Instructions for Form I-800, Petition to Classify Convention adoptee as an immediate Relative
النماذج ذات الصلة
- Form I-800, Petition to Classify Convention adoptee as an immediate Relative - تقديم طلب لتصنيف الاتفاقية
- الاستمارة من طراز I-800، الملحق 1، الموافقة على المعلومات غير القابلة للتصرف - تقديم طلب لتصنيف الاتفاقية
Instructions for Form I-800,
Petition to Classify Convention
Adoptee as an Immediate Relative
Department of Homeland Security
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Instructions
Read these instructions carefully to properly complete this form. If you need more space to complete an answer, use a
separate sheet of paper. Write your name, USCIS Account Number (if known), and the child's current legal name at the top
of each sheet of paper and indicate the part and number of the item to which the answer refers.
2. The Central Authority in the selected Convention country
What Is the Purpose of This Form?
has proposed placing a child for adoption with you and
your spouse (if applicable).
The Hague Convention on Protection of Children and
Cooperation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (the
Convention) entered into force with respect to the United
States on April 1, 2008. The Convention strengthens
protections for children, birth parents, and prospective
adoptive parent(s), and establishes internationally agreed upon
rules and procedures for adoptions between countries that
have a treaty relationship under the Convention (Convention
countries). It ultimately provides a framework for member
countries to work together to ensure that children are provided
with permanent, loving homes; that adoptions take place in the
best interests of a child; and that the abduction, sale, or traffic
in children is prevented.
NOTE: Central Authority means the entity designated as
such by a Convention country under Article 6(1) of the
Convention. In the United States, the U.S. Department of
State is the Central Authority. Central Authority also
means an individual who, or entity that, is performing a
Central Authority function, having been authorized to do
so by the designate Central Authority, in accordance with
the Convention and the law of the Central Authority’s
country.
As provided in 8 CFR Part 204.301 and in these
instructions, the term “Central Authority” includes the
actual Central Authority of a Convention country and also
any other individual or entity that is authorized to carry out
a Central Authority function by delegation.
A Convention country is defined as a country that is a party to
the Convention and with which the Convention is in force
with respect to the United States. To obtain a current listing of
Convention countries, visit the U.S. Department of State
intercountry adoptions can be found on the USCIS Internet
Form I-800 must be filed before the expiration of the notice of
the approval or extension of Form I-800A and before the
child's 16th birthday.
Instructions for a Child Between Age 15 and 16
There are two instances requiring special instructions relating
to children between the ages of 15 and 16.
Use Form I-800, Petition to Classify Convention Adoptee as
an Immediate Relative, to finalize the immigration process if
you will adopt a child who habitually resides in a Convention
country and you have an approved, valid Form I-800A,
Application for Determination of Suitability to Adopt a Child
from a Convention Country. Form I-800 and supporting
evidence are required for USCIS to determine the child's
eligibility for classification as a Convention adoptee.
1. If the Central Authority in the selected Convention country
places the child with you for adoption more than 6 months
after the child's 15th birthday but before the child's 16th
birthday, you must still file Form I-800 before the child's
16th birthday. However, if the required evidence is not yet
available, you may submit a statement from the primary
adoption service provider, signed under penalty of perjury
under U.S. law, confirming that the Central Authority has,
in fact, made the adoption placement on the date specified
in the statement. The primary adoption service provider in
your case is the accredited or temporarily accredited
agency, or approved person who is responsible under
22 CFR Part 96.14 for the six adoption services defined in
22 CFR Part 96.2, and for supervising and being
When Should I Use Form I-800?
You should use Form I-800 when:
1. You have an approved, valid Form I-800A, Application for
Determination of Suitability to Adopt a Child from a
Convention Country; and
responsible for supervised providers where used.
Form I-800 Instructions 03/10/17 N
Submission of Form I-800 with this statement will satisfy
the statutory requirement that the petition must be
submitted before the child's 16th birthday. Note that no
provisional or final approval of Form I-800 will be granted
until the required evidence has been submitted.
for a child who meets the following requirements:
1. The child is from a country that is a Party to the Hague
Convention on Protection of Children and Cooperation
with Respect to Intercountry Adoption; and
2. The child turned 18 on or after April 1, 2008; and
3. The petitioner has adopted or will adopt the child; and
When submitted, the required evidence must show that the
Central Authority did, in fact, make the adoption
placement decision before the child's 16th birthday.
