[6kidsforme]

Looking for info on ICIA. I understand they are not on the list of approved agencies? Anyone used them anyway?
Thank you.

[sak9645]

I am not commenting on that specific agency, as I don't know anything about it and would not want to violate this board's rules in any case.

However, I WILL comment that the Indian government will NOT permit American citizens to adopt through U.S. agencies that are not accredited by CARA, India's Central Adoption Resource Administration. If you go with a non-accredited agency, you will NOT be able to obtain custody of a child. And if, by some chance, you DID manage to obtain custody of a child via a back-door method, the U.S. government would not give an adoption visa to the child, because it will not go against a foreign government's requirements.

India is a difficult country from which to adopt. It is very important to work with an agency that is accredited by the Indian government, that knows the requirements of India and its various states, that has years of experience in the country, and that works with orphanages and in-country staff who are of the highest degree of integrity and familiar with both Indian and U.S. adoption laws.

India's adoption rules have changed in recent years, and you should also be wary of agency websites that may not be up to date. As an example, my understanding is that, unless a parent is of Indian nationality, escort is no longer permitted, although some agencies have not changed their website to reflect this fact. At least one parent must travel to bring the child home.

Sharon