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

OMB No. 1615-0028; Expires 09/30/09

Instructions for I-600, Petition to Classify
Orphan as an Immediate Relative

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

Instructions
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-Number), 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?
To classify an alien orphan who is or will be adopted by a
U.S. citizen as an immediate relative of the U.S. citizen to
allow the child to enter the United States. The petition is filed
by the U.S. citizen who is adopting the child.

Who May File This Form I-600?
1. Eligibility
A. Child
Under 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 an alien child who has only one
parent, who is not capable of taking care of the orphan,
and who has in writing irrevocably released the alien
for emigration and adoption.
A petition to classify an alien as an orphan may not be
filed on behalf of a child 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 reaches 16
years of age.
B. Parent(s)
The petition may be filed by a married U.S. citizen and
spouse or unmarried U.S. citizen at least 25 years of
age. The spouse does not need to be a U.S. citizen but
must be in lawful immigration status.
C. Adoption Abroad
If the orphan was adopted abroad, the married
petitioner and spouse, or the unmarried petitioner must
establish that the child was personally seen and
observed prior to or during the adoption proceedings.
The adoption decree must show that a married
petitioner and spouse adopted the child jointly or that

an unmarried petitioner was at least 25 years of age at
the time of the adoption.
D. Proxy Adoption Abroad
If both the petitioner and spouse or the unmarried
petitioner did not personally see and observe the child
prior to or during the adoption proceedings abroad,
the petitioner (and spouse, if married) must submit a
statement indicating the petitioner's (and, if married,
the spouse's) willingness and intent to readopt the child
in the United States.
If requested by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration
Services (USCIS), the petitioner 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 of compliance with the
preadoption requirements, if any, of that State must be
submitted.
E. Preadoption Requirements
If the orphan has not been adopted abroad, the
petitioner and spouse, or the unmarried petitioner, must
establish that:
1. The child will be adopted in the United States by the
petitioner and spouse jointly, or by the unmarried
petitioner; and
2. The preadoption requirements, if any, of the State of
the orphan's proposed residence have been met.

2. Filing Petition for Known Child
An orphan petition for a child who has been identified
must be submitted on a completed Form I-600 with the
certification of the petitioner executed and required fee. If
the petitioner is married, Form I-600 must also be signed
by the petitioner's spouse.
The petition must be accompanied by the following:
A. Proof of U.S. Citizenship of the Petitioner
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.
Form I-600 Instructions (Rev. 11/19/09) Y

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 petitioner'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, the petitioner's birth date,
or age at the time, 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
petitioner listed;
4. Affidavits. If a required document cannot be
obtained, you must submit either an original written
statement from the governmental agency that should
have the record, verifying that the record does not
exist, or a citation to the U.S. Department of State
Foreign Affairs Manual indicating that records are
generally not available. Only then you may submit
written affidavits sworn to or affirmed by two
persons who were living at the time and who have
personal knowledge of the event. Each affidavit
must contain the affiant's full name, address, date
and place of birth, and signature. The affidavit must
also explain the affiant's relationship to you, full
information concerning event, and complete details
of how the affiant acquired the information.
5. An unexpired U.S. passport, initially issued for ten
years, may also be submitted as proof of U.S.
citizenship.
If the petitioner was born outside the United States,
submit a copy of one of the following:
1. Certificate of Naturalization or Certificate of
Citizenship issued by USCIS.
2. Form FS-240, Report of Birth Abroad of a Citizen
of the United States, issued by an U.S. 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 lawful immigration status of the
petitioner's spouse, if applicable, must be submitted. If
the spouse is not a U.S. citizen, proof of the spouse's
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.
B. Proof of Marriage of Petitioner and Spouse
The married petitioner 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 petitioner who was previously
married, submit proof of termination of all prior
marriages.
NOTE: If any change occurs in the petitioner's marital
status while the case is pending, immediately notify the
USCIS office where the petition was filed.
C. Proof of Age of Orphan
The petitioner should submit a copy of the orphan's
birth certificate if obtainable; if not obtainable, submit
an explanation together with the best available
evidence of birth.
D. Copies of the death certificate(s) of the child's
parent(s) if applicable.
E. A certified copy of adoption decree together with
certified translation, if the orphan has been lawfully
adopted abroad.
F. Evidence that the sole or surviving parent is
incapable of providing for the orphan's care and has
in writing irrevocably released the orphan for
immigration and adoption, providing the orphan has
only one parent.
G. Evidence that the orphan has been unconditionally
abandoned to an orphanage, if the orphan has been
placed in an orphanage by his or her parent or parents.
H. Evidence that the preadoption requirements, if any
of the State of the orphan's proposed residence have
been met, if the child is to be adopted in the United
States.
If you can not submit this evidence upon initial filing
of the petition under the laws of the State of proposed
residence, it may be submitted later. The petition,
however, will not be approved without it.
Form I-600 Instructions (Rev. 11/19/09) Y Page 2

