Petition to Classify Orphan as an Immediate Relative and Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition

OMB No. 1615-0028; Expires 08/31/08

Instructions for I-600A, Application for
Advance Processing of Orphan Petition

Department of Homeland Security
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

Instructions
Please read these instructions carefully to properly complete this form. If you need more space to complete an answer, use a
separate sheet(s) of paper. Write your name and Alien Registration Number (A #), if any, at the top of each sheet of paper
and indicate the part and number of the item to which the answer refers.

What Is the Purpose of This Form?
This form is used by a U.S. citizen who plans to adopt a
foreign-born orphan but does not have a specific child in
mind. "Advance Processing" enables USCIS to first
adjudicate the application that relates to the qualifications of
the applicant(s) as a prospective adoptive parent(s).
Additionally, this form may be used in cases where the child is
known and the prospective adoptive parent(s) are traveling to
the country where the child is located. However, it is
important that prospective adoptive parent(s) be aware that the
child must remain in the foreign country where he or she is
located until the processing is completed.
NOTE: This Form I-600A application is not a petition to
classify an orphan as an immediate relative. Form I-600,
Petition to Classify Orphan as an Immediate Relative, is used
for that purpose.

What Are the Eligibility Requirements?
1. Eligibility for advance processing application (Form
I-600A).
An application for advance processing may be filed by a
married U.S. citizen and spouse. The spouse of the
applicant does not need to be a U.S. citizen; however, he or
she must be in a lawful immigration status. An application
for advance processing may also be filed by an unmarried
U.S citizen who is at least 24 years of age provided that he
or she will be at least 25 at the time of adoption and the
filing of an orphan petition on behalf of a child.
2. Eligibility for orphan petition (Form I-600).
In addition to the requirements concerning the citizenship
and age of the applicant described in the above paragraph
noted by Number 1 when a child is located and identified
the following eligibility requirements will apply:
A. Child.
Under U.S. immigration law, an orphan is an alien
child who has no parents because of the death or
disappearance of, abandonment or desertion by, or
separation or loss from both parents.

An orphan is also a child who has only one parent who
is not capable of taking care of the orphan and who
has, in writing, irrevocably released the orphan for
emigration and adoption.
A petition to classify an alien as an orphan (Form
I-600) may not be filed on behalf of a child who is
present in the United States, unless that child is in
parole status and has not been adopted in the United
States.
The petition must be filed before the child's 16th
birthday.
B. Adoption abroad.
If the orphan was adopted abroad, it must be
established that both the married applicant and spouse
or the unmarried applicant personally saw and
observed the child prior to or during the adoption
proceedings. The adoption decree must show that a
married prospective adoptive parent and spouse
adopted the child jointly or that an unmarried
prospective parent was at least 25 years of age at the
time of the adoption and filing of Form I-600.
C. Proxy adoption abroad.
If both the applicant and spouse or the unmarried
applicant did not personally see and observe the child
prior to or during the adoption proceedings abroad the
applicant (and spouse, if married) must submit a
statement indicating the applicant's (and, if married the
spouse's) willingness and intent to readopt the child in
the United States. If requested, the applicant must
submit a statement by an official of the state in which
the child will reside that readoption is permissible in
that State. In addition, evidence must be submitted to
show compliance with the preadoption requirements, if
any, of that State.
D. Preadoption requirements.
If the orphan has not been adopted abroad, the
applicant and spouse or the unmarried applicant must
establish that the child will be adopted in the United
States by the prospective applicant and spouse jointly
or by the unmarried prospective applicant, and that the
preadoption requirements, if any, of the State of the
orphan's proposed residence have been met.
Form I-600A Instructions (Rev. 07/30/07)Y

General Instructions.
Step 1. Fill Out the Form I-600A
1. Type or print legibly in black ink.
2. If extra space is needed to complete any item, attach a
continuation sheet, indicate the item number, and date and
sign each sheet.
3. Answer all questions fully and accurately. State that an
item is not applicable with "N/A." If the answer is none,
write "none."