4. The child is the birth sibling of another foreign national
child who has immigrated or will immigrate to the U.S.
based on adoption by the same adoptive parents; and
2. If your approved Form I-800A was filed after the child's
15th birthday but before the child's 16th birthday, the filing
date of Form I-800A will be deemed to be the filing date of
Form I-800, provided Form I-800 is filed not more than
180 days after the initial approval of Form I-800A.
5. Form I-800 is properly filed by the petitioner on or before
November 30, 2012.
You must have an approved, valid Form I-800A, Application
for Determination of Suitability to Adopt a Child from a
Convention Country, prior to filing Form I-800. If the
approval of the Form I-800A (including any extensions) has
expired or you never filed a Form I-800A, you will need to file
a Form I-800A, with fee, in accordance with the Form I-800A
instructions.
Instructions for a Hague Convention Birth Siblings
between Age 16 and 18
The International Adoption Simplification Act of 2010, Public
Law 111-287, amended section 101(b)(1)(G) of the
Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) to allow the birth
sibling of an adopted child to qualify as a Hague Convention
adoptee after the birth sibling's 16th birthday, but prior to the
birth sibling's 18th birthday. After November 30, 2010, a Form
I-800 may be filed, in accordance with form filing
instructions, if;
When completing the Form I-800 under these special
instructions for an older birth sibling, you should write “N/A”
in response to questions 9 through 17, inclusive. No additional
filing fee for a Form I-800 is required when filing for children
who are birth siblings. You must submit the following
supporting documents with Form I-800:
1. The child is from a country Party to the Hague Convention
on Protection of Children and Cooperation with Respect to
Intercountry Adoption; and
1. Birth certificates for each sibling or other evidence that
they are birth siblings.
2. The child is the birth sibling of another foreign national
child who has immigrated or will immigrate based on
adoption by the same adoptive parents; and
2. Evidence that the younger birth sibling either already has
immigrated or will immigrate to the United States as your
adopted child, orphan or Convention adoptee.
3. The Form I-800 is filed before the expiration of the notice
of approval or extension of the I-800A, Application for
Determination of Suitability to Adopt a Child from a
Convention Country, and before the child's 18th birthday.
3. A copy of the adoption decree for the older birth sibling
you are filing for, if you have already adopted them. If you
have not already adopted the older birth sibling,
information about the pre-adoption requirements under the
law of the State where you will adopt, to show that you will
be able to adopt the older birth sibling in that State, despite
the fact that they are already over 18.
No additional filing fee for a Form I-800 is required when
filing for children who are birth siblings.
You must have an approved, valid Form I-800A, prior to filing
Form I-800. If the approval of the Form I-800A (including any
extensions) has expired or you never filed a Form I-800A, you
will need to file a Form I-800A, with fee, in accordance with
the Form I-800A instructions.
Who May File Form I-800?
You may file this petition if you are a U.S. citizen who
habitually resides in the United States and:
Special Instructions for a Sibling Child who Turned 18 on
or after April 1, 2008
1. You have an approved, valid Form I-800A, Application for
Determination of Suitability to Adopt a Child from a
Convention Country; and
The International Adoption Simplification Act of 2010,
(Section 4(b)) also allows a U.S. citizen to file a visa petition
Form I-800 Instructions 03/10/17 N Page 2
2. The Central Authority of the child's Convention country
has proposed an adoption placement, and you have
accepted the proposal, and you have not yet adopted nor
obtained custody of the child; and
D. If, prior to the Convention child's immigration to
the United States, there is an addition of one or
more children to your home, whether through
adoption or foster care, birth, or any other means. This
is considered a change in circumstance even if the
original home study recommended the adoption of
more than one Convention child.
3. No significant changes have occurred in your
circumstances since your Form I-800A was approved or
extended; and
E. The addition of other dependents or adult
member(s) of the household to the family prior to the
prospective child's immigration into the United States.
4. If you are unmarried, you are at least 25 years of age at the
time of filing this petition.
