I-600A-014 Instructions TOC

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TABLE OF CHANGES – INSTRUCTIONS

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

OMB Number: 1615-0028

04/26/2024

Reason for Revision: Revision

Project Phase: 30-Day

Legend for Proposed Text:

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Expires 02/28/2026

Edition Date 04/01/2024

Current Page Number and Section	Current Text	Proposed Text
Page 1, What Is the Purpose of Form I-600A?	[Page 1] What Is the Purpose of Form I-600A? U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) uses the information provided on Form I-600A, Application for Advance Processing of an Orphan Petition, to determine whether you (and your spouse, if married) are suitable and eligible to adopt a foreign-born child (or orphan) from a country that is not a party to the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (Hague Adoption Convention or Hague Convention). Form I-600A 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.	[Page 1] [no change]
Page 1, Who May File Form I-600A?	[Page 1] Who May File Form I-600A? You may file Form I-600A if you are a U.S. citizen who plans to adopt or has adopted a child from a country that is not party to the Hague Adoption Convention. You may file Form I-600A even if you do not have a specific child identified for adoption.	[Page 1] [no change]
Page 1, Who May Not File Form I-600A?	[Page 1] Who May Not File Form I-600A? If you seek to adopt a child who is habitually resident in a country that is a party to the Hague Adoption Convention, you cannot file Form I-600A and must instead use Form I-800A, Application for Determination of Suitability to Adopt a Child from a Convention Country. There are exceptions. You may be able to file Form I-600A if: 1. You (and your spouse, if married) were not yet U.S. citizens when you adopted the child from a Hague Adoption Convention country, but the applicant is a U.S. citizen at the time of filing Form I-600A; or 2. The child’s adoption is not governed by the Hague Adoption Convention. For example, the adoption took place before the Hague Adoption Convention entered into force for the child’s country of origin. For additional information, see the adoption-related pages on the USCIS website at www.uscis.gov/adoption and the Department of State's website at www.state.gov/family-law/. NOTE: If you are filing under one of these exceptions, you should include evidence that you qualify for the exception with your Form I-600A. For a list of Hague Adoption Convention countries and the dates the Hague Adoption Convention became effective for each country, see the Status Table on the website of The Hague Conference on Private International Law at https://www.hcch.net/en/instruments/conventions/status-table/?cid=69.	[Page 1] [no change]
Pages 1-2, What Are the Eligibility Requirements?	[Page 1] What Are the Eligibility Requirements? You must be a U.S. citizen to file Form I-600A. If you are married, your spouse does not need to be a U.S. citizen. However, if your spouse lives in the United States, you must submit proof that your spouse is living in the United States lawfully as a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, lawful permanent resident, or in another lawful immigration status. [Page 2] If you are unmarried, you must be at least 24 years of age to file Form I-600A and at least 25 years of age to file Form I-600. NOTE: Some children may not be eligible for adoption, even if you are eligible to file Form I-600A and your application is approved. For more information, refer to the What Should You Do After Locating or Identifying a Child or Children section of these Instructions.	[Page 1] [no change]
Pages 2-5, General Instructions	[Page 2] General Instructions We provide free forms through the USCIS website. To view, print, or complete our forms, you should use the latest version of Adobe Reader, which you can download for free at http://get.adobe.com/reader/. If you do not have internet access, you may call the USCIS Contact Center and ask that we mail a form to you. Signature. You (or your signing authority) must properly complete your application. USCIS will not accept a stamped or typewritten name in place of any signature on this application. A legal guardian may also sign for a mentally incompetent person. If your application is not signed, or if the signature is not valid, we will reject your application. See 8 CFR 103.2(a)(7)(ii)(A). If USCIS accepts a request for adjudication and determines that it has a deficient signature, USCIS will deny the request. Validity of Signatures. USCIS will consider a photocopied, faxed, or scanned copy of an original handwritten signature as valid for filing purposes. The photocopy, fax, or scan must be of the original document containing the handwritten ink signature. Filing Fee. See Form G-1055, available at www.uscis.gov/forms, for specific information about the fees applicable to this form. Evidence. When you file your application, you must submit all evidence and supporting documents listed in the Initial Evidence section of these Instructions. Biometric Services Appointment. USCIS may require you, your spouse (if married), or any adult member of your household to appear for an interview or provide biometrics (fingerprints, photograph, and/or signature) at any time to verify your identity, obtain additional information, and conduct background and security checks, including a check of criminal history records maintained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), before making a decision on your application or petition. If we determine that a biometric services appointment is necessary, we will send you an appointment notice with the date, time, and location of your appointment. If you are currently overseas, your notice will instruct you to contact a U.S. Embassy, U.S. Consulate, or USCIS office outside the United States to schedule an appointment. At your biometrics appointment, you must sign an oath reaffirming that: 1. You provided or authorized all information in the petition; 2. You reviewed and understood all of the information contained in, and submitted with, your petition; and 3. All of this information was complete, true, and correct at the time of filing. If you do not attend your biometric services appointment, we may deny your application. Disability Accommodations/Modifications. To request a disability accommodation/modification, follow the instructions on your appointment notice or at uscis.gov/accommodationsinfo.   