Are the children on your site waiting for adoption?
No. Bal Jagat- Children's World Inc. does not do any photo listing of children to be adopted.
Can I go to an orphanage and pick a child?
Usually no.
Can I adopt a family member?
Yes. Family adoptions and identified adoptions will also require a Primary Provider agency. The child must meet the orphan definition. This is on a case by case basis.
What is the difference between a domestic adoption and an international adoption?
Domestic adoption is the adoption of a child residing in the USA. International adoption is the adoption of a child residing abroad. Bal Jagat- Children's World Inc. does foreign adoption only.
Can I use a domestic adoption homestudy for an international adoption?
No. International adoption homestudies have very specific content required by USCIS (US Immigration Department) to meet Hague Requirements.
Can I adopt a Chinese, East Indian, etc..child locally in the USA? Will Bal Jagat assist me?
Yes, you can, but you must do your own inquiry with an attorney, domestic agency, or children and family services in your state. We are unable to assist you with this.
How to Begin
Now that you have considered some of the potential issues regarding adoption and decided that you would like to proceed, the following steps are a basic outline of the adoption process.
- The first step is to check our Eligibility requirements as well as the requirements of the foreign country to confirm that you qualify. If there is another agency also involved, please confirm with them that you will qualify for their program.
- The next step is to schedule an individualized personal orientation meeting designed to help you define a country preference and discuss country details, educate you on USCIS information, begin the initial assessment and offer a portion of the Hague required parenting classes. Both you and your spouse must attend together. Please expect the orientation to last approximately two hours and set aside the time without interruption. All of your questions will be answered and we will let you know how to proceed from there.
- Once you and your spouse have thoughtfully considered all of the information, you may let us know when you are ready to begin. Our agency staff will email you the documentation and upon receipt let you know when the social worker will be contacting you to begin the process.
- Whether BJCW Inc is completing the homestudy directly or working in partnership, we will be actively involved in every step of the adoption.
Social workers have a Master in Social Work Degree (MSW) and may also be a Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs). Social workers are able to provide you with valuable information as well as complete your assessment. The homestudy will be completed in a manner which will be universally accepted by the foreign country, USCIS (US Immigration Department), the State of California, and the other agency (if applicable).
All applicants must complete Hague Compliant parenting classes through the Adoption Learning Partners. These classes will prepare you for the international adoption journey ahead.
Please contact us to schedule an Orientation appointment today!
"Adoption is a gift of life." Hemlata Momaya, MSW, Executive Director
"In 2003 my wife and I were recommended to Bal Jagat. In 2004 we adopted a perfect little girl from Moscow. The girl was 10 months old but weighed only 10 pounds, malnourished, but otherwise healthy. Thank God, today, she is at the top of her class, has a great personality, and is a true blessing. It was a lot of work, but it was well worth it, and much like child-birth, you forget the difficult parts in the process along the way, which took about a year. We had a great experience with Hemlata and Bal Jagat." - Scott V (Adoptive father of a daughter from Russia)
"In creating our family with two adopted children - our daughter from India and our son from Romania-we could not have asked for a more caring partner in the process. Bal Jagat's compassion, knowledge and critical support, transformed our journey and our lives." - David R and Suzanne KR (Adoptive parents of a daughter from India and a son from Romania).
"Hemlata and Mausami are two of the most knowledgeable and caring adoption specialist's I know of. Their technical skill in navigating the rather complex and ever changing regulatory environoment surrounding the international adoptions process is second to none. Their professional competence is only exceeded by their warm and caring approach as they work with you to bring a new young life to your family. So if you are contemplating an international adoption, I would highly recommend Hemlata and Mausami of Bal Jagat." -Dean H. (Member of the Community)
"We have only positive things to say about Bal Jagat! My wife and I adopted 2 beautiful children from China with the loving support and guidance of Hemlata and Mausami. I we were always treated with respect and with the upmost level of professionalism. I highly recommend Bal Jagat for any international adoption! " - Doug & Linda Y.
"In creating our family with two adopted children - our daughter from India and our son from Romania-we could not have asked for a more caring partner in the process. Bal Jagat's compassion, knowledge and critical support, transformed our journey and our lives." - David R and Suzanne KR (Adoptive parents of a daughter from India and a son from Romania).
"Hemlata and Mausami are two of the most knowledgeable and caring adoption specialist's I know of. Their technical skill in navigating the rather complex and ever changing regulatory environoment surrounding the international adoptions process is second to none. Their professional competence is only exceeded by their warm and caring approach as they work with you to bring a new young life to your family. So if you are contemplating an international adoption, I would highly recommend Hemlata and Mausami of Bal Jagat." -Dean H. (Member of the Community)
"We have only positive things to say about Bal Jagat! My wife and I adopted 2 beautiful children from China with the loving support and guidance of Hemlata and Mausami. I we were always treated with respect and with the upmost level of professionalism. I highly recommend Bal Jagat for any international adoption! " - Doug & Linda Y.