India
*One applicant MUST be a US Citizen for all international adoptions. This is a USCIS requirement, not an agency requirement. Only U.S. Citizens may File a Form I-800A or Form I-800.
BJCW Inc. is NOT currently accepting families outside of Southern California.
Please refer to CARA's list of other agencies, and inquire who is accepting new applicants.
Identified adoptions (where the identity of the child is known) and relative adoptions have a different process. Please discuss with the agency before making an Orientation appointment.
Children of all ages are eligible to be adopted up to age 14. Applicants must be open to some needs. Minor correctable special needs are available. You will have an opportunity to decide what special needs you can accept. If you are concerned please make an Orientation appointment to discuss this issue.
Bal Jagat is a Primary Provider and accredited agency licensed by the Government of India (CARA) since 1983. We have 39 years of experience of adoptions from India. India has signed the Hague Convention Treaty and complies with all regulations. The Executive Director speaks several Indian languages to assist clients with their adoption.
Adoptions from India must go through India's Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA). Children reside in orphanages from various parts of the country.
In addition to India’s requirements, a child must meet the definition of a Convention adoptee before you can bring him/ her immediately back to the United States. Bal Jagat is not a Primary Provider for relative adoptions but can assist with the homestudy. BJCW Inc may be able to assist with relative and identified adoptions, if the child meets the orphan definition. If you have specific questions regarding an identified child (relative or other) please call and discuss with USCIS-
1 877-424-8374.
Bal Jagat does not advise families in regards to a domestic adoption process in India.
Eligibility of Prospective Adoptive Parents* NEW **
http://cara.nic.in/PDF/adoption_regulations_2022_2709.PDF (as of 9-28-2022)
*Please note: These laws are determined by CARA (The Central Adoption Resource Authority).
These policies do not reflect the opinions or views of Bal Jagat- Children’s World Inc. agency.
** Please note: these are CARA's laws and may change at any time. USCIS limits adoptions of children after age 16.
Age at time of registration with CARA- For Married Couples:
Age at time of registration with CARA- For singles:
Each case is reviewed differently in each state and each Court in India.
CARA's laws may be different than US Immigration Laws.
Adoptive parents must be married for a minimum of 2 years.
Only one divorce is acceptable.
Bal Jagat- Children's World Inc will not do sibling adoptions.
India is very strict on mental health issues and medication use and a Psychological Evaluation is required by all applicants.
Children are adopted abroad, though CARA requires that all children must be re adopted in USA. The Indian Government and Indian orphanages require progress reports about the adopted child with photographs for two years after the adoption is finished.
Parents are required to make a trip to India lasting four weeks (or more in some cases) to meet and then accompany their child into the United States.
You may also find information on the US State Department’s website:
BJCW Inc. is NOT currently accepting families outside of Southern California.
Please refer to CARA's list of other agencies, and inquire who is accepting new applicants.
Identified adoptions (where the identity of the child is known) and relative adoptions have a different process. Please discuss with the agency before making an Orientation appointment.
Children of all ages are eligible to be adopted up to age 14. Applicants must be open to some needs. Minor correctable special needs are available. You will have an opportunity to decide what special needs you can accept. If you are concerned please make an Orientation appointment to discuss this issue.
Bal Jagat is a Primary Provider and accredited agency licensed by the Government of India (CARA) since 1983. We have 39 years of experience of adoptions from India. India has signed the Hague Convention Treaty and complies with all regulations. The Executive Director speaks several Indian languages to assist clients with their adoption.
Adoptions from India must go through India's Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA). Children reside in orphanages from various parts of the country.
In addition to India’s requirements, a child must meet the definition of a Convention adoptee before you can bring him/ her immediately back to the United States. Bal Jagat is not a Primary Provider for relative adoptions but can assist with the homestudy. BJCW Inc may be able to assist with relative and identified adoptions, if the child meets the orphan definition. If you have specific questions regarding an identified child (relative or other) please call and discuss with USCIS-
1 877-424-8374.
Bal Jagat does not advise families in regards to a domestic adoption process in India.
Eligibility of Prospective Adoptive Parents* NEW **
http://cara.nic.in/PDF/adoption_regulations_2022_2709.PDF (as of 9-28-2022)
*Please note: These laws are determined by CARA (The Central Adoption Resource Authority).
These policies do not reflect the opinions or views of Bal Jagat- Children’s World Inc. agency.
** Please note: these are CARA's laws and may change at any time. USCIS limits adoptions of children after age 16.
Age at time of registration with CARA- For Married Couples:
- 84 years or less may be eligible to adopt children from infancy through 23 months of age
- 85-89 years may be eligible to adopt children 24-47 months of age
- 90-99 years may be eligible to adopt children 48-95 months of age (4-8 years)
- 100-109 years may be eligible to adopt children 96-168 months of age (8-14 years)
Age at time of registration with CARA- For singles:
- 39 years or less may be eligible to adopt children from infancy through 23 months of age
- 40-44 years may be eligible to adopt children from 24-47 months of age
- 45-49 years may be eligible to adopt children from 48-95 months of age (4-8 years)
- 50-54 years may be eligible to adopt children 96-168 months of age (8-14 years)
Each case is reviewed differently in each state and each Court in India.
CARA's laws may be different than US Immigration Laws.
