FORM I-600

Petition To Classify Orphan As An Immediate Relative

Introduction

This form is used to classify an orphan, habitually resident in a non-Hague Convention country, who is or will be adopted by a U.S. citizen as an immediate relative of the U.S citizen to allow the child to enter the United States. The petition is filed by the U.S. citizen who is adopting the child.

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I-600 DOWNLOAD

Filing Fee

$920

Edition Date

04/01/24 Starting April 1, 2024, we will accpet only the 04/01/24 edition.

Form I-600 Filing Fee

The filing fee for Form I-600 is $775. There is no fee if you are filing based on an approved Form I-600A filed within the previous 18 months. – A biometric services fee of $85 is required for each adult age 18 or older living in the household where the child will reside unless previous fingerprint clearances are still valid or the individuals are eligible for a one-time, no-fee re-fingerprinting. Residents living abroad are exempt from USCIS biometric services fees. – A petitioner filing multiple petitions for orphans who are siblings must pay one set of petition and biometric services fees, if applicable. – A petitioner filing multiple petitions for orphans who are not siblings, must pay the form filing fees for each additional petition; however, only one set of biometric services fees is due if required.

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Where To File I-600

Filing Instructions for Form I-600, Petition to Classify Orphan as an Immediate Relative.

Note

  1. The “Where to File” guidance in the Form I-600A and Form I-600 instructions refers the public to this website for filing location guidance. Please use these instructions.
  2. Only USCIS can adjudicate a Form I-600A, Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition, or determine parental suitability and eligibility in a “concurrent” Form I-600 filing that does not contain an underlying valid and approved Form I-600A.
  3. The Department of State can never accept a Form I-600A, Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition, or determine parental suitability or eligibility in a “concurrent” Form I-600 filing that does not contain an underlying Form I-600A approval. But Department of State can accept certain Form I-600 petitions that are based on valid and approved Form I-600A applications in countries where USCIS does not have an office provided that the prospective adoptive parents are, at some point during the adoption process, physically present in the jurisdiction of the US Embassy or consulate designated to act on the petition.
Petitioners Living in the U.S File with..
  • I have a valid and approved Form I-600A; and
  • I am filing Form I-600 in the U.S.

Note:

  • The USCIS National Benefits Center will adjudicate the Form I-600.
 Dallas Lockbox Facility:

  • For U.S. Postal Service (USPS) deliveries: USCIS P.O. Box 660088 Dallas, TX 75266
  • For Express mail and courier deliveries: USCIS ATTN: Adoption 2501 S. State Hwy. 121 Business, Suite 400, Lewisville, TX 75067
  • I have a valid and approved Form I-600A, and
  • I want to file abroad.

Note:

  • If you want to file Form I-600 overseas, you must be physically located, at some point during the adoption process, within the jurisdiction of the USCIS overseas office or the U.S. embassy or consulate designated to act on the petition.
 The USCIS overseas office, U.S. Embassy, or consulate designated to act on the petition.
  • I do not have a pending or approved Form I-600A; and,
  • I want to file Form I-600 concurrently with Form I-600A supporting documents in the U.S.

Note:

  • To do a concurrent filing, you only need to file Form I-600 (which in this case acts as both the Forms I-600A and I-600), but you must submit all the documents required by both Forms I-600 and I-600A, including a home study with original signature(s).
  • If you live in the U.S., you must file this concurrent filing domestically.
  • The USCIS National Benefits Center will adjudicate the Form I-600 and concurrently determine parental suitability and eligibility together with the child’s eligibility as an orphan.
 Dallas Lockbox Facility:

  • For U.S. Postal Service (USPS) deliveries: USCIS P.O. Box 660088 Dallas, TX 75266
  • For Express mail and courier deliveries: USCIS ATTN: Adoption 2501 S. State Hwy. 121 Business, Suite 400, Lewisville, TX 75067
  • I have a valid and approved Form I-600A; and
  • I live in or will travel to the child’s country of origin to adopt the child.

Note:

  • If you want to file Form I-600 overseas, you must be physically located, at some point during the adoption process, within the jurisdiction of the USCIS overseas office, U.S. embassy or consulate designated to act on the petition.
  • File overseas
    • The USCIS overseas office in the country where the child resides, or if there is no USCIS office in that country, the U.S. embassy, or consulate designated to act on the petition.
    • Petitioners living abroad may also file with the USCIS overseas office with jurisdiction over your place of residence abroad.

or

  • File in the U.S.
    Dallas Lockbox Facility:
    For U.S. Postal Service (USPS) deliveries:
    USCIS
    P.O. Box 660088
    Dallas, TX 75266
    For Express mail and courier deliveries:
    USCIS
    ATTN: Adoption
    2501 S. State Hwy. 121 Business,
    Suite 400,
    Lewisville, TX 75067
  • I have a valid and approved Form I-600A, and
  • I do not intend to travel to the child’s country of origin.

Note:

  • The appropriate USCIS overseas office will adjudicate your Form I-600 and if approved either, send it to the USCIS overseas office in the country where the child resides, or if there is no USCIS office in that country, the U.S. embassy or consulate designated to act further on the petition.
  • Caution: Some countries require prospective adoptive parents to personally appear during adoption/custody proceedings.
  • File overseas

The USCIS overseas office with jurisdiction over your place of residence abroad.

or

  • File in the U.S.
    Dallas Lockbox Facility:
    For U.S. Postal Service (USPS) deliveries:
    USCIS
    P.O. Box 660088
    Dallas, TX 75266
    For Express mail and courier deliveries:
    USCIS
    ATTN: Adoption
    2501 S. State Hwy. 121 Business,
    Suite 400,
    Lewisville, TX 75067
  • I do not have a pending or approved Form I-600A, but I have identified an orphan for adoption; and,
  • I want to file Form I-600 concurrently with Form I-600A supporting documents abroad.

Note:

  • To do a concurrent filing, you only need to file Form I-600 (which in this case acts as both the Forms I-600A and I-600), but you must submit all the documents required by both Forms I-600 and I-600A, including a home study with original signature(s).
  • If you live overseas, you must file this concurrent filing overseas.
  • The USCIS overseas office will adjudicate the Form I-600 and concurrently determine parental suitability and eligibility together with the child’s eligibility as an orphan.
 The USCIS overseas office with jurisdiction over your place of residence abroad.

I-600 Special Instructions

You must submit a Home Study with original signature(s) with your Form I-600 petition if it was not previously submitted with your Form I-600A application.

  • A Form I-600A/Form I-600, Supplement 1, Listing of Adult Member of the Household, must be completed and submitted for every adult member of the household age 18 and older who lives in the home of the prospective adoptive parent(s) except for the spouse of the applicant/petitioner. If there are multiple adult members of the household, please submit multiple copies of this page.
  • Please see the instructions for Form I-600 for details.

If filing at a USCIS Lockbox facility:

  • We recommend reading our Lockbox Filing Tips
  • If you want to receive an e-Notification when your Form I-600 has been accepted, complete Form G-1145, E-Notification of Application/Petition Acceptance and clip it to first application in the package.

Taiwan and Ethiopia Adoptions: For information on recent changes to the process, please see the corresponding link at the top-right of this page.

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