NOTE: You must obtain provisional approval of Form I-800,
Petition to Classify Convention Adoptee as an Immediate
Relative, before you adopt or obtain custody of the child.
F. Change because you are seeking to adopt a
handicapped or special needs child, if the home study
did not already address your suitability as the adoptive
parent of a child with the particular handicap or special
need.
Who May Not File Form I-800?
G. Change in the number of children or characteristics
(such as age and/or gender) of the child(ren) you intend
to adopt.
You may not submit Form I-800 petition if:
1. The approval period or extension of the approval period of
your Form I-800A has expired.
4. You intend to adopt a child from a country other than a
Convention country. See the instructions provided on
Form I-600A, Application for Advance Processing of
Orphan Petition, and Form I-600, Petition to Classify
Orphan as an Immediate Relative, for information on the
requirements for adopting a child from a country other than
a Convention country.
2. Your marital status has changed since your Form I-800A
was approved unless you have obtained the approval of a
new Form I-800A reflecting the change in marital status.
3. You have a significant change of circumstance since such
approval or extension that requires you to file Form
I-800A, Supplement 3, Request for Action on Approved
Form I-800A, unless Form I-800A, Supplement 3, has been
approved to reflect such change.
Role of Service Provider
NOTE: If there has been a change in your circumstances
since your initial Form I-800A was approved, you must
file Form I-800A, Supplement 3, with a completed,
amended home study. Form I-800A, Supplement 3, must
be approved before you can file Form I-800.
Adoption Service Provider
An individual or entity must be authorized under 22 Code of
Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 96 to provide adoption
services in connection with a Convention adoption. You
should specifically ask any adoption service provider whether
they are authorized under 22 CFR Part 96 to provide adoption
services in connection with Convention adoptions before
engaging the services of that provider.
The following are examples of changes in circumstances
which require that Form I-800A, Supplement 3, be filed.
This list is not exhaustive. Your adoption service provider
can advise you regarding other changes which may be
considered significant.
Legal Services
A. Change of residence, including a change in the child's
Only an individual who is licensed in the United States as an
attorney, or who is otherwise permitted under 8 CFR Part 292
to practice before USCIS, may give you legal advice
concerning your Form I-800, or provide any other legal
services concerning your Form I-800. You should specifically
ask anyone providing you with legal advice if they are
licensed or otherwise permitted by regulation to provide you
with legal advice pertaining to immigration processes.
proposed State of residence.
B. Any change in history of arrest, child abuse,
substance abuse, or domestic violence for you, your
spouse (if married), or any household member
regardless of age.
C. Change to a different Convention country.
Form I-800 Instructions 03/10/17 N Page 3
Mailing Address - Give your mailing address, if different
from your home address. Include province and postal
code, if applicable.
General Instructions
Step 1. Fill Out Form I-800
Number 4 - Provide the requested information about your
marital status and your spouse, if married.
1. Type or print legibly in black ink.
2. If extra space is needed to complete any item, attach a
continuation sheet, indicate the part and the number of the
item, and date and sign each sheet. In addition, write your
name and USCIS Account Number, and the child's current
legal name at the top of each sheet of paper.
Part 2. Processing Information
Numbers 1 through 5 - Provide the requested information.
Part 3. Information About Beneficiary
3. Answer all questions fully and accurately. State that an
item is not applicable with "N/A." If the answer is none,
write "None."
(Convention adoptee)
Numbers 1 through 8 - Provide the requested information. If
you need more space to complete an answer, use a separate
sheet of paper.
This form is divided into Parts 1 through 6 as well as one
supplement. Form I-800, Supplement 1, must be completed
if you wish to give written consent for USCIS to disclose
information about your case to your primary adoption service
provider.
Number 9 - Check the box to indicate which documents are
being submitted with your application.
Numbers 10 through 27 - Provide the requested information.
If you need more space to complete an answer, use a separate
sheet of paper.
The following information will help you fill out the form.
Part 1. Information About You
Number 1 - Provide the requested information about you.
Part 4. Information About Fees, Expenses, and
Other Compensation
Family Name (Last Name) - Use your legal name. If you
have two last names, include both and use a hyphen (-)
between the names, if appropriate.
