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U.S. citizens
contemplating an international adoption should become familiar with the information
provided by the Department of State on International Adoptions.
Please also go to How Do I
Apply to Bring a Foreign-Born Orphan to the United States? and The Immigration of Adopted and
Prospective Adoptive Children.
The U.S.
Citizenship and Immigration Services at the U.S. Consulate in Ciudad Juarez recommends
that perspective adopting parents process
the
I-600A Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition at the USCIS
Office located at the U.S. place of residence of the adoptive parents. This will facilitate the future adjudication of the
I-600 at the Ciudad Juarez USCIS Office. Perspective
parents may also file both the I-600A and the I-600 at the USCIS Office located at their
place of residence. You may file the I-600A at
the local USCIS of the adopting parents’ U.S. place of residence and file the I-600,
once the child(ren) has been identified and adopted, at the Ciudad Juarez USCIS Office.
Forms
Supporting Documentation to
submit with your Petition
- Very
Important -
Do not send original documents with the petition! Photocopies are acceptable.
- Official
Translations: Any supporting
documentation that you provide that is in a language other than English must be
accompanied by a complete English translation. The translation must be completed by an
independent party. The party providing the translation must note that his/her work is
accurate and that he/she is competent to translate. The full name of the translator,
address and contact information is also required.
- Proof
of United States Citizenship: Preferably, a
photocopy of your biographical page from you and your spouse's (if married) U.S. passport
is sufficient. You may also provide you and your spouse's (if married) state issued birth
certificate or naturalized certificate. A hospital birth certificate or military ID card
is not acceptable.
- Marriage
Certificate:
Provide a marriage certificate issued by a public authority to show that a public record
exists of the marriage between you and your spouse (if applicable).
- Divorce
Decree(s) or Death Certificate(s): Provide a death certificate
or divorce decree (absolute or final) issued by a public authority to show that a public
record exists of the death or of the termination of all prior marriage(s) for both you and
your spouse.
- Record
of Name Change: If either you or your spouse
is using a name other than that shown on the relevant documents, you must provide legal
documentation that effected the change; e.g., marriage certificate, adoption decree, court
order or Deed Poll.
- Fingerprints: If you are filing the I-600A and or I-600 at
the local USCIS Office at the place of your U.S. residence, that office will arrange to
take your fingerprints for all persons 18 or older that reside in the adopting household. If you file the I-600 at the Ciudad Juarez Office,
we will also arrange for the fingerprinting.
- Home
Study: The Home Study
should be submitted with the application, however, if the Home Study is not submitted when
the I-600A is filed, it must be submitted within one year of the filing of the advanced
processing application, or the application will be denied. Some specific requirements on
the Home Study:
- Copies: Only one copy of
the Home Study must be submitted.
- Age
of Home Study: The Home Study, or
the most recent update to the home study, must not be more than six months old at the time
the home study is submitted.
- Home
Study Preparer's Certification and Statement of Authority to conduct home studies: The home study
must include a statement in which the home study preparer certifies that he or she is
licensed or otherwise authorized by the State of the orphan's proposed residence to
research and prepare home studies.
In the case of an orphan whose adoption was finalized abroad and whose adoptive parents
reside abroad, the home study prepare must certify that he or she is licensed or otherwise
authorized to conduct home studies under the law of any State of the United States, or
authorized by the adoption authorities of the foreign country.
- If
the perspective adopting parents already have an approved I-600A and file the I-600 with
the Ciudad Juarez USCIS Office, the following documents will need to be submitted. No fee is needed if it was already paid with the
I-600A.
- The
child's birth certificate or, if the certificate is unavailable, evidence of the child's
age and identity;
- Proof
that the child is an orphan as defined by the INA;
- A
final decree of adoption, if applicable;
- Proof
of legal custody of the child for emigration and adoption, if applicable; and
- Proof
of compliance with preadoption requirements, if applicable.
- Fee: The fee for each
I-600 or I-600A petition you file is $545.00. Do
not mail cash or personal checks. The U.S. $545.00 fee
must be in the following forms and made out to: U.S. Department of Treasury.
- U.S. Cashier's Check;
- U.S. Dollar Money Order;
- MasterCard, Visa, American
Express, Discover, and Debit Cards with Visa logo.
Mailing Address
Please send your
petitions to:
USCIS
Adoptions
P.O. Box 9896
El Paso, Texas 79995
You may also
visit our office in person:
Edificio Mayab
Carlos Villareal
#3048
2nd
Floor, Suite 301
Colonia
Margaritas, Ciudad Juarez, Mexico
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