Step 2. General requirements
Initial Evidence
1. Proof of U. S. citizenship of the prospective adoptive
parent(s).
A. If a U.S. citizen by birth in the United States, submit a
copy of the birth certificate issued by the civil registrar,
vital statistics office or other civil authority. If a birth
certificate is not available, submit a statement from the
appropriate civil authority certifying that a birth
certificate is not available. In such a situation
secondary evidence must be submitted, including:
1. Church records bearing the seal of the church
showing the baptism, dedication or comparable rite
occurred within two months after birth and showing
the date and place of the prospective adoptive
parent's birth, date of the religious ceremony and the
names of the parents;
2. School Records issued by the authority (preferably
the first school attended) showing the date of
admission to the school, prospective adoptive
parent's date of birth or age at the time, the place of
birth and the names of the parents;
3. Census records (state or federal) showing the name
place of birth, date of birth or age of the prospective
adoptive parent listed;
4. Affidavits sworn to or affirmed by two persons who
were living at the time and who have personal
knowledge of the date and place of birth in the
United States of the prospective adoptive parent.
Each affidavit should contain the following
information regarding the person making the
affidavit: his or her full name, address, date and
place of birth and relationship to the prospective
adoptive parent, if any and full information
concerning the event and complete details of how
the affiant acquired knowledge of the birth; or

5. An unexpired U.S. passport, initially issued for ten
years, may also be submitted as proof of U.S
citizenship.
B. If the prospective adoptive parent was born outside
the United States, submit a copy of one of the
following:
1. Certificate of Naturalization or Certificate of
Citizenship issued the by U.S. Citizenship and
Immigration Services (USCIS) or the former
Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS);
2. Form FS-240, Report of Birth Abroad of a Citizen
of the United States, issued by an American
embassy;
3. An unexpired U.S. passport initially issued for ten
years; or
4. An original statement from a U.S. consular officer
verifying the applicant's U.S. citizenship with a
valid passport.
NOTE: Proof of the lawful immigration status of the
applicant's spouse, if applicable, must be submitted. If
the spouse is not a U.S. citizen, proof of her or his
lawful immigration status, such as Form I-551,
Permanent Resident Card; Form I-94, ArrivalDeparture Record; or a copy of the biographic pages of
the spouse's passport and the nonimmigrant visa pages
showing an admission stamp may be submitted.
2. Proof of marriage of applicant and spouse.
The married applicant must submit a copy of the certificate
of marriage and proof of termination of all prior marriages
of himself or herself and spouse. In the case of an
unmarried applicant who was previously married, submit
proof of termination of all prior marriages.
NOTE: If any change occurs in the applicant'(s) marital
status while the application is pending, immediately notify
the USCIS office where the application was filed.
3. Home Study.
You must submit a home study prepared according to the
requirements specified in 8 CFR 204.3(e) by a person who
is authorized under 8 CFR 204.3(b) to prepare the home
study. If you do not submit the home study with your Form
I-600A, it must be submitted not more than one year after
you file the Form I-600A. The home study must have been
completed, or updated, not more than 6 months before the
date it is submitted to USCIS.

Form I-600A Instructions (Rev. 07/30/07)Y Page 2

In order to prepare a home study, the person must be
licensed or otherwise authorized under the law of the State
of the child's proposed residence to prepare home studies for
adoptions. The home study preparer may be a public agency
with authority under State law for adoption matters, or a
public or private adoption agency licensed in the State of the
child's proposed residence. The home study preparer may
also be in individual, if the person is, as an individual,
licensed or otherwise authorized to prepare home studies for
adoption under the law of the State of the child's proposed
residence.
If you live abroad and will adopt the child abroad, the home
study may be prepared by an agency or individual who is
licensed or authorized to prepare home studies under the law
of the country in which you reside, or under the law of any
State in the United States. In addition to having a home
study preparer that meets this requirement, the home study
must, before it is submitted to USCIS, be reviewed and
favorably recommended by a public adoption agency in any
State in the United States or by a private agency licensed or
otherwise authorized in any State to place children for
adoption.
NOTE: USCIS does not enforce foreign licensing laws. So
if your home study is prepared abroad by a home study
preparer licensed in the United States, and is reviewed and
favorably recommended by a public or private adoption
agency licensed in theUnited States, you may submit it to
USCIS and USCIS will accept it. The country in which you
reside, however, may have its own laws concerning who
may conduct adoption home studies in that country. You
may want to verify whether a person licensed to conduct
home studies in a State in the United States is permitted,
under the law of the country in which you reside, to conduct
home studies in that country.
The home study must provide an assessment of the
capabilities of the prospective adoptive parent(s) to provide
proper parental care to an adopted orphan in light of the
requirements stated in 8 CFR 204.3(e). The home study
must include a discussion of the following elements:
1. Personal interview(s) and home visit(s).
2. Assessment of the capabilities of the prospective
adoptive parents to properly parent the orphan, including:
A. Assessment of the physical, mental, and emotional
capabilities of the prospective adoptive parents to
properly parent the orphan.
B. Assessment of the finances of the prospective doptive
parents
C. History of abuse and/or violence.
D. Previous rejection for adoption or prior unfavorable
home study.