Copies. You should submit legible photocopies of requested documents unless the Instructions specifically instruct you to submit an original document. USCIS may request an original document at any time during our process. If we request an original document from you, we will return it to you after USCIS determines it no longer needs the original. NOTE: If you submit original documents when they are not required or requested, USCIS may destroy them after we receive them. Translations. If you submit a document with information in a foreign language, you must also submit a full English translation. The translator must sign a certification that the English language translation is complete and accurate, and that they are competent to translate from the foreign language into English. The certification must also include their signature, printed name, the signature date, and their contact information. USCIS Contact Center. For additional information on the form and instructions about where to file, change of address, and other questions, visit the USCIS Contact Center at www.uscis.gov/contactcenter or call at 800-375-5283 (TTY 800-767-1833). If you are calling from outside the U.S., call 1-212-620-3418. The USCIS Contact Center provides information in English and Spanish. Disability Accommodations/Modifications. To request a disability accommodation/modification, follow the instructions on your appointment notice or at www.uscis.gov/accommodationsinfo. Affidavits. If you cannot obtain a required document, you must: 1. Submit an original typed or written statement verifying that the record does not exist from the governmental agency that should have the record; 2. Submit a citation to the U.S. Department of State Foreign Affairs Manual indicating that the records are generally not available; or 3. Otherwise demonstrate that both the primary and secondary evidence are unavailable. Only then may you submit two or more written affidavits sworn to or affirmed by persons who are not parties to the application and have direct personal knowledge of the event and circumstances. Affidavits should contain the following information about each person making the affidavit: his or her full name, address, date and place of birth, relationship to you, full information concerning the event, and complete details on how he or she acquired knowledge of the event. How To Complete Form I-600A 1. Type or print legibly in black ink. 2. If you need extra space to complete any item within this application, use the space provided in Part 10. Additional Information or attach a separate sheet of paper. Type or print your name and Alien Registration Number (A-Number) (if any) at the top of each sheet; indicate the Page Number, Part Number, and Item Number to which your answer refers; and sign and date each sheet. 3. Answer all questions fully and accurately.  If a question does not apply to you (for example, if you have never been married and the question asks, “Provide the name of your current spouse”), type or print “N/A” unless otherwise directed.  If your answer to a question which requires a numeric response is zero or none (for example, “How many children do you have” or “How many times have you departed the United States”), type or print “None” unless otherwise directed. 4. USCIS Online Account Number. You will only have a USCIS Online Account Number (OAN) if you previously filed a form that has a receipt number that begins with IOE. If you filed the form online, you can find your OAN in your account profile. If you mailed us the form, you can find your OAN at the top of the Account Access Notice we sent you. If you do not have a receipt number that begins with IOE, you do not have an OAN. The OAN is not the same as an A-Number. 4. Part 2. Information About Your Home Study Preparer and/or Primary Adoption Service Provider. Provide the information requested in Item Numbers 1. - 5. Indicate in Item Number 1. whether your home study is or is not attached to your Form I-600A. If your home study is attached, select Item A. If your home study is not attached, select Item B. Your home study must be submitted within one year from the date you file Form I-600A, or USCIS will deny your Form I-600A under 8 CFR parts 204.3(c)(2) and (h)(5). If the individual who prepared your home study meets the definition of an exempted or supervised provider in 22 CFR 96, you will need to identify an accredited agency that has reviewed and approved or will review and approve your home study in Item Number 3. 5. Part 3. Accommodations for Individuals With Disabilities and/or Impairments. USCIS is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and/or impairments that will help them fully participate in USCIS programs and benefits. Reasonable accommodations vary with each disability and/or impairment. They may involve modifications to practices or procedures. There are various types of reasonable accommodations that we may offer. Examples include, but are not limited to: A. If you are deaf or hard of hearing, USCIS may provide you with a sign-language interpreter at an interview or other immigration benefit-related appointment; or B. If you are unable to travel to a designated USCIS location for an interview, USCIS may visit you at your home or a hospital. [Page 4] If you believe that you need USCIS to accommodate your, your spouse's (if married), or other household member's disability and/or impairment, select "Yes" in Item Number 1. and then all applicable boxes in Items A. - C. in Item Number 3. that describe the nature of the disabilities and/or impairments. Also, describe the types of requested accommodations on the lines provided. If requesting a sign-language interpreter, indicate for which language. If you need extra space to complete this section, use the space provided in Part 9. Additional Information. 