Numbers 1 and 2 - Provide the requested information. If you
need more space to complete an answer, use a separate
sheet of paper.
Other Names Used - Give any other names used or by
which you have been known. Include maiden names,
aliases, etc.
Part 5. Certification and Signature of You, the
Prospective Adoptive Parent(s)
USCIS Account # - This is the unique USCIS Account
Number assigned to you when you filed your original
Form I-800A. This number can be found on the Notice of
Approval of your Form I-800A and on any correspondence
sent to you by USCIS pertaining to the Convention
adoption. If married, your spouse will have his or her own
Account Number assigned by USCIS.
The "Signature" block of Form I-800 must be executed by
you, the petitioner. If married, your spouse must execute the
"Signature of Spouse." Failure to do so will result in the
rejection of Form I-800.
NOTE: One spouse cannot sign for the other, even under a
Date of Birth - Use eight numbers to show your date of
birth. (Example: May 1, 1979, must be written
05/01/1979).
power of attorney or similar agency arrangement.
Part 6. Signature of Person Preparing Form, if
Other Than Petitioner
Place of Birth - Give the name of the place where you
were born. Include the city, State or province, and
country.
1. If you did not complete Form I-800, the preparer who filled
out the petition must also sign, date, and give his or her
address.
Home Address - Give your physical street address where
you actually reside. This must include a street number and
name or a rural route number. Do not put a post office box
(P.O. Box) number here.
2. If the preparer is a business or organization, its name must
be included on the petition.
Form I-800 Instructions 03/10/17 N Page 4
who must consent to the child's adoption (or, if the law
of the country of the child's habitual residence provides
that their identities may not be disclosed, the Central
Authority's certification that the required documents
exist and that they establish the child's age and
availability for adoption).
Form I-800 Supplement 1, Consent to Disclose
Information
If you want to give consent for USCIS to disclose information
about your case to your primary adoption service provider,
you should complete Form I-800, Supplement 1, Consent to
Disclose Information. You are not required to give this
consent in order to file Form I-800.
C. A statement, signed under penalty of perjury under
U.S. law by the primary provider (or an authorized
representative if the primary provider is an agency or
other juridical person), certifying that the report is a
true, correct, and complete copy of the report obtained
from the Central Authority of the Convention country.
Step 2. General Requirements
Evidence. Attach copies, showing front and back, of the
documents you need to support your application. Do not send
original documents unless instructed to do so. (Examples
of original documents that must be submitted include:
affidavits, medical examinations, or formal consultations.)
D. The child's background information as provided under
22 CFR Part 96.49. This information may be in the
form of a summary or separate document.
You must submit the following documents to support your
petition:
The child's background information must be provided
to you by your primary adoption service provider. This
will include information about the child's medical and
social history, including a copy of the child's medical
records, to the fullest extent practicable, and
accompanied with a complete English translation. You
must be given this information, as early as possible, but
no later than 2 weeks before either the adoption or
placement for adoption, or the date on which you travel
to the Convention country to complete all procedures
in such country relating to the adoption or placement
for adoption, whichever is earlier. (See 22 CFR Part
96.49 for detailed information about this report.)
1. Form I-800A approval notice and, if applicable, proof that
the approval period has been extended.
2. The report, required under Article 16 of the Convention,
which includes all the information specified in
8 CFR Part 204.313(d)(3) and (4).
The report required under Article 16 of the Convention is a
prepared report which, as specified in Article 16 and
8 CFR Part 204.313(d)(3) and (4), includes information
about the child's identity, adoptability, background, social
environment, family history, medical history (including
that of the child's family), and any special needs of the
child. Article 16 also requires that the child's ethnic,
religious, and cultural background be considered; that the
required consents have been obtained in writing and were
freely given without any payment or inducement; and that
the proposed placement of the child for intercountry
adoption with the prospective adoptive parents is in the
child's best interest.
