OBTAINING INS PAPERWORK  

Order your INS papers by calling 1-800-870-3676.  Talk to the machine and ask for the foreign adoption packet.  Allow 2 weeks to receive it by postal mail.  Or download the I-600A form at INS WEB SITE and print it on both sides of a page. using light orange paper is recommended. You will need Adobe Reader, link is located below this paragraph.   This site will also give you the address and operating hours of the district INS office that handles orphan petitions for your area.  Immigration Offices in most states will let you physically present your I-600A, plus fees if you have a potential  child waiting.  Do not specify the child's name, when you present your paperwork.  Ask them as a favor if they can give you a fingerprint appointment in one or two weeks.  This will help you save up to two months in processing your INS paperwork and getting your approval in  the form of  I-171H.  Approval will usually occur 6 weeks from the date of your fingerprinting. Also please note that your check must have your printed address for the INS to accept it. If you are in doubt - get a money order or cashiers check.  

For our clients that live in NEW YORK STATE, OR CONNECTICUT, please note that when you will be applying for your I-600A, the Orphan Petition, the INS now requires that ONLY ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS BE SUBMITTED, ie HOMESTUDIES, BIRTH CERTIFICATES, ETC.  NO MORE XEROXED COPIES WILL BE ACCEPTED FOR THE PROCESSING OF THE PAPERWORK.

FILING INS PAPERWORK

File your I-600A petition and supporting documents at your district INS office in person or by  FEDEX in a large envelope.  Write: ATTN ORPHAN PETITION OFFICER in red letters in the lower left hand corner.

 Include with your I-600A form: 

$460 money order or certified check

$100 money order or certified check for fingerprints for 2 adults ($50 each)

 Birth certificates, marriage certificates or divorce decrees.  These may be certified copies or Xerox copies of certified copies with cover sheet (see below)

Cover letter stating the home study will be added later.

 If you have not yet chosen your country, include in the cover letter the statement that your home study will indicate which country.

Note: Most states will allow you to have your social worker sent the home study later, and will let you be fingerprinted.  

The INS will accept photocopies of your supporting documents (birth certificates, marriage license, divorce decrees) if you attach a cover sheet to the copy with this signed statement:

"Copies of documents submitted are exact photocopies on unaltered original documents and I understand that I may be required to submit original documents to an Immigration or consular official at a later date."

To check on the status of your fingerprints call 304-625-5590.

For more detailed instructions on filing the I-600A see below.

HOW DO I CHANGE THE COUNTRY ON MY I-171H?

If you have already received INS approval, you must complete form I-824 and send $140.00 for them to cable the new country. These are shown priority so it is usually done within 24-48 hours. If you haven't yet received INS approval, all you need to do is contact your INS office and change it.

ADDITIONAL DOCUMENT INFORMATION

You will need to obtain copies of the last three years of your tax returns for your dossier.  This means 2000, 1999, 1998.  Tax returns for the year 1997 will no longer be accepted. If you do not have your 2000 returns completed, you will need copies of your W-2 forms.  If for some reason you do not have copies of these documents at your home, you can call 1-800-829-1040 to obtain copies. Be prepared to be on hold for a long time, but be assured there is a person on the other end. 

I-600A Instructions

The first step in getting Immigration and Naturalization Approval is to submit the I-600A. This form can be requested or downloaded at the The first step in getting Immigration and Naturalization Approval is to submit the I-600A. This form can be requested or downloaded at the INS web site.

Several documents must be included with your I-600A form, so compile these while waiting for the your I-600A form to be mailed to you:

• Proof of US citizenship. If born in the US, submit a birth certificate. Arrange to get 4 copies (also required for passport & dossier) from the Bureau of Vital Statistics of the birth state of the adoptive parents.
• If married, a certificate of marriage. Arrange to get 2 copies (also required for dossier) from the county of residence at the time of marriage.
• Proof of termination of all prior marriages.
• Favorable home study (if not completed, write a note that you'll provide it later).

NOTE: The fee is $460 plus $50 for every adult in the household (all adults are required to be fingerprinted). If you send in an incorrect amount, the INS will send all your documents back to you, delaying the approval process. Send a cashier's check or a money order.   Please check with the INS office to confirm the fee is still current. 

Filling out the I-600A form:

• Block 10 -- Name and address of agency. This may be left blank. If left blank, include a note explaining that you will provide this information later.
• Block 11 and 12 -- Plan to travel to adopt? Keep in mind that adopting a Russian child requires travel, and travel is recommended (but not required) when adopting from Romania. Travel is not required for and Guatemala adoption. If you are unsure, check YES.
• Block 13 and 16 -- Date and city of intended departure. EWA adoptions average 6 months from start to finish. The country locations for EWA adoptions are Moscow, Russia; Bucharest, Romania; Sofia, Bulgaria; Guatemala.
• Block 14 and 15 - If 11 and 12 are both YES, 14 is NO and 15 is YES. If 11 or 12 is NO, 14 is YES.
• Block 17 -- We recommend requesting for approval of one more than you plan to adopt. Deciding to adopt 2 children instead of 1 during the process is relatively common.  

Send the I-600A form to your local INS office. Several weeks after submitting the I-600A, you will be sent an appointment letter for fingerprinting.