6. Part 6. Applicant's Statement, Certification, Duty of Disclosure, and Signature. Select the appropriate box to indicate whether you read this application yourself or whether you had an interpreter assist you. Also, if someone assisted you in completing the application, select the box indicating that you used a preparer. Under 8 CFR section 204.311(d), you, your spouse (if married), and any adult member of your household have an ongoing duty of disclosure throughout the intercountry adoption process. See the Duty of Disclosure section of these Instructions below for more information. Read the Duty of Disclosure certification, then sign and date this section of the application. Every application MUST contain the signature of the applicant. A stamped or typewritten name in place of a signature is not acceptable. 7. Part 7. Your Spouse's Statement, Certification, Duty of Disclosure, and Signature. Your spouse should select the appropriate box to indicate whether he or she read this application themselves or whether he or she had an interpreter assist them. If someone assisted your spouse in completing the application, select the box indicating that he or she used a preparer. Additionally, if you are married, your spouse has an ongoing duty of disclosure throughout the intercountry adoption process. See the Duty of Disclosure section of these Instructions below for more information. Your spouse must read the Duty of Disclosure certification, then sign and date this section of the application. Every application MUST contain the signature of your spouse. A stamped or typewritten name in place of a signature is not acceptable. 8. Part 8. Interpreter’s Contact Information, Certification, and Signature. If you and/or your spouse (if married) used anyone as an interpreter to read the Instructions and questions on this application to you in a language in which you are fluent, the interpreter must fill out this section; provide his or her name, the name and address of his or her business or organization (if any), his or her daytime telephone number, his or her mobile telephone number (if any), and his or her email address (if any). The interpreter must sign and date the application. 9. Part 9. Contact Information, Declaration, and Signature of the Person Preparing this Application, If Other Than the Applicant and/or Spouse. This section must contain the signature of the person who completed your application, if other than you, the applicant. If the same individual acted as an interpreter and preparer for you and your spouse (if married), that person should complete both Part 7. and Part 8. If the person who completed this application is associated with a business or organization, that person should complete the business or organization name and address information. Anyone who helped you and/or your spouse complete this application MUST sign and date the application. A stamped or typewritten name in place of a signature is not acceptable. If the person who helped you and/or your spouse prepare your application is an attorney or accredited representative, he or she may also need to submit a completed Form G-28, Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or Accredited Representative, or Form G-28I, Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney In Matters Outside the Geographical Confines of the United States, along with your application. Only an individual who is licensed in the United States as an attorney (or who is otherwise permitted under 8 CFR parts 1.2, 292.1, and 292.2 to practice before USCIS) may give you legal advice or provide any other legal services concerning your application. You should ask anyone providing you with legal advice if he or she is licensed to practice law or is otherwise permitted by U.S. law to provide you with legal advice about immigration processes. An "accredited representative" means an individual accredited under 8 CFR 292.2(d) to practice before USCIS and/or the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR). This type of accreditation to provide legal services is separate and distinct from accreditation to provide adoption services under the Department of State regulations at 22 CFR 96. 10. Part 10. Additional Information. If you need extra space to provide any additional information within this application, use the space provided in Part 9. Additional Information. If you need more space than what is provided in Part 9., you may make copies of Part 9. to complete and file with your application, or attach a separate sheet of paper. If you attach a separate sheet of paper, type or print your name and A-Number (if any) at the top of each sheet; indicate the Page Number, Part Number, and Item Number to which your answer refers; and sign and date each sheet. [Page 5] We recommend that you review your copy of your completed application before you go to your biometric services appointment at a USCIS ASC. At your appointment, USCIS will allow you to complete the application process only if you are able to confirm, under penalty of perjury, that all of the information in your application is complete, true, and correct. If you are not able to make that attestation in good faith at that time, we will require you to return for another appointment.	