Form I-600A: Adoption Petition Guide

The United States government allows citizens to adopt a child born in another country. Form I-600A is an important form in that process. But who is eligible to file, and what is the proper procedure? In this article, we’ll explain everything you need to know about Form I-600A.

What is Form I-600A?

Form I-600A, officially known as Application for Advance Processing of an Orphan Petition, is the form provided by the USCIS to the US citizens who want to adopt a foreign-born child from a non-Convention country. This form is used by the USCIS to determine the eligibility and suitability of the prospective adoptive parents as per the US adoption rules.

But there are also other forms available related to child adoption from foreign countries like the Form I-600A, I-800, and Form I-800A. This can be confusing. So, let’s clear out the difference between the Form I-600A and I-600 since they tend to create the most confusion.

Form I-600A vs. Form I-600

 Form I-600A is used to decide the eligibility of a child and determine whether or not he can be adopted under US adoption laws. But Form I-600, known as Petition to Classify Orphan as an Immediate Relative, is used to classify the child as an immediate relative. So, you file Form I-600A, followed by Form I-600. Form I-600A determines your eligibility, while Form I-600 begins the immigration process. That’s the main difference.

Who Needs I-600A?

Not everyone looking to adopt a foreign child will be filing I-600A. There is another form called Form I-800A that is used to determine the eligibility of a child. But who should file one form over another?

To understand this, you need to understand the intercountry adoption process that the United States follows. There are three different sets of laws that govern this. Those are:

1. The US Federal law
2. The laws of the country that the child is a native of
3. The laws of a particular state where you stay

The United States determines the immigration eligibility of a child. The countries are divided into two categories when deciding how to treat a child’s immigration. The two categories are Convention Countries and Non-convention countries. This categorization is based on the Hague Adoption Convention.

If the child is a resident of the country that is part of the “Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption,” then he or she will be treated as one immigrating from Convention Countries.

If the opposite is the case and the country is not a part of the Hague Convention, then he/she will be treated as someone immigration from non-Convention countries.

For children from Convention Countries, they need to file Form I-800A. For children coming from non-Convention countries, they should file Form I-600A.

To immigrate the child as an orphan, the USCIS also determines the eligibility of parents to make a final decision. That’s where Form I-600A (or Form I-800A) is used. Since the requirements and adoption process for both the forms are different, you must ensure that you’re filing the correct form.

How to Complete Form I-600A

Form I-600A is a 14-page document, and all the questions, wherever applicable, must be completed. The form is divided into ten parts. Here’s a brief overview of each part:

Part 1: Information About You

This section will ask personal information about you, the prospective parents. Provide your first, middle and last name, other legal names, US mailing address, US physical address (if it’s not the same as your mailing address), abroad address, date of birth, city/town/village of birth, state of birth, and country of birth.

Also, you need to fill out a section about your US citizenship. You’ll be asked whether you’re a citizen by birth or naturalized or adopted. Follow the questions that relate to your case.

Questions 13-21 will ask you to provide information about your spouse if you’re married or have been married previously.

Question 21 onwards will check if you’ve filed Form I-600A previously.

Part 2: Information About Your Home Study Preparer And/Or Adoption Service Provider

Part 2 has to do with the home study. This is required for every type of adoption, even the domestic ones. This is done by an agency that independently conducts basic research on your current and past life. This includes criminal background checks, financial health, and personal relationships. By this way, USCIS ensures children are not falling into the wrong hands. You’ll provide information about your home study preparer.

Part 3: General Information

This section checks basic general information about your plans, like whether you plan to travel abroad anytime soon, if you plan to adopt more children, etc. Basic yes or no questions.

Part 4: Accommodations For Individuals With Disabilities And/Or Impairment

If you’re requesting an accommodation because of disability and/or impairment, fill out this section.

Part 5: Applicant’s Statement, Certification, Signature, And Contact Information

You need to acknowledge what you’ve said is true and provide certificates and signatures. The final section of this part will ask you about your contact information.

Part 6: Applicant’s Duty Of Disclosure

In this section, by providing your signature, you affirm that you’re obliged to disclose any new information to the home study preparer and USCIS related to the adoption case.

Part 7: Spouse’s Statement, Certification, Signature, And Contact Information

This is an acknowledgment section for your spouse.

Part 8: Spouse’s Duty Of Disclosure

Your spouse affirms the same duty of disclosure as you did.

Part 9: Interpreter’s Name, Contact Information, Certification, And Signature

If you’ve used an interpreter for preparing this form or any other documents, he or she should fill out this part.

Part 10: Name, Contact Information, Statement, Certification, And Signature Of The Person Preparing This Application, If Other Than The Applicant And/Or Spouse

If someone else other than you or your spouse has prepared this form, he or she should fill out this section.

Documents Required

Along with the form, you must submit the following documents:

• Two copies of statements
• Proof of US citizenship (like religious records, school records, census records, US passport)
• Photocopies of birth certificates
• Photocopies of marriage certificates, if applicable
• Photocopies of divorce decrees, if applicable
• Photocopies of the death certificate of the former spouse, if applicable
• Home study documents, original and notarized

Where to File I-600A?

After completing the form, you need to ship it to the Dallas Lockbox Facility. The address, if you’re sending by US Postal Services is:

USCIS
P.O. Box 660088
Dallas, TX 75266

For FedEx or DHL Deliveries, the address is:

USCIS
ATTN: Adoption
2501 S. State Hwy. 121 Business
Suite 400
Lewisville, TX 75067

Please refer to this link for the most updated address.

I-600A Cost

The filing fee for Form I-600A is $775. You also need to incur a biometric services fee of $85. These are non-refundable and must be paid by check or money order. Since you’re most likely to be using an agency or a lawyer, you need to cover fees for them separately.

Conclusion

Adopting a child can be a life-changing experience. While the process is relatively straightforward, things can get messy at times. In such cases, do not hesitate to seek legal help from an experienced immigration attorney.

Frank Gogol

I’m a firm believer that information is the key to financial freedom. On the Stilt Blog, I write about the complex topics — like finance, immigration, and technology — to help immigrants make the most of their lives in the U.S. Our content and brand have been featured in Forbes, TechCrunch, VentureBeat, and more.

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