Adoptive parents must be married for a minimum of 2 years.
Only one divorce is acceptable.
Bal Jagat- Children's World Inc will not do sibling adoptions.
India is very strict on mental health issues and medication use and a Psychological Evaluation is required by all applicants.
Children are adopted abroad, though CARA requires that all children must be re adopted in USA. The Indian Government and Indian orphanages require progress reports about the adopted child with photographs for two years after the adoption is finished.
Parents are required to make a trip to India lasting four weeks (or more in some cases) to meet and then accompany their child into the United States.
You may also find information on the US State Department’s website:
CARA's laws have been in effect since January 13, 2017. Please note, domestic CARA laws will not apply for an international adoption. Please see CARA's website and the link for CARA's laws.
| new_adoption_regulations_2017-1.pdf |
Please contact us for a personal Orientation appointment to learn more and see if India is the right country for you.
"Adoption is a gift of life." Hemlata Momaya, MSW, Executive Director,
2016 Congressional "Angels in Adoption" Award Recipient
"Bal Jagat is outstanding! Hemlata and Mausami Momaya are tireless in all the marvelous work they do for your adoption journey. My Mom adopted my sister from China through them (and loved this agency so very much!), and now I am going through my India adoption with them and couldn't be more grateful for all they do! The love and care they put in to each person's adoption process is truly unparalleled! Whenever I have a question about anything during the process I hear back right away, and they are so patient with all my many questions. They put in such tremendous effort and thoroughness in every detail along the way. I am so very happy to be going through this process in such capable and trustworthy hands."- Alexandra (posted on Google) (Adoptive Parent in process of an adoption from India)
"We just came back from India with our baby boy V. We used Bal Jagat's India Program for the adoption and are very happy with their service. The social worker conducted our home study and was very professional and courteous to work with. The agency staff, Hemlata Momaya and Mausami Momaya, went the extra mile for us to help us during the adoption process. Our baby boy has added joy (and tiredness) to our life. We feel blessed everyday."- Suresh R (Adoptive father of a child from India)
"Our social worker did her job of evaluating us as a couple that would make good parents without making us feel uncomfortable. {The agency staff} are extremely competent at what they do and lead us through the process very successfully. {Adoption with Bal Jagat was} the best decision of our lives." - Teddy and Yasmin S. (Adoptive parents of a child from India)
"Thanks to Hemlata and Bal Jagat I have two of the most amazing children. Bal Jagat was absolutely amazing throughout the whole adoption process.The adoption process went very smoothly thanks to their professionalism. Anyone interested in seeking international adoption should call Bal Jagat. I cannot say enough good things about them. Bal Jagat is an amazing agency and is there for you every step of the way! They made me feel like family and even have events to keep the children involved. Thank you Hemlata, you have made my experiences joyful ones!" Phyllis C. (Adoptive mother of a son and daughter from India)
"Thank you so much Hemlata and Mausami for your dedication and service in this field of work, For over 3 decades now, you have made many couples' dreams come true of having a family. You both have navigated red tape, politics and laws of many countries and yet managed to keep your smile, love your work and be a rock that your prospective couples could lean on when the process seemed to be never ending. Personally knowing that you worked at night because of the time difference in India and the relentless hours that you spent on our case alone we highly recommend your services. My husband and I are approaching our 3rd year together with our daughter and love being parents. We were very lucky to have found you because you not only found our daughter, but made us mom and dad. Thank you !" Mina P. (Adoptive mother of a daughter from India).
"We just came back from India with our baby boy V. We used Bal Jagat's India Program for the adoption and are very happy with their service. The social worker conducted our home study and was very professional and courteous to work with. The agency staff, Hemlata Momaya and Mausami Momaya, went the extra mile for us to help us during the adoption process. Our baby boy has added joy (and tiredness) to our life. We feel blessed everyday."- Suresh R (Adoptive father of a child from India)
"Our social worker did her job of evaluating us as a couple that would make good parents without making us feel uncomfortable. {The agency staff} are extremely competent at what they do and lead us through the process very successfully. {Adoption with Bal Jagat was} the best decision of our lives." - Teddy and Yasmin S. (Adoptive parents of a child from India)
"Thanks to Hemlata and Bal Jagat I have two of the most amazing children. Bal Jagat was absolutely amazing throughout the whole adoption process.The adoption process went very smoothly thanks to their professionalism. Anyone interested in seeking international adoption should call Bal Jagat. I cannot say enough good things about them. Bal Jagat is an amazing agency and is there for you every step of the way! They made me feel like family and even have events to keep the children involved. Thank you Hemlata, you have made my experiences joyful ones!" Phyllis C. (Adoptive mother of a son and daughter from India)
"Thank you so much Hemlata and Mausami for your dedication and service in this field of work, For over 3 decades now, you have made many couples' dreams come true of having a family. You both have navigated red tape, politics and laws of many countries and yet managed to keep your smile, love your work and be a rock that your prospective couples could lean on when the process seemed to be never ending. Personally knowing that you worked at night because of the time difference in India and the relentless hours that you spent on our case alone we highly recommend your services. My husband and I are approaching our 3rd year together with our daughter and love being parents. We were very lucky to have found you because you not only found our daughter, but made us mom and dad. Thank you !" Mina P. (Adoptive mother of a daughter from India).