[Page 2] General Instructions [no change] Affidavits. If a required document cannot be obtained, you must submit a written statement from the governmental agency that should have the record, verifying that the record does not exist. Only then may you submit written affidavits sworn to or affirmed by two persons who were living at the time and who have personal knowledge of the event and circumstances you are trying to prove. Each affidavit must contain the affiant's full name, address, date and place of birth, and signature. The affidavit must provide full information concerning the event and complete details of how the affiant acquired the information. How To Complete Form I-600A 1. Type or print legibly in black ink. 2. If you need extra space to complete any item within this application, use the space provided in Part 9. Additional Information or attach a separate sheet of paper. Type or print your name and Alien Registration Number (A-Number) (if any) at the top of each sheet; indicate the Page Number, Part Number, and Item Number to which your answer refers; and sign and date each sheet. [no change] 5. Part 3. Information About Your Home Study Preparer and/or Primary Adoption Service Provider. Provide the information requested in Item Numbers 1.a. - 5. Indicate whether your home study is or is not attached to your Form I-600A. If your home study is attached, select Item Number 1.a. If your home study is not attached, select Item Number 1.b. Your home study must be submitted within one year from the date you file Form I-600A, or USCIS will deny your Form I-600A under 8 CFR parts 204.3(c)(2) and (h)(5). [Page 4] If the individual who prepared your home study meets the definition of an exempted or supervised provider in 22 CFR 96, you will need to identify an accredited agency that has reviewed and approved or will review and approve your home study in Item Numbers 3.a. - 3.f. [deleted] 6. Part 5. Applicant's Certification, Duty of Disclosure, and Signature. You must sign and date your application and, if applicable, provide your daytime telephone number, mobile telephone number, and email address. Under 8 CFR section 204.311(d), you, your spouse (if married), and any adult member of your household have an ongoing duty of disclosure throughout the intercountry adoption process. See the Duty of Disclosure section of these Instructions below for more information. A stamped or typewritten name in place of a signature is not acceptable. 7. Part 6. Your Spouse's Certification, Duty of Disclosure, and Signature. You must sign and date your application and, if applicable, provide your daytime telephone number, mobile telephone number, and email address. Additionally, if you are married, your spouse has an ongoing duty of disclosure throughout the intercountry adoption process. See the Duty of Disclosure section of these Instructions below for more information. A stamped or typewritten name in place of a signature is not acceptable. 8. Part 7. Interpreter’s Contact Information, Certification, and Signature. If you and/or your spouse (if married) used anyone as an interpreter to read the Instructions and questions on this application to you in a language in which you are fluent, the interpreter must fill out this section and sign and date the application. 9. Part 8. Contact Information, Declaration, and Signature of the Person Preparing this Application, if Other Than the Applicant and/or Spouse. The person who completed your application, if other than you, the applicant and/or spouse (if married). If the same individual acted as an interpreter and preparer then that person should complete both Part 7. and Part 8. A stamped or typewritten name in place of a signature is not acceptable. [deleted] We recommend that you review your copy of your completed application before you go to your biometric services appointment at a USCIS ASC. At your appointment, USCIS will allow you to complete the application process only if you are able to confirm, under penalty of perjury, that all of the information in your application is complete, true, and correct. If you are not able to make that attestation in good faith at that time, we will require you to return for another appointment.
Page 5, Form I-600A/I-600 Supplements	[Page 5] Form I-600A/I-600 Supplements Form I-600A/I-600, Supplement 1, Listing of Adult Member of the Household You must submit Form I-600A/I-600, Supplement 1, Listing of Adult Member of the Household, for each adult member of your household. For this supplement, an adult member of the household is any individual other than you and your spouse (if married) who has the same residence as you and is 18 years of age or older on or before the date that you file Form I-600A or Form I-600. An adult member of the household is considered to have the same residence as you if they actually live with you. It does not matter if they intend to reside with you for a short term or long term. USCIS may request that you submit Supplement 1 for any household member who has not yet turned 18 years of age before you file Form I-600A or Form I-600, or who does not actually live with you, but whose presence USCIS deems relevant to whether you and your spouse (if married) are suitable to adopt. Form I-600A/I-600, Supplement 2, Consent to Disclose Information If you want to give consent for USCIS to disclose information about your case to your primary adoption service provider, home study preparer, or any other individual or entity (other than your attorney or accredited representative), you should complete Form I-600A/I-600, Supplement 2. You are not required to give this consent in order to file Form I-600A. Form I-600A/I-600, Supplement 3, Request for Action on Approved Form I-600A/I-600 You must file Form I-600A/I-600, Supplement 3 if you would like to request action, such as: An extension or updated suitability determination, on your approved and valid Form I-600A; or An updated suitability determination on your approved Form I-600 (combination filing). Once you file Form I-600, you are not required to keep any underlying Form I-600A approval valid, but you may do so if you wish. If your Form I-600A approval is still valid, you must use Form I-600A/I-600, Supplement 3, regardless of whether you have filed