Many U.S. citizens planning to adopt an orphan from abroad start the process without having a child in mind. The first step is to fill out a USCIS Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition (Form I-600A).
The form assumes you've already figured out which country you plan to adopt a child from, and asks questions about your travel plans. But what if, even after several months, you are unable to find a child in that country?
You have two relatively new options, based on 2007 regulations by USCIS. Both assume that the 18-month validity period of your I-600A approval hasn't run out.
One option, if you still have hopes of finding a child in the same country, is to simply prepare a written request for an extension of time. Send your letter to the same USCIS office that approved the I-600A petition. Do so no earlier than 90 days before the expiration of your Form I-600A approval. There is no fee for this extension, but you can request it only once.
The second option is to request a one-time change of country, also at no extra charge, and by sending a letter to the same USCIS office that approved the I-600A petition.
However, if you later want to change the country of adoption a second time, you'll need to file USCIS Form I-824, Application for Action on an Approved Application or Petition, along with a filing fee (currently $340). The reason for all this paperwork is that by now, USCIS will have notified the U.S. consulate in the country you originally planned to adopt from, and now needs to notify a different consulate instead (you'll specify which one in Part 2 of Form I-824).
USCIS regulations now also allow you to request a one-time refingerprinting without paying the fee all over again. (Your first set of fingerprints is good for 15 months, which may run out during your search for a child if you request extensions.)
Effective date:
Aug. 06, 2007
This update affects these Nolo products:
