Adopted Children Immigrant Visa Unit

Initial US Adoption Requirements

Click here for complete information on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) I-600A petition process and their booklet titled The Immigration of Adopted and Prospective Adoptive Children.

The I-600A petition is the official U.S. form for initial approval to adopt an orphan child from abroad.  If resident in the United States, prospective adoptive parents file the I-600A with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) office having jurisdiction over their place of residence.  Go to www.uscis.gov to check your local office’s filing policy.  If resident in Vietnam, the I-600A is filed with the USCIS office in Ho Chi Minh City.

The I-600A requires a background and criminal check.
A home study serves as an adoptive parent's background check. If parents live in the United States, either (1) an individual/agency licensed to perform home studies in the States must complete the home study or (2) if someone unlicensed in the United States or licensed in a foreign country performs the study, a U.S. licensed agency must review and certify the study.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation performs the criminal check (a fingerprint check) Adoption agencies and Citizen and Immigration Services offices have more details. Click here to see Citizen and Immigration Services' fingerprinting process page.

Approval (I-171H)
Once Citizen and Immigration Services approves a petition, they will notify a parent by sending Form I-171H, "Notice of Favorable Determination Concerning Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition" (U.S. Embassy Hanoi, Adopted Child Immigration Visa Unit does not receive the I-171H). The I-171H or "advance processing approval" is valid for 18 months. The fingerprint checks are valid for 15 months. While most adoptions are completed within 15 months, a potential parent will want to keep track of all expiration dates of every form.