Form I-600, to request any of the following: 1. A first extension of your Form I-600A; 2. A second or subsequent extension of your Form I-600A; 3. A new approval notice based on a significant change or change in the number of children or characteristics (such as age, gender, and/or special needs) of the child or children you intend to adopt after your Form I-600A or Form I-600 was approved; 4. A first change to a new non-Hague Adoption Convention country; 5. A second or subsequent change to a new non-Hague Adoption Convention country; or 6. A duplicate approval notice. You must submit an updated home study if there are any changes or if you are requesting an extension. Your Form I-600A approval notice indicates the date your approval expires. If you are filing Supplement 3 to obtain an extension of your approved Form I-600A, you must do so before your approval expires, but no more than 90 days before its expiration. NOTE: You may not use Supplement 3 to extend eligibility to process your case as a Hague Adoption Convention transition case beyond your first extension. Generally, you may not use Supplement 3 to increase the number of children you wish to adopt from a transition country. However, unless prohibited by the new Convention country, USCIS will permit prospective adoptive parent(s) to request an updated Form I-600A approval notice to increase the number of children they are approved to adopt as a transition case only to pursue the adoption of a birth sibling, provided the birth sibling(s) is (are) identified and the Form I-600 petition is filed before the Form I-600A approval expires. You may not use Supplement 3 to change to a transition country if you have already designated a country. See the adoption-related pages on the USCIS website at www.uscis.gov/adoption for information on filing limitations in transition cases.	[Page 4] [no change] [no change]
Pages 5-8, Initial Evidence	[Page 5] Initial Evidence Unless otherwise stated, you must submit the following supporting documentation with your Form I-600A: 1. Proof of Applicant's U.S. Citizenship A. If you were born in the United States, submit a copy of your birth certificate issued by a civil registrar, vital statistics office, or other civil authority. If your birth certificate is not available, submit a statement from the appropriate civil authority certifying that your birth certificate is not available and secondary evidence, such as: (1) Religious records bearing the seal of the organization showing the baptism, dedication, or comparable rite occurred within two months after your birth and showing the date and place of your birth, date of the religious ceremony, and the names of your parents; (2) School records issued by the authority (preferably the first school you attended) showing the date of your admission to the school, your age at the time, and your parents' names and places of birth; (3) Census records (state or Federal) showing your name, place of birth, and date of birth or age; (4) Affidavits sworn to or affirmed by persons who were living at the time of your birth and who have personal knowledge of your date and place of birth in the United States. Affidavits should contain the following information about each person making the affidavit: his or her full name, address, date and place of birth, relationship to you, full information concerning the event, and complete details on how he or she acquired knowledge of your birth; or (5) An unexpired U.S. passport issued with 10 years of validity. [Page 6] B. If you were born outside the United States, submit a copy of one of the following: (1) Certificate of Naturalization or Certificate of Citizenship issued by 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 a U.S. Embassy or U.S. Consulate; (3) An unexpired U.S. passport issued with 10 years of validity; or (4) An original statement from a U.S. consular officer verifying your U.S. citizenship with an unexpired passport. NOTE: If you are married and your spouse lives in the United States, you must submit proof that your spouse is living in the United States lawfully. If your spouse is a U.S. citizen or non-citizen U.S. national, you must submit the evidence listed above as proof of your spouse's U.S. citizenship or non-citizen U.S. national status. If your spouse is a foreign national who is residing in the United States, submit proof of your spouse's lawful immigration status, such as a Permanent Resident Card (Green Card); Form I-94, Arrival-Departure Record; a copy of the biographic pages of your spouse's passport and his or her nonimmigrant visa pages showing an admission stamp; or any other Department of Homeland Security (DHS)-issued document. 2. Proof of Marriage of Applicant and Spouse (if applicable) If you are married, you must submit a copy of your marriage certificate. If you or your spouse were previously married, you must also submit proof of termination of any prior marriages. If any change occurs in your marital status while your application is pending, immediately notify the USCIS office that has jurisdiction over your case. See the Home Study Updates section of these Instructions below for more details on changes in marital status. 3. Proof of Compliance with Pre-adoption Requirements (if any) If the child will be coming to the United States for adoption, you must provide evidence that any pre-adoption requirements of the state where the child will live have been met. If you cannot submit this evidence when you initially file your application due to state law requirements, you may submit this evidence later. However, USCIS will not approve your Form I-600 for a specific child without this evidence. 