If the Article 16 report is not yet available, and the Central
Authority made the adoption placement more than 6
months after the child's 15th birthday, but before the
child's 16th birthday, you may file Form I-800 without the
Article 16 report. However, you must include a statement
from your primary provider, signed under penalty of
perjury under U.S. law, confirming that the Central
Authority has, in fact, made the adoption placement on the
date specified in the statement. Submission of your Form
I-800 with this statement will satisfy the statutory
requirement that the petition must be submitted before the
child's 16th birthday, but no provisional or final approval
of your Form I-800 will be granted until after you have
submitted the Article 16 report. When submitted, the
Article 16 report must affirmatively show that the Central
Authority did, in fact, make the adoption placement
decision before the child's 16th birthday.
NOTE: Although Form I-800 and these instructions refer
to “the report” under Article 16, the actual “report” may
not be one document. Rather, the information in “the
report” may be submitted through the use of more than one
document, as long as all of the documents, taken together,
show that all the required elements have been addressed.
The Article 16 report must be accompanied by:
A. A copy of the child's birth certificate, or secondary
evidence of the child's age.
3. A statement from the primary adoption service provider
verifying that all pre-placement preparation and training
has been completed.
B. A copy of the irrevocable consent(s) signed by the
legal custodian(s), and any other individual or entity
Form I-800 Instructions 03/10/17 N Page 5
NOTE: Preparation and Training. 22 CFR Part 96.48
directs the adoption service provider to give you and your
spouse (if married) at least 10 hours of preparation and
training designed to promote a successful intercountry
adoption before you travel to adopt the child or before the
child is placed with you for adoption. The adoption
service provider may also exempt you and your spouse (if
married) if you have received adequate prior training or
have sufficient prior experience as parent(s) of children
adopted from abroad.
A formal decision concerning whether the child whom you
seek to adopt is medically inadmissible under section
212(a)(1) of the Act will only be made after a designated
panel physician (for visa cases) or civil surgeon (for
adjustment of status cases) has completed the required
medical examination of the child. If the medical
information that is already available to you indicates that
the child whom you intend to adopt may be inadmissible
under section 212(a)(1) of the Act, you should file Form
I-601 with Form I-800. If you do not file Form I-601 with
Form I-800, you can still file Form I-601 later, if it is
determined that your child is inadmissible.
4. If the child will be adopted in the United States, a written
report signed under penalty of perjury under U.S. law, by
the primary adoption service provider (or an authorized
representative of the primary adoption service provider)
detailing the primary adoption service provider's plan for
post-placement duties (as specified in 22 CFR Part 96.50).
Translations. Any document containing a foreign language
submitted to USCIS shall be accompanied by a full English
language translation which the translator has certified as
complete and accurate, and by the translator's certification that
he or she is competent to translate from the foreign language
into English.
5. Evidence of compliance with preadoption requirements, if
any.
If the State of the child's proposed residence has any
preadoption requirements, these requirements must be
complied with before the child can become eligible for
classification as a Convention adoptee who is coming to be
adopted in the United States. A qualified Convention
adoptee is deemed to be coming to be adopted in the
United States if either of the following factors exists:
Copies. Unless specifically required that an original
document be filed with an application or petition, an ordinary
legible photocopy may be submitted. Original documents
submitted when not required will remain a part of the record,
even if the submission was not required.
Affidavits. If a required document cannot be obtained, you
must submit an original written statement from the
A. The applicant/petitioner will not complete the child's
adoption abroad; or
governmental agency that should have the record, verifying
that the record does not exist. Only then may you submit
written affidavits sworn to or affirmed by two persons who
were living at the time and who have personal knowledge of
the event and circumstances you are trying to prove. Each
affidavit must contain the affiant's full name, address, date and
place of birth, and signature. The affidavit must provide full
information concerning the event and complete details of how
the affiant acquired the information.
B. In the case of a married applicant/petitioner, the child
was adopted abroad only by one of the spouses, rather
than by the spouses jointly, so that it will be necessary
for the other spouse to adopt the child after the child's
admission.
6. Either a completed and signed Form I-864, Affidavit of
Support, or a completed and signed Form I-864W,
Intending Immigrant's Form I-864 Exemption.
NOTE: Affidavits may not be submitted in place of the
Article 16 report, described in Step 2, Number 2 of these
instructions. Only the Article 16 report itself may be
submitted to show that the Convention requirements have
been met.
