Immigration and Naturalization

Unlike adoptions done within the country, International Adoption requires an additional step. You cannot bring your adoptive child into the United States without the approval of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). This may be a long and difficult process as the USCIS is oftentimes overloaded with cases. We suggest you begin processing your USCIS requirements as soon as you have decided on pursuing International Adoption.

There are two options you can take to start your USCIS application process.

You can call USCIS at 1-800-870-3676 and request two sets of I-600A and I-600 forms for each person.
OR
Download the I-600A and I-600 forms from the USCIS web site.
You will need the I-600A to obtain the pre-approval of the USCIS to adopt a foreign child. It should be submitted to the USCIS together with your birth certificate, and any marriage or divorce contract if applicable. The USCIS fee must be sent together with the form and documents via money order. When the USCIS receives these, you will be contacted and instructed on how to complete another requirement, the USCIS fingerprint cards. These will be sent to the FBI for a criminal background check. The $70 per person processing fee for the fingerprint cards must also be paid through money order. While the FBI works on your criminal background check, you might as well begin your Home Study program. The Home Study document to be accomplished by your social worker is another requirement for USCIS approval.

When you have accepted a child referral, you will have to submit the I-600 form to the USCIS office or the US Foreign Embassy with your adoptive child’s birth certificate and other supporting documents

As of October 2000, naturalization is no longer a separate process. Through the signing if the Child Naturalization Act, adoptive parents no longer need to complete the naturalization procedure with the USCIS. According to the said law, when the adopted child enters the United States, citizenship is automatically granted to him.