4. Home Study You have one year from the filing date of your application to submit your home study. If you live in a state where an appropriate state authority must review, approve, and submit your home study directly to USCIS, it must be submitted within the same timeframe. If your home study is not received within one year, USCIS will deny your Form I-600A under 8 CFR parts 204.3(c)(2) and (h)(5). In all cases, your home study must not be more than six months old when it is submitted to USCIS. If it is more than six months old, you must include an update to the home study that is not more than six months old. You must submit a home study prepared according to the requirements specified in 8 CFR 204.311 by a person who is authorized under 22 CFR 96 to prepare the home study. A home study preparer is an individual or agency authorized to conduct home studies as a public domestic authority, a public foreign authority, an accredited agency, approved person, supervised provider, or exempted provider (see 8 CFR 204.301). The home study preparer (other than a public domestic authority or a public foreign authority) must hold any license or other authorization that is required to conduct adoption home studies under the law of the jurisdiction where the home study is prepared. The home study preparer (or, if the home study is prepared by an entity, the officer or employee who has authority to sign the home study for the entity) must also personally sign your home study and any updated home study under penalty of perjury under U.S. law. If your case meets certain criteria, your home study may be required to meet some different requirements than those described above. For more information, see the information on the Intercountry Adoption Universal Accreditation Act of 2012 on the USCIS website at www.uscis.gov/adoption. [Page 7] If your home study was not conducted by an accredited agency, an accredited agency must review and approve your home study before you submit it to USCIS. This requirement does not apply to a home study that was conducted by a public domestic authority or a public foreign authority. A public domestic authority means an authority operated by a state, local, or tribal government within the United States. A public foreign authority means an authority operated by a national or subnational government of a foreign country. Although a reviewer is not required, a home study conducted by a public foreign authority or public domestic authority must still comply with the requirements specified in 8 CFR 204.311. Home Study Requirements For a complete description of the requirements for a home study, see 8 CFR 204.311 and 22 CFR 96. If your case meets certain criteria, your home study may not be required to meet the requirements of 8 CFR 204.311 and 22 CFR 96. For more information, see the information on the Intercountry Adoption Universal Accreditation Act of 2012 on the USCIS website at www.uscis.gov/adoption. Home Study Updates There may be times during the adoption process when you will be required to obtain and provide an update of your home study. The following are some examples of circumstances that require a home study update: 1. If your Form I-600A is approved, you must submit an updated home study to USCIS when you request an extension of your Form I-600A approval. 2. Change to a different non-Hague Convention country. 3. Change in marital status. If your change in marital status occurs: If your marital status changes before you complete the intercountry adoption process, you must submit a new Form I-600A or Form I-600 combination filing with an updated home study. You may not use Form I-600A/I-600, Supplement 3. 4. Change of residence, including a change in the child's proposed residence. If you move to a new state in the United States, you must meet any pre-adoption requirements of that new state if a child is coming to the United States for adoption. 5. Significant decrease in availability of financial resources, such as loss of employment, garnishment of wages, etc. 6. Any change in history of arrest or criminal history of the applicants or any household member regardless of age. 7. Any change in history of child abuse or neglect, substance abuse, family violence, and/or sexual abuse as an offender, for the applicants or any household member, regardless of age. [Page 8] 8. Change in the number of and/or identity of children in your household, whether through adoption, foster care, birth, or any other means. 9. Change in the number of and/or identity of adult members of your household. A Form I-600A/Form I-600, Supplement 1 is required for any new adult member of the household. 10. Lapse of more than six months between the date your home study is completed and the date you submit it to USCIS. 11. Change in the number of children or characteristics (such as age, gender, and/or special needs) of the child or children you intend to adopt. 12. A development of a serious health condition for any household member, including but not limited to: heart attacks, cancer, strokes, conditions requiring extensive therapy, dementia, severe injuries, etc. Your adoption service provider can advise you on other changes that may require an updated home study. How to File Updates to Your Home Study The location for filing an update to your home study and the items you must include will depend on where you are in the adoption process. You must submit a Form I-600A/I-600 Supplement 3 with your updated home study unless your Form I-600A or Form I-600 combination filing is pending. If your Form I-600A or Form I-600 combination filing is pending, submit your updated home study to the office reviewing your case; no Form I-600A/I-600 Supplement 3 is required. USCIS will review your updated home study to determine your suitability and eligibility.	[Page 5] [no change] (4) A written statement from a U.S. consular officer verifying your U.S. citizenship with an unexpired passport. [no change] [Page 6] [no change] [no change]