E. Criminal history.
3. Living accommodations.
4. Handicapped or special needs orphan.
5. Summary of the counseling given and plans for postplacement counseling.
6. Specific approval of the prospective adoptive parents for
adoption.
7. Home study preparer's certification and statement of
authority to conduct home studies.
8. Review of home study by the appropriate State agency, if
required, and by a private or public adoption agency
licensed in theUnited States, if you live abroad and will
adopt abroad.
NOTE: You must include all information concerning any criminal
history, even if an arrest, indictment, other criminal charge, or
conviction has been expunged, sealed, pardoned, or ameliorated in
any other way. Having committed any crime of moral turpitude or a
drug-related offense does not necessarily mean that the prospective
adoptive parent(s) will be found not qualified to adopt an orphan.
However, failure to disclose such information may result in denial of
this application and/or any subsequent petition for an orphan.

Translations. Any document containing foreign language
submitted to the Service shall be accompanied by a full
English language translation which the translator has certified
as complete and accurate, and by the translator's certification
that he or she is competent to translate from the foreign
language into English.
Copies. Unless specifically required that an original
document be filed with an application or petition, an ordinary
legible photocopy may be submitted. Original documents
submitted when not required will remain a part of the record,
even if the submission was not required.

Where To File?
A prospective adoptive parent residing in the United States
should send the completed application to the USCIS office
having jurisdiction over his or her place of residence. A
prospective adoptive parent residing outside the United States
should consult the nearest American consulate for the overseas
or stateside USCIS office designated to act on the application.

What Is the Filing Fee?
The filing fee for a Form I-600A is $670.00.
In addition to the fee for the application, there is a $80.00
biometric services fee for fingerprinting every adult person
living in the household in the United States where the child
will reside.

Form I-600A Instructions (Rev. 07/30/07)Y Page 3

For example, if an application is filed by a married couple
residing in the United States with one additional adult member
in their household, the total fees that must be submitted would
be $910.00 ($670.00 for the petition and $240.00 for the
biometric services fees for fingerprinting the three adults).
USCIS will allow for a one time re-fingerprinting at nocharge to the prospective adoptive parents and household
members, who are at least 18 years of age upon expiration of
the fingerprint validity period of 15 months. Also, if the
prospective adoptive parents have not yet filed a Form I-600,
and make a written to extend the approval period of a Form
I-600A, it is not necessary for them to pay the biometrics fee
again to be fingerprinted in connection with the extension
request.
Biometric services. As part of the USCIS biometric services
requirement, the following persons must be fingerprinted in
connection with this application:
1. The married prospective adoptive parent and spouse, if
applicable, and
2. Each additional adult member 18 years of age or older, of
the prospective adoptive parent(s)' household. NOTE:
Submit a copy of the birth certificate of each qualifying
household member over 18.
If necessary, USCIS may also take each person's photograph
and signature as part of the biometric services.
Petitioners residing in the United States. After filing this
petition, USCIS will notify each person in writing of the time
and location where they must go to be fingerprinted. Failure to
appear to be fingerprinted or for other biometric services may
result in denial of this application.
Petitioners residing abroad. Completed fingerprint cards
(Forms FD-258) must be submitted with this application. Do
not bend, fold or crease the completed fingerprint cards. The
fingerprint cards must be prepared by a U.S. embassy or
consulate, USCIS office or U.S. military installation.
NOTE: If the prospective adoptive parent(s) and any other
adult members of the household are residing abroad at the
time of filing, they are exempt from paying the biometric
services fee for fingerprinting. However, they may have to
pay fingerprinting fees charged by the U.S. Department of
State or military installation.
You may submit one check or money order for both the
application and biometric fees.
Use the following guidelines when you prepare your check or
money order for the Form I-600A and the biometric service
fee:

