R2I and Adoption

tejasvee · Post by **tejasvee** » Sun Jun 10, 2007 12:48 am

Hello Group,
We are considering adoption in India (Karnataka) in the next year or so. My research so far in this is preliminary.

The first and foremost item that shocked me is that in spite of millions of under privileged and abandoned children in India (which I hope is the case for a billion+ population), the number of adoptions registered by the government is so so low. It is something like 2500 or so during the last year.
http://www.adoptionindia.nic.in/database.htm

Nevertheless, I was curious to see if anyone has considered or completed an adoption in India.

If it were to be a regular Indian living in India, things would have been easy. However, we have a few major decisions to make.

1) US Citizenship: We are now qualified to apply for USC this month.
2) Return to India: We are considering returning permanently (hopefully), next year.
3) Inter Country Adoption: Even though we are planning to live in India, if we end up with USC, the adoption would take a longer and expensive course.

What should we do?
[LIST=1]

Take USC, move to India and then go through the longer & expensive path of adoption (up to 2 years)?

Forget about USC and move back with a REP, adopt. This almost certainly will kill the chances of any USC.

Have one spouse take USC and let the other adopt in India with INC?[/LIST]
Please share your thoughts which might give us some light in this direction.
Thanks
- Tejasvee

AlwaysIndian · Post by **AlwaysIndian** » Sun Jun 10, 2007 5:30 pm

The option#3 looks more feasible.
But remember, who ever keeps the Indian citizenship and adopts the kid has to stay with the kid for 2 years, before bringing him/her to USA. This is apart from the time taken for adoption.

tejasvee · Post by **tejasvee** » Sun Jun 10, 2007 7:13 pm

MeraNaseebR2I;28445people who I know that have adopted from India - chose option 3.
Its the fastest and the least problematic way to adopt from India.[/quote]

The people you know, do they stay in India or in US?

AlwaysIndian;28445But remember, who ever keeps the Indian citizenship and adopts the kid has to stay with the kid for 2 years, before bringing him/her to USA. This is apart from the time taken for adoption. [/quote]

Thanks. As I mentioned earlier, we want to stay in India (hopefully forever). We have no intention of bringing the kid to US till he/she is an adult.

Would either of you know if the one spouse keeps Indian citizenship (mother) and the other one becomes USC, what are the complications?

From indian tax perspective?
From US tax perspective? (Is it possible to claim the adopted kid as a dependent by the one spouse with USC?)
From child's immigration status perspective?

Vid_Bangalore · Post by **Vid_Bangalore** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 2:27 am

OP,

Its wonderful to see that you are planning to adopt. Adoption is something that is very close to my heart and seeing americans more open to it makes me think "when will we Indians change"..Looks like the change is happening after all. All the very best to you and hope you get the baby you are looking for.

Personally, I would love to adopt someday..Lets see..Maybe, God willing, we will have a third one adopted (spouse wants two of our own while I would have loved to adopt the seond one itself..)..

Anyways, regarding your questions, I feel it depends on
1. The urgency you feel towards adopting (are you ok with waiting for some years)
2. Whether you plan to R2I and whether US citizenship for your baby is important to you or not (If naturalized citizens adopt, will their kids get automatic citizenship??)..

If you can wait for some years AND if citizenship is important to you (personally), then adopt after becoming citizens. On the other hand, if you are R2Iing and not bothered about citizenship and are keen to have the baby in your arms soon, then forget citizenship and go ahead with your R2I..

My 2 cents.

DoctorJ · Post by **DoctorJ** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 3:21 am

OP,

Many well established companies here in the US have "Adoption Assistance" as a part of Employee Benefits. I'd suggest that you check/investigate some on this. I get to understand they'll help with the paperwork, legality and some financial assistance for fees etc.

Now that you've started the thread (and hope the process), it would be nice if you continued to post your experience/s and knowledge/information that you'd gain as you move forward with your plans.

If it's not too personal, it would be nice if you could possibly share more information in terms of the background and on how you guys (I'm assuming that it's a collective decision within the family) made this (not so easy) decision.

TIA
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At this point, I can only wish you Good Luck and all the Best...will be glad to pitch-in and help if there is anything I/we can help you with. -DJ :cool:

tejasvee · Post by **tejasvee** » Tue Jun 12, 2007 4:34 pm

Vid_Bangalore;28568
Anyways, regarding your questions, I feel it depends on
1. The urgency you feel towards adopting (are you ok with waiting for some years)
2. Whether you plan to R2I and whether US citizenship for your baby is important to you or not (If naturalized citizens adopt, will their kids get automatic citizenship??)..

If you can wait for some years AND if citizenship is important to you (personally), then adopt after becoming citizens. On the other hand, if you are R2Iing and not bothered about citizenship and are keen to have the baby in your arms soon, then forget citizenship and go ahead with your R2I..

My 2 cents.[/quote]

Thanks for your wishes and good luck with your effort in future! Same to DoctorJ

We surely want USC, but also looking at adopting within say 1 to 1.5 years from now.

As the permutations are complex, I am still looking forward for some answers/opinions regarding questions in post #4.

micky · Post by **micky** » Tue Jun 12, 2007 6:33 pm

You might want to check the yahoo groups nri-child (NRIs adopting from US, applicable if you take citizenship) and india-ichild (domestic adoption in India, applicable if you are willing to postpone the citizenship). The groups there could provide you more help as they concentrate on the adoption process than this forum which is a mix up of all experts but even now adoption is a little not too common (though it is catching up).

Please note that the fact that you pocess GC might still make you an NRI from the adoption perspective mandating a 2 year wait for the child to get the GC.

Also note that someone in the nri-child forum mentioned that they brought hoem the child without having to wait for 2 years by telling the consular office all details upfront. Not sure, if that will always work though.

I suggest you visit the yahoo groups mentioned which are dedicated to the adoption process.

Micky

DoctorJ · Post by **DoctorJ** » Wed Jun 13, 2007 12:10 am

The following Department of State link may be useful to OP and others interested in adoption of children. Check this out...by clicking here.
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Make sure to consider the ills and odds before committing to doing anything...no matter how noble. -DJ :cool:

tejasvee · Post by **tejasvee** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 7:28 am

micky;28817You might want to check the yahoo groups nri-child (NRIs adopting from US, applicable if you take citizenship) and india-ichild (domestic adoption in India, applicable if you are willing to postpone the citizenship). The groups there could provide you more help as they concentrate on the adoption process than this forum which is a mix up of all experts but even now adoption is a little not too common (though it is catching up).

Please note that the fact that you pocess GC might still make you an NRI from the adoption perspective mandating a 2 year wait for the child to get the GC.

Also note that someone in the nri-child forum mentioned that they brought hoem the child without having to wait for 2 years by telling the consular office all details upfront. Not sure, if that will always work though.

I suggest you visit the yahoo groups mentioned which are dedicated to the adoption process.

Micky[/quote]

Dear Micky,
Your information really led me to a wealth of information. Thank you very much!!!

When I learn more and actually go through the process, I will be willing to share it with anyone in here, if interested.

thanks again!
-T

DosaiLvr · Post by **DosaiLvr** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 12:36 pm

T,

There has been a adoption within the close family (next of kin) but not connected w/ USC related issues.

Feel free to ping reg. non-USC related questions. One may want to consider other issue regarding bringing an adopted child in to the family.

There are several support groups which help adopted parents deal w/ such issues.

Good luck -- DL