Page 9, Duty of Disclosure	[Page 9] Duty of Disclosure Under 8 CFR 204.311(d), you, your spouse (if married), and any adult member of your household have an ongoing duty of disclosure throughout the intercountry adoption process. This duty requires you, your spouse, and any adult member of your household to: 1. Provide true and complete information to your home study preparer; 2. Disclose other relevant information, such as physical, mental, or emotional health problems or behavioral issues; 3. Disclose any arrest, conviction, or other criminal history, whether in the United States or abroad, even if the record of the arrest, conviction, or other criminal history was expunged, sealed, pardoned, or the subject of any other amelioration; 4. Disclose any history of substance abuse, sexual abuse, child abuse or neglect, and/or family violence as an offender under 8 CFR 204.309(a)(1), even if closed or unsubstantiated; and 5. Notify your home study preparer and USCIS of any new event or information that might require you to submit an updated home study. With respect to child abuse or neglect, this duty of disclosure requires you to disclose any past or pending investigation by any child welfare agency, court, or other official authority in any state or foreign country concerning the abuse or neglect of any child even if closed or unsubstantiated. This duty of disclosure is an ongoing duty that continues throughout the intercountry adoption process. This timeframe includes periods while any Form I-600A is pending, after any Form I-600A is approved, while any Form I-600 is pending, and until there is a final decision admitting the child to the United States with a visa. See the adoption-related pages on the USCIS website at www.uscis.gov/adoption for information on duty of disclosure notification periods.	[Page 8] [no change]
Page 9, WARNING	[Page 9] WARNING Under 8 CFR 204.309(a), USCIS will deny this application if you, your spouse (if married), or any adult member of your household: 1. Conceal, misrepresent, or fail to disclose any facts to the home study preparer or USCIS about any arrest, conviction, or history of substance abuse, sexual abuse, child abuse, and/or family violence, or any other criminal history as an offender. The fact that an arrest or conviction or other criminal history was expunged, sealed, pardoned, or the subject of any other amelioration does not relieve you, your spouse, or any additional adult member of your household of the obligation to disclose it; 2. Fail to cooperate in having available child abuse registries checked in accordance with 8 CFR 204.311; 3. Fail to disclose, as required by 8 CFR 204.311, each and every prior adoption home study, whether completed or not, including those that did not favorably recommend you, your spouse, or any adult member of your household for adoption or custodial care.	[Page 8] [no change]
Page 11, Where To File?	[Page 11] Where To File? Please see our website at www.uscis.gov/I-600A for the most current information about where to file this application.	[Page 9] [no change]
Page 11, Address Change	[Page 11] Address Change If your address changes, you must notify the USCIS office with jurisdiction over your case. If you filed your application with the USCIS Lockbox, the National Benefits Center (NBC) has jurisdiction over your case. If you filed at a USCIS international office, that office has jurisdiction over your case. Due to your change in residence, USCIS may also require you to submit an updated home study for a significant change. If you move to a different state, you may also have to provide updated information regarding any pre-adoption requirements. See the adoption-related pages on the USCIS website at www.uscis.gov/adoption for information on significant changes due to a change in residence and current mailing addresses for the NBC and USCIS international offices. NOTE: Do not submit a change of address request to the USCIS Lockbox facilities.	[Page 10] [no change]
Page 11, Processing Information	[Page 11] Processing Information Certification. You must fill out and sign Part 6. of Form I-600A. Your spouse (if married) must fill out and sign Part 7. USCIS will reject any Form I-600A that is not signed or accompanied by the correct fees, if any, and issue a notice stating that your Form I-600A is deficient. You may correct the deficiency and resubmit Form I-600A. An application is not considered properly filed until USCIS accepts it. Initial Processing. Once USCIS accepts your application, we will check it for completeness. If you do not properly complete this application, you will not establish a basis for your eligibility and we may reject or deny your application. Requests for More Information. USCIS may request that you provide more information or evidence to support your application. We may also request that you provide the originals of any copies you submit. If we request an original document from you, we will return it to you after USCIS determines it is no longer needed. Requests for Interview. We may request that you appear at a USCIS office for an interview based on your application. During the interview, USCIS may require biometrics to verify the individual’s identity and/or update background and security checks. Decision. A decision on Form I-600A involves a determination of whether you have established that you are suitable and eligible to adopt an orphan. USCIS will notify you of the decision in writing.	[Page 10] Processing Information Certification. You must fill out and sign Part 5. of Form I-600A. Your spouse (if married) must fill out and sign Part 6. [no change] Requests for Interview. We may request that you, your spouse (if married), or any adult member of your household appear at a USCIS office for an interview based on your application. During the interview, USCIS may require biometrics to verify the individual’s identity and/or update background and security checks. [no change]
Pages 11-12, What Should You Do After Locating Or Identifying a Child or Children?	[Page 11] What Should You Do After Locating Or Identifying a Child or Children? Once approved, Form I-600A is valid for 15 months. When you have located and/or identified a child for adoption, you must also file a Form I-600 for the child. You generally must file Form I-600 before the child turns 16 years of age, unless an exception applies. See the Form I-600 Instructions for more information on child eligibility.	[Page 10] What Should You Do After Locating Or Identifying a Child or Children? [no change]