1. The check or money order must be drawn on a bank or
other financial institution located in the United States and
must be payable in U.S. currency; and
2. Make the check or money order payable to U.S.
Department of Homeland Security, unless:
A. If you live in Guam and are filing your petition
there, make it payable to Treasurer, Guam.
B. If you live in the U.S. Virgin Islands and are filing
your petition there, make it payable to
Commissioner of Finance of the Virgin Islands.
NOTE: Please spell out U.S. Department of Homeland
Security; do not use the initials "USDHS" or "DHS."
Notice to Those Making Payment by Check. If you send us
a check, it will be converted into an electronic funds transfer
(EFT). This means we will copy your check and use the
account information on it to electronically debit your account
for the amount of the check. The debit from your account will
usually take 24 hours, and will be shown on your regular
account statement.
You will not receive your original check back. We will
destroy your original check, but we will keep a copy of it. If
the EFT cannot be processed for technical reasons, you
authorize us to process the copy in place of your original
check. If the EFT cannot be completed because of insufficient
funds, we may try to make the transfer up to two times.
How to Check If the Fees Are Correct.
The form and biometric fees on this form are current as the the
edition date appearing in the lower right corner of this page.
However, because USCIS fees change periodically, you can
verify if the fees are correct by following one of the steps
below:
1. Visit our website at www.uscis.gov, select
"Immigration Forms" check the appropriate fee;
2. Review the Fee Schedule included in your form
package, if you called us to request the form or
3. Telephone our National Customer Service Center at
1-800-375-5283 and ask for the fee information.
NOTE: If your Form I-600A requires payment of a biometric
service fee for USCIS to take your fingerprints, photograph or
signature, you can use the same procedure to obtain the correct
biometric fee.

Form I-600A Instructions (Rev. 07/30/07)Y Page 4

Address Changes.
If you change your address and you have an application or
petition pending with USCIS, you may change your address
on-line at www.uscis.gov, click on "Change your address with
USCIS" and follow the prompts or by completing and mailing
Form AR-11, Alien's Change of Address Card, to:
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Change of Address
P.O. Box 7134
London, KY 40742-7134
For commercial overnight or fast freight services only, mail
to:
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Change of Address
1084-I South Laurel Road
London, KY 40744

Processing Information.
What Should You Do After Locating and/or
Identifying a Child or Children?
Form I-600, Petition to Classify Orphan as an Immediate
Relative, is filed when a child has been located and/or
identified for the prospective adoptive parent(s). A new fee is
not required if Form I-600 is filed within 18 months from the
approval date of the Form I-600A application.
If approved in the home study for more than one orphan, the
prospective adoptive parent(s) may file a petition for each of
the additional children to the maximum number approved. If
the orphans are siblings, no additional filing fee is required.
However, if the orphans are not siblings, an additional filing
fee is required for each orphan beyond the first orphan.
A fee of $670.00 must be submitted for filing this petition.
However, a fee is not required for this petition if you filed an
advance processing application (Form I-600A) within the
previous 18 months and it was approved or is still pending.
NOTE: Approval of an advance processing application does
not guarantee that the orphan petition(s) will be approved.
Form I-600 must be accompanied by all the evidence required
by the instructions of that form, except where provided
previously with Form I-600A.

Generally, Form I-600 should be submitted at the USCIS
office where the advance processing application, Form
I-600A, was filed. Prospective adoptive parent(s) going
abroad to adopt or locate a child may file Form I-600 with
either the USCIS office or American consulate or embassy
having jurisdiction over the place where the child is residing
or will be located, unless the case is being retained at the
USCIS office stateside.
Certification. The "Certification of Prospective Adoptive
Parent" block of Form I-600A must be executed by the
prospective adoptive parent. The spouse, if applicable, must
execute the "Certification of Married Prospective Adoptive
Parent Spouse" block on Page 2 of the form. Failure to do so
will result in the rejection of the Form I-600A.
Any Form I-600A that is not signed or accompanied by the
correct fee, will be rejected with a notice that the Form
I-600A is deficient. You may correct the deficiency and
resubmit the Form I-600A. An application or petition is not
considered properly filed until accepted by USCIS.