I. Home Study
The home study must include a statement or
attachment recommending or approving the adoption
or proposed adoption and be signed by an official of
the responsible State agency in the State of the
proposed residence or of an agency authorized by that
State. In the case of a child adopted abroad, the
statement or attachment must be signed by an official
of an appropriate public or private adoption agency that
is licensed in the United States.
The home study must be prepared by an entity
(individual or organization) licensed or otherwise
authorized under the law of the State of the orphan's
proposed residence to conduct research and preparation
for a home study, including the required personal
interviews.
If the recommending entity is licensed, the
recommendation must state that it is licensed, where it
is licensed, its license number, if any, and the period of
validity of the license.
However, the research, including the interview and the
preparation of the home study, may be done by an
individual or group in the United States or abroad that
is satisfactory to the recommending entity.
A responsible State agency or licensed agency may
accept a home study made by an unlicensed or foreign
agency and use that home study as a basis for a
favorable recommendation.
The home study must provide an assessment of the
capabilities of the prospective adoptive parent(s) to
properly parent the orphan and must include a
discussion of the following areas:
1. An explanation regarding any history of abuse or
violence or any complaints, charges, citations,
arrests, convictions, prison terms, pardons, and
rehabilitation decrees for breaking or violating any
law or ordinance by the petitioner(s) or any
additional adult member of the household who is 18
years of age or older.
NOTE: Having committed any crime of moral
turpitude or a drug-related offense does not
necessarily mean that a petitioner or petitioner's
spouse will be found ineligible to adopt an orphan.
However, failure to disclose such information may
result in denial of this petition or any subsequent
petition for an orphan.

2. An assessment of the financial ability of the
petitioner and petitioner's spouse, if applicable.
3. A detailed description of the living accommodations
where the petitioner and petitioner's spouse
currently reside(s).
4. If the petitioner and petitioner's spouse are residing
abroad at the time of the home study, a description
of the living accommodations where the child will
reside in the United States with the petitioner and
petitioner's spouse, if known.
5. An assessment of the physical, mental, and
emotional capabilities of the petitioner and
petitioner's spouse in relation to rearing and
educating the child.

Filing Petition for Known Child Without Full
Documentation on Child or Home Study
When a child has been identified but the documentary
evidence relating to the child or the home study is not yet
available, an orphan petition may be filed without that
evidence or home study.
The evidence outlined in Instructions 2A and 2B (Proof of
U.S. Citizenship of the Petitioner and Proof of Marriage of
Petitioner and Spouse), however, must be submitted.
If the necessary evidence relating to the child or the home
study is not submitted within one year from the date of
submission of the petition, the petition will be considered
abandoned, and the fee will not be refunded. Any further
proceeding will require the filing of a new petition.

Translations
Any document containing a foreign language submitted to
USCIS will 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.

Form I-600 Instructions (Rev. 11/19/09) Y Page 3

General Instructions
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.

Where To File?
A petitioner wishing to file the Form I-600 within the United
States must file the petition with the USCIS Dallas Lockbox
facility. Form I-600 will then be routed to, and adjudicated at,
the USCIS field office having jurisdiction over his or her place
of residence.
Form I-600 must be mailed to one of the USCIS Dallas
Lockbox facility addresses listed below.
For U.S. Postal Service (USPS) deliveries, use:
USCIS
P.O. Box 660088
Dallas, TX 75266
For private couriers (non-USPS), use:
USCIS
ATTN: Adoption
2501 S. State Hwy. 121 Business
Suite 400
Lewisville, TX 75067

Biometrics Services
As part of USCIS biometric services requirements, the
following persons must be fingerprinted in connection with
this petition:
1. The petitioner and petitioner's spouse, if applicable, and
2. Each additional adult member the petitioner's household,
18 years of age or older. NOTE: Submit a copy of the
birth certificate of each household member over 18 years of
age.
If necessary, USCIS may also take a photograph and signature
of those named above 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 he or she must go to be
fingerprinted. Failure to appear to be fingerprinted or for
other biometric services may result in denial of the petition.

Petitioners Residing Abroad
Completed fingerprint cards (Forms FD-258) must be
submitted with the petition. Do not bend, fold, or crease
completed fingerprint cards. Fingerprint cards must be
prepared by a U.S. Embassy or consulate, USCIS office, or
military installation.

What Is the Filing Fee?
E-Notification: If you are filing your Form I-600 at the
USCIS Dallas Lockbox facility, you may elect to receive an
email and/or text message notifying you that your application
has been accepted. You must complete Form G-1145, ENotification of Application/Petition Acceptance, and clip it to
the first page of your application. To download a copy of
Form G-1145, including the instructions, click on the link
www.uscis.gov “Forms.