Page 12, USCIS Forms and Information	[Page 12] USCIS Forms and Information To ensure you are using the latest version of this application, visit www.uscis.gov.	[Page 11] [no change]
Page 12, Penalties	[Page 12] Penalties If you knowingly and willfully falsify or conceal a material fact or submit a false document with your Form I-600A, we will deny your 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.	[Page 11] [no change]
Pages 12-13, DHS Privacy Notice	[Page 12] DHS Privacy Notice AUTHORITIES: The information requested on this application, and the associated evidence, is collected under INA sections 101(b)(1)(F), 201, and 204, 8 CFR 204.3, 8 CFR 204.301, and 8 CFR 204.311. PURPOSE: The primary purpose for providing the requested information on this application is to determine if you are suitable and eligible to adopt an orphan. Filing this application allows USCIS to make an initial determination on your suitability and eligibility before you file Form I-600. DHS will use the information you provide to grant or deny your application. DISCLOSURE: The information you provide is voluntary. However, failure to provide the requested information, and any requested evidence, may delay a final decision in your case or result in denial of your application. ROUTINE USES: DHS may share the information you provide on this application with other Federal, state, local, and foreign government agencies and authorized organizations. DHS follows approved routine uses described in the associated published system of records notices [DHS/USCIS-005 - Inter-County Adoptions Security and DHS/USCIS-001 - Alien File, Index, and National File Tracking System of Records] and published privacy impact assessments [DHS/USCIS/PIA-007(b) Domestically Filed Intercountry Adoptions Applications and Petitions and DHS/USCIS/PIA-051 Case and Activity Management for International Operations] which you can find at www.dhs.gov/privacy. DHS may also share the information, as appropriate, for law enforcement purposes or in the interest of national security. [Page 13] PRIVACY ACT WAIVER: Except as permitted by the Privacy Act, 5 USC 552a, applicable routine uses, and information related to adult members of your household as noted in Form I-600A/I-600, Supplement 1, USCIS may not disclose or give access to any information or record relating to any applicant, spouse (if married), or adult member of your household to any individual or entity other than that person, including but not limited to an accredited agency, approved person, exempted provider, supervised provider, or other adoption service provider, unless you give written consent. If you want to give consent for USCIS to disclose information about your case to an individual or entity, you must complete Form I-600A/I-600, Supplement 2, Consent to Disclose Information. You are not required to give this consent to file Form I-600A or Form I-600.	[Page 11] DHS Privacy Notice AUTHORITIES: USCIS is collecting the information requested on this application, and the associated evidence, under INA sections 101(b)(1)(F), 201, and 204, 8 CFR 204.3, 8 CFR 204.301, and 8 CFR 204.311. PURPOSE: The primary purpose for providing the requested information on this application is to determine if you are suitable and eligible to adopt an orphan. Filing this application allows USCIS to make an initial determination on your suitability and eligibility before you file Form I-600. DHS uses the information you provide to grant or deny the immigration benefit you are seeking. DISCLOSURE: The information you provide is voluntary. However, failure to provide the requested information, including your Social Security number (if applicable), and any requested evidence, may delay a final decision or result in USCIS denying your application. ROUTINE USES: DHS may, where allowable under relevant confidentiality provisions, share the information you provide on this application and any additional requested evidence with other Federal, state, local, and foreign government agencies and authorized organizations. DHS follows approved routine uses described in the associated published system of records notices [DHS/USCIS-005 - Inter-County Adoptions Security and DHS/USCIS-001 - Alien File, Index, and National File Tracking System of Records] and published privacy impact assessments [DHS/USCIS/PIA-007(b) Domestically Filed Intercountry Adoptions Applications and Petitions and DHS/USCIS/PIA-051 Case and Activity Management for International Operations] which you can find at www.dhs.gov/privacy. DHS may also share this information, as appropriate, for law enforcement purposes or in the interest of national security. [no change]
Page 13, Paperwork Reduction Act	[Page 13] Paperwork Reduction Act USCIS may not conduct or sponsor an information collection, and you are not required to respond to a collection of information, unless it displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. The public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated at 49 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, gathering the required documentation and information, completing the application, preparing statements, attaching necessary documentation, and submitting the application. The collection of biometrics is estimated to require 1 hour and 10 minutes. 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, Office of Policy and Strategy, Regulatory Coordination Division, 5900 Capital Gateway Drive, Mail Stop #2140, Camp Springs, MD 20588-0009; OMB No. 1615-0028. Do not mail your completed Form I-600A to this address. Form I-600A to this address.	[Page 12] Paperwork Reduction Act [no change]

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