China
Guatemala
Russia
Vietnam
India
EthiopiaThe Citizenship & Immigration Service (CIS) is part of the Department of Homeland Security. Every US citizen who adopts internationally must obtain approval from the CIS. Your first contact is at the very beginning of your adoption process as explained below. Also, the last step before returning home with your new family member(s) involves the CIS (or the US Department of State-Consular Services if there is no CIS representative in the country from which you adopt).
I-600A. The I-600A is an “Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition” to start the CIS process for your international adoption from a non-Hague country (Ethiopia, Nepal, Russia, or Vietnam). When the I-600A is approved, you will receive the I-171H. The I-600A is sent to the CIS along with your filing fee of $670 and fingerprint fee ($80 per person 18 years and older in your home) by certified check or money order, your home study, your birth certificate(s), marriage certificate (if applicable), and divorce decree(s) (if applicable). You can obtain an I-600A from the CIS website.
I-800A. The I-800A is an “Application for Determination of Suitability to Adopt a Child from a Convention Country” to start the CIS process for your international adoption from a Hague country (Bulgaria, China, Guatemala, India, or Panama). When the I-800A is approved, you will receive an approval notice from the CIS. The I-800A is sent to the National Benefit Center (NBC) along with your filing fee of $670 and fingerprint fee ($80 per person 18 years and older in your home) by check or money order (must be made out to “US Department of Homeland Security” – no abbreviations), your original home study, your birth certificate(s), marriage certificate (if applicable), divorce decree(s) (if applicable), and evidence of compliance with preadoption requirements (if applicable). You can obtain an I-800A from the CIS website.
For Both I-600A and I-800A Filers. Because time is usually very important to you, after you have made the decision to adopt, we strongly recommend beginning your home study procedure as soon as possible after making your decision to adopt after consulting with us on your selection of home study agency. You need your completed home study for the CIS procedure. Please note: Since the implementation of the Hague Convention on April 1st, there are interagency agreements FTIA must have in place with the agency who completes your home study. Please do not begin the home study process until you have confirmed with FTIA that the appropriate interagency agreement is in place.
Listed below in MAGENTA are the documents you submit to the CIS with your I-600A Application for Advance Processing of your Orphan Petition or your I-800A Application for Determination of Suitability to Adopt a Child from a Convention Country. Please note that the NBC requires all documents be sent in at one time, including the home study. Some district CIS offices allow adopting parents to send in all documents except the home study, with a cover letter stating the home study will follow in the near future. Please check with us or your home study agency if you have any questions. The NBC only has a post office box address, so we recommend sending the I-600A or I-800A by certified mail with a green card receipt.
* When you obtain original, certified copies of your birth certificate(s), marriage certificate (if married), and divorce decree(s) (if applicable) from the appropriate state/county offices, we recommend that you order at least three or four originals at one time. You will need at least one original, certified copy of birth, marriage, and divorce documents for your dossier (some countries require two originals), and possibly for your home study agency, the CIS, and also if you have to apply for U.S. passport(s). It will save you time and money if you order multiple originals at one time. If you have questions regarding how many originals you will need, please consult your FTIA country coordinator and your home study agency social worker.
** The CIS is supposed to accept photocopies of original documents as long as you attach a statement to the photocopies which should read: "Copies of documents submitted are exact photocopies of unaltered original documents and I understand that I may be required to submit originals to an Immigration or Consular official at a later date."
Signature
Typed or Printed Name
Date
Detailed instructions for completing the I-600A or I-800A will be available to you via the MyFTIA online system once your Application for Adoption & Adoption Services Agreement has been received and approved by FTIA.
Contacting CIS if you filed the I-600A. Because all I-600A applications are filed at a central location, you will direct your inquiries to the National Benefits Center by phone at 1-877-424-8374 or 816-251-2770 or by email at NBC.Adoptions@dhs.gov. Please allow 90 days for the process of your application before contacting them to inquire about your application.
Contacting CIS if you filed the I-800A. Because all I-800A applications are filed at a central location, you will direct your inquiries to the National Benefits Center by phone at 1-877-424-8374 or 816-251-2770 or by email at NBC.Hague@DHA.gov. Please allow 90 days for the process of your application before contacting them to inquire about your application.
Please note that military families can receive special assistance from the CIS. For additional information, please see the CIS Website, or call 1-877-247-4645.
