​


What is the Hague Convention? 
Throughout the international adoption process, you will hear references to the Hague Convention. To complete an international adoption you will need to comply with all of the Hague requirements. 

Hague Convention Facts

• 1. Countries who are party to the Convention establish a Central Authority to be the authoritative source of information and point of contact in that country.  The Department of State is the U.S. Central Authority for the Convention.
• 2. It aims to prevent the abduction, sale of, or traffic in children, and it works to ensure that intercountry adoptions are in the best interests of children.
• 3. It recognizes intercountry adoption as a means of offering the advantage of a permanent home to a child when a suitable family has not been found in the child’s country of origin.  It enables intercountry adoption to take place when:
• 4. It provides a formal international and intergovernmental recognition of intercountry adoption, working to ensure that adoptions under the Convention will generally be recognized and given effect in other party countries.
• 4. The child has been deemed eligible for adoption by the child’s country of birth; and
• 5. Proper effort has been given to the child’s adoption in its country of origin.

Keys to the Hague Convention Process

• Accredited Adoption Agencies: Only adoption service providers that have been accredited on a Federal level may offer certain key adoption services for Convention adoptions.  When adopting a child from a Convention country, prospective adoptive parents know that their agency has been evaluated by one of the Department of State’s designated Accrediting Entities.  These Accredited Entities evaluate agencies using uniform standards that work to ensure professional and ethical practices.
• Transparency: When adopting from a Convention country, accredited adoption agencies must itemize and disclose in writing the fees and estimated expenses associated with the adoption ahead of time.  The adoption service provider is only permitted to charge for unforeseen expenses under very specific circumstances.  There is also an official mechanism for lodging a complaint against an accredited agency to the Department of State.
• Adoption Certificates: Every child adopted from a Convention country receives a Hague Adoption Certificate or a Hague Custody Declaration.  The certificate is issued by a U.S. consular officer after determining that the adoption (or grant of custody) has met the requirements of the Convention and the Intercountry Adoption Act.  In Convention adoptions a U.S. consular officer also determines whether the child appears to meet the criteria for visa eligibility before the adoption is finalized (or custody is granted) in the country of origin.  This will allow the parents to know ahead of time whether the child appears to be eligible to enter the United States.
• Updated Forms & Visa Categories: Forms I-800A and I-800 replace Forms I-600A and I-600 for Convention adoption cases.  Through Form I-800A, which must be filed prior to Form I-800, prospective adoptive parent(s) gain eligibility to adopt.  Prospective adoptive parent(s) will identify the country from which they will adopt on this form.  Form I-800 later determines the eligibility of a particular child to be adopted into a U.S. family.  Children adopted from a Convention country must meet the definition of a “Convention adoptee.”  New visa categories, IH-3 and IH-4, will be used in Convention adoption cases.”

Bal Jagat – Children’s World Inc. is a fully Hague accredited Intercountry adoption agency, maintaining our Accreditation since 2008 (2208, 2012, 2016, 2020, and valid until 2024). We will be able to work with any Hague Convention Country to assist you with your adoption (either directly or through partnership). You must work with an agency that is Hague Accredited.

All of the Hague paperwork was completed onsite by BJCW Inc. staff employees, and therefore the agency is very well aware of the Hague implementation process. BJCW Inc. complies with all regulations of the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption, the Universal Accreditation Act (UAA), and the Intercountry Adoption Act of 2000. The basis under 22 CFR part 96 is as a fully Hague Accredited Agency, by IAAME.

A very brief overview of the Hague Process is described below. For the full text, please visit: http://travel.state.gov/content/adoptionsabroad/en/hague-convention.html

Overview
The Convention adoption process generally involves six primary steps.  You must complete these steps in the following order in order to meet all legal requirements for Convention adoptions.

1. Choose an Accredited Adoption Service Provider
2. Apply to be Found Eligible to Adopt
3. Be Referred for a Child
4. Apply for the Child to be Found Eligible to Immigrate to the United States
5. Adopt the Child
6. Obtain an Immigrant Visa for the Child

For Hague specific questions, please contact the United States Immigration Department specializing in adoption. Call 1-877-424-8374 or email: nbc.adoptions@uscis.dhs.gov     
For additional information please contact us. 