Initial processing. Once a Form I-600A has been accepted,

it will be checked for completeness, including submission of
the required initial evidence. If you do not completely fill out
the form, or file it without required initial evidence, you will
not establish a basis for eligibility and we may deny your
Form I-600A.

Requests for more information or interview. We may

request more information or evidence, or we may request that
you appear at a USCIS office for an interview. We may also
request that you submit the originals of any copy. We will
return these originals when they are no longer required.

Decision. The decision on a Form I-600A involves a
determination of whether you have established eligiblity for
the requested benefit. You will be notified of the decision in
writing.
Extension of the Form I-600A approval period. If
USCIS has approved your Form I-600A, and you have not
yet filed a Form I-600 based on that approval, you may
make one request, without fee, to have USCIS extend the
approval period for your Form I-600A. You must submit a
written request to the USCIS office that adjudicated the
initial I-600A. The request must be received no earlier than
90 days prior to the expiration of the Form I-600A approval,
but before the Form I-600A approval notice expires. For
instance, if your Form I-600A approval notice is valid until
December 31, you may not file the request before October
3, but must file it no later than December 31.

Form I-600A Instructions (Rev. 07/30/07)Y Page 5

The written request must explicitly request a one-time, nocharge extension to the current I-600A approval. You must
submit an amended/updated home study and any other
supporting documentation of any changes in the household.
The home study amendment/update must address each issue
under 204.3(e) and indicate whether anything has changed
on any item. The home study must also address any
changes to the I-600A answers and must say whether
approval is still recommended.

Requesting a change of country. If you had USCIS
send the approval notice for your Form I-600A to the
Department of State office in a particular country, but now
wish to adopt a child from a different country, you may
make one request, without fee, to have a new approval
notice sent to the Department of State office in the new
country. You must submit a written request to the USCIS
office that adjudicated the initial I-600A. You should also
submit an updated or amended home study that addresses
the change in country and whether the home study preparer
recommends approval of the change, and that also addresses
any other changes since your Form I-600A was approved.
If you have received one free change of country, then you
must submit a properly completed Form I-824, Application
for Action on Approved Petitioner or Application, with the
fee specified in 8 CFR 103.7(b), to obtain any additional
change of country

Privacy Act Notice.
We ask for the information on this form, and associated
evidence, to determine if you have established eligibility for
the immigration benefit for which you are filing. Our legal
right to ask for this information can be found in the
Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended. We may
provide this information to other government agencies. Failure
to provide this information, and any requested evidence, may
delay a final decision or result in denial of your Form I-600A.

Paperwork Reduction Act.
An agency may not conduct or sponsor an information
collection and a person is not required to respond to a
collection of information unless it displays a currently valid
OMB control number. The public reporting burden for this
collection of information is estimated at 30 minutes per
response, including the time for reviewing instructions,
completing and submitting the form. Send comments
regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this
collection of information, including suggestions for reducing
this burden, to: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services,
Regulatory Management Division, 111 Massachusetts
Avenue, N.W., 3rd Floor, Suite 3008, Washington, DC 20529.
OMB No. 1615-0028. Do not mail your application to this
address.

USCIS Forms and Information.
To order USCIS forms, call our toll-free number at 1-800870-3676. You can also get USCIS forms and information on
immigration laws, regulations and procedures by telephoning
our National Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283 or
visiting our internet website at www.uscis.gov.
As an altenative to waiting in line for assistance at your local
USCIS office, you can now schedule an appointment through
our internet-based system, InfoPass. To access the system,
visit our website. Use the InfoPass appointment scheduler and
follow the screen prompts to set up your appointment.
InfoPass generates an electronic appointment notice that
appears on the screen.

Penalties.
If you knowingly and willfully falsify or conceal a material
fact or submit a false document with this Form I-600A, we
will deny the Form I-600A and may deny any other
immigration benefit.
In addition, you will face severe penalties provided by law and
may be subject to criminal prosecution.
Form I-600A Instructions (Rev. 07/30/07)Y Page 6