A fee of $670 must be submitted for filing this petition.
However, a fee is not required for this petition if you filed
Form I-600A, Application for Advance Processing or Orphan
Petition, within the previous 18 months, and it was approved
or is still pending.

Petitioners Wishing to File Form I-600 Abroad

An additional biometric fee of $80 for fingerprinting every
adult person living in the household in the United States where
the child will reside must also be submitted.

A petitioner wishing to file the Form I-600 abroad must do so
at the USCIS overseas office, U.S. Embassy or consulate
designated to act on the petition. NOTE: In order to file Form
I-600 abroad, the petitioner must have an approved and valid
Form I-600A and be physically present in the child's country.

For example, if a petition is filed by a married couple residing
in the United States with one additional adult member in their
household, the total fee that must be submitted would be $910
($670 for the petition and $240 for biometric services for
fingerprinting the three adults).

Form I-600 Instructions (Rev. 11/19/09) Y Page 4

NOTE: If the prospective adoptive parents and any other
adult members of the household reside abroad at the time of
filing, they are exempt from paying the USCIS biometric
services fee. However, they may have to pay the
fingerprinting fee charged by the U.S. consular office or
military installation.
When more than one petition is submitted by the same
petitioner on behalf of orphans who are siblings, only one fee
for Form I-600 and biometric services is required, unless refingerprinting is ordered. If the orphans are not siblings, a
separate filing fee must be submitted for each additional Form
I-600.
The fee will not be refunded whether the petition is approved
or not. Do not mail cash. All checks or money orders,
whether U.S. or foreign, must be payable in U.S. currency at a
financial institution in the United States. When a check is
drawn on the account of a person other than yourself, write
your name on the face of the check. If the check is not
honored, USCIS will charge you $30.
Pay by check or money order in the exact amount. Make the
check or money order payable to the U.S. Department of
Homeland Security, unless:
A. If you live in Guam, make it payable to Treasurer, Guam.
B. If you live in the U.S. Virgin Islands, make it payable to
Commissioner of Finance of the Virgin Islands.

How to Check If the Fees Are Correct
Form I-600 and biometric fees are current as of 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," and 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-600 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.

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 you may complete and
mail 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
Submitting Advance Processing Application for
Orphan Child Not Yet Identified
A prospective petitioner may request advance processing
when the child has not been identified or when the prospective
petitioner or spouse are going abroad to locate or adopt a
child.
If unmarried, the prospective petitioner must be at least 24
years of age, provided that he or she will be at least 25 years
of age at the time of the adoption and the completed petition
on behalf of a child is filed.
The request must be on Form I-600A, Application for
Advance Processing of Orphan Petition, and accompanied by
the evidence requested on that form.
A separate Form I-600 must be filed for each child after a
child(ren) is located or identified. If only one Form I-600 is
filed, a new fee is not required, provided the form is filed
while Form I-600A is pending or within 18 months of the
approval of Form I-600A.

Child(ren) is Located or Identified
A separate Form I-600, Petition to Classify Orphan as an
Immediate Relative, must be filed for each child.

Form I-600 Instructions (Rev. 11/19/09) Y Page 5

Generally, Form I-600 should be submitted at the USCIS
office where Form I-600A was filed.
If a prospective petitioner goes abroad to adopt or locate a
child in one of the countries noted below, he or she should file
Form I-600 at the USCIS office having jurisdiction over the
place where the child is residing or will be located, unless the
case is retained in a USCIS office in the United States.
USCIS has offices in the following countries: Austria, China,
Cuba, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Germany, Ghana,
Great Britain, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti Honduras, India, Italy,
Jamaica, Kenya, Korea, Mexico, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, the
Philippines, Russia, South Africa, Thailand, and Vietnam.
If a prospective petitioner goes abroad to any country not
listed above to adopt or locate a child, he or she should file
Form I-600 at the U.S. Embassy or consulate having
jurisdiction over the place where the child is residing or will
be located, unless the case is retained in a USCIS office in the
United States.
Any Form I-600 that is not signed or accompanied by the
correct fee will be rejected with a notice that Form I-600 is
deficient. You may correct the deficiency and resubmit Form
I-600. Form I-600 is not considered properly filed until
accepted by USCIS.

Initial Processing
Once Form I-600 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-600.

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.

Penalties
If you knowingly and willfully falsify or conceal a material
fact or submit a false document with your Form I-600, we will
deny your Form I-600 and may deny any other immigration
benefit.
In addition, you will face severe penalties provided by law and
may be subject to criminal prosecution.

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-600.

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 and
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.

Decision
The decision on Form I-600 involves a determination of
whether you have established eligibility for the requested
benefit. You will be notified of the decision in writing.

Form I-600 Instructions (Rev. 11/19/09) Y Page 6