---

Learn about the Hague Convention

​Universal Accreditation Act

The Universal Accreditation Act (UAA) has been in effect since July 14, 2014. All families who are adopting a child, will need to have a Hague Accredited Primary Provider in the USA willing to take on their case (either an agency with that country's license, or a Hague Accredited Attorney or Agency who is willing to be responsible for the six adoption services under the Hague Convention).

Adoption service providers working with families in non-Convention countries will need to be accredited under the same accreditation standards that apply in Convention adoption cases.
Bal Jagat will only complete a homestudy for adoptions where there is an identified Primary Provider (ASP). 

• 1. All cases will require a Primary Provider agency (an agency with that country's license) either directly or through a Supervised Provider relationship. 
• 2. Independent (non Agency) international adoptions will no longer be possible. 
• 3. An agency can no longer just complete a homestudy for you, while you make your own connection in a foreign country (or decide to adopt an identified or relative child).
• 4. Even if your child is already adopted abroad, you will still need a Primary Provider agency to process your adoption.


• You may call USCIS for more info: 1877 424 8374 

Bal Jagat may be able to assist you to find a Primary Provider for the adoption, but first you must make an Orientation appointment with us, share information about your case, and be eligible to adopt with our agency. 

Universal Accreditation Act (UAA)

"Adoption is a gift of life." Hemlata Momaya, MSW, Executive Director
​2016 Congressional "Angels in Adoption" Award Recipient

​"We decided to hire Bal Jagat despite living in Long Island, NY because we had a feeling that they would {be} very helpful in adoption from India and that assumption was 110% right. Hemlata Momaya and her daughter, are very professional and helpful in this adoption process starting with {the} home study {supervision},  & preparation of documents as per Hague requirements. She continuously follow{ed} up with Orphanages in India to get us referral. We {received a} healthy child referral {a} few days back. We were very happy and lucky to have Bal Jagat as our Primary Provider agency. They always respond to you promptly. I would definitely refer other couples to go for an adoption with Bal Jagat as they are very helpful and give you the proper guidance at all of the stages of adoption."- Manish S. (Adoptive father of a son from India)

"It was wonderful meeting you and your lovely mother. Thank you for taking the time to help us.  I know the journey will be so much better with you two by our side!"- Eric & Allison (Adoptive Applicants waiting for a child from China)

"There isn't a more caring, knowledgeable and honorable organization out there if you are interested in learning how you can adopt. If you are in this market, give Bal Jagat a call, I promise you wont regret it."- Darryl. Community Member Posted on Yelp.

'Bal Jagat- Children's World Inc. is an exceptional international adoption agency. They have been in the business for a very long time so you are dealing with extremely competent and knowledgeable individuals. They give all families the special attention and support that they need. They are extremely professional and do a great job of preparing families for the journey that lies ahead. They love what they do and it shows in their relationships with the families that they service!'- Sam

"Dear Hemlata & Mausami. Thank you for all the love & care that you have given all these years to those children at orphanages around the world. May the Lord Almighty repay your kindness for all the good things you have done. May you be richly rewarded by HIM. He has seen all the good deeds you have done! Thank you also for always being there for me and being patient. I appreciate all of your help and support. May God richly bless you always in every aspect of your life. "- Susan (Adoptive Applicant waiting for a child from China)

"We want to thank you for all your time. We appreciate every minutia of it.  I will always keep you in mind. I respect and trust your agency because there is heart behind it. You both are doing wonderful work to help people complete their family, and children and opportunity to be loved and cared for."- Phu (Adoptive Applicant) 

"Although we are still waiting, the support we have received from both Hemlata and Mausami has been invaluable. They not only provide help through the mountains of paperwork, they also showed us the spiritual side of adoption and have opened our eyes to the beauty in what they do." - Vickie F  (Adoptive mother of a child from China)