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Instructions for Application for Advance Processing

of an Orphan Petition

USCIS

Form I-600A

Department of Homeland Security

OMB No. 1615-0028

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

Expires 12/31/2018

What Is the Purpose of This Form?

Form I-600A, Application for Advance Processing of an Orphan Petition, enables U.S. Citizenship and Immigration

Services (USCIS) 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). You may use Form I-600A if

you are a U.S. citizen who plans to adopt an orphan, but do not have a specific child identified.

Additionally, you may use this form in cases where you know the child you wish to adopt and plan to travel to the country

where the child is located during the adoption process. The processing of this form, however, does not authorize you to

take the child from the foreign country where the child is located. The child cannot immigrate to the United States as an

orphan until USCIS, or the government entity that USCIS designates, approves a Form I-600, Petition to Classify Orphan

as an Immediate Relative, for the child and the child has obtained an immigrant visa.

On April 1, 2008, the Hague Adoption Convention entered into force for the United States. Therefore, it is important to note

that you cannot file Form I-600A and/or Form I-600 for the adoption of a child habitually residing in a Hague Convention

country unless the adoption occurred before April 1, 2008, or meets the requirements for a grandfathered transition case

(example: Form I-600A or Form I-600 was filed prior to April 1, 2008). For a list of Hague Adoption Convention countries

and for additional information regarding grandfathered transition cases, see the U.S. Department of State's website at

and the adoption-related pages on the USCIS website at

NOTE: 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.

General Requirements

Intercountry Adoption Universal Accreditation Act of 2012 (UAA)

Effective July 14, 2014, any agency or person providing adoption services, including home study preparation, in intercountry

adoption cases involving Form I-600A or Form I-600 must be accredited or approved, or be a supervised or exempted

provider in compliance with the Intercountry Adoption Act of 2000 and accreditation regulations at Title 22 Part 96 of the

Code of Federal Regulations (22 CFR 96). This accreditation or approval requirement now applies to both non-Hague

Convention and Hague Convention adoptions.

The UAA does not apply to cases that meet certain criteria. For more information about the UAA, see the adoption-related

pages on the USCIS website at

Role of Service Provider under UAA

Adoption Service Provider

If the UAA applies to your non-Hague Convention case, an individual or entity must be authorized under 22 CFR 96

to provide adoption services following the same accreditation or approval process required in Hague Convention

adoption cases. You should ask any adoption service provider whether they are authorized under 22 CFR 96 to

provide adoption services before working with that provider. A list of individuals and entities authorized under

22 CFR 96 is available at the Department of State's adoption website at

2. Legal Services Provider

Only an individual who is licensed in the United States as an attorney, or who is otherwise permitted under 8 CFR 1.2,

292.1, and 292.2 to practice before USCIS, may give you legal advice concerning your application, or provide any

other legal services concerning your application. You should ask anyone providing you with legal advice if he or she

Form I-600A Instructions 12/23/16 N

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Instructions For Form I-600a - Application For Advance Processing Of An Orphan Petition

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