7. When required, Form I-601, Application for Waiver of
Grounds of Inadmissibility.
Section 212(a) of the INA may make a Convention child
inadmissible to the United States based on information
disclosed in the child's medical and social history.
The most common ground of inadmissibility relating to a
child is a medical ground. Specific information about
medical inadmissibility can be found in section 212(a)(1)
of the INA and in regulations adopted by the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services and published
in 42 CFR Part 34.
Where To File?
You must always file your Form I-800 with USCIS Dallas
Lockbox facility. It will then be routed to, and adjudicated at,
the National Benefits Center.
Form I-800 Instructions 03/10/17 N Page 6
Form I-800 must be mailed to the USCIS Dallas Lockbox
facility address as follows:
3. If the children are already siblings before the proposed
adoption, however, only one filing fee of $775 is required,
regardless of the sequence of submission of the
immigration benefit.
For U.S. Postal Service (USPS) deliveries, use the
following P.O. Box number:
NOTE: The filing fee is not refundable, regardless of any
action USCIS takes on this petition. DO NOT MAIL
CASH. You must submit all fees in the exact amounts.
USCIS
P.O. Box 660087
Dallas TX 75266
Use the following guidelines when you prepare your check
or money order for Form I-800 fee:
For private courier (non-USPS) deliveries, use the
following address:
USCIS
ATTN: Hague
2501 S. State Highway 121 Business, Suite 400
Lewisville, TX 75067
1. The check or money order must be drawn on a bank or
other financial institution located in the United States and
must be payable in U.S. currency; and
2. Make the check or money order payable to U.S.
Department of Homeland Security.
Filing with a centralized USCIS office that approved or
granted the most recent extension of your Form I-800A will
make it possible for you to obtain a provisional approval of
your Form I-800 before you actually travel outside the United
States to adopt or obtain custody of a child.
NOTE: Spell out U.S. Department of Homeland Security;
do not use the initials "USDHS" or "DHS."
Notice to Those Making Payment by Check. If you send us
a check, USCIS will convert it into an electronic funds transfer
(EFT). This means we will copy your check and use the
account information on it to electronically debit your account
for the amount of the check. The debit from your account will
usually take 24 hours and your bank will show it on your
regular account statement.
USCIS endeavors to adjudicate Form I-800 as promptly as
feasible. In every case, however, the primary concern is to
serve the principle of Article 1 of the Convention: That
“intercountry adoptions take place in the best interests of the
child.” You should plan your travel outside the United States
carefully, and be aware that the child's adoption or legal
custody proceeding should not be scheduled until USCIS has
provisionally approved Form I-800, and the U.S. Department
of State has provided to the Central Authority of the child's
country of origin, the notice under Article 5 of the Convention
that the adoption or custody proceeding may be completed.
You will not receive your original check back. We will destroy
your original check, but will keep a copy of it. If USCIS
cannot process the EFT for technical reasons, you authorize us
to process the copy in place of your original check. If your
check is returned as unpayable, USCIS will re-submit the
payment to the financial institution one time. If the check is
returned as unpayable a second time, we will reject your
petition and charge you a returned check fee.
you file, and check the “Immigration Forms” page to confirm
the correct filing location or any changes.
How to Check If the Fees Are Correct
What Is the Filing Fee?
Form I-800's filing fee is current as of the edition date in the
lower right corner of this page. However, because USCIS fees
change periodically, you can verify that the fees are correct by
following one of the steps below.
Form I-800 fee requirements are as follows:
1. No fee is required for the first Form I-800 filed for a child
on the basis of an approved Form I-800A.
check the appropriate fee; or
2. If more than one Form I-800 is filed during the approval
period for different children, the fee is $775 for the second
and each subsequent petition submitted.
2. Call the USCIS National Customer Service Center at
1-800-375-5283 and ask for fee information. For TTY
(deaf or hard of hearing) call: 1-800-767-1833.
Form I-800 Instructions 03/10/17 N Page 7
USCIS Forms and Information
Processing Information
Any Form I-800 that is not signed or accompanied by the
correct fee, if applicable, will be rejected with a notice that
Form I-800 is deficient. You may correct the deficiency and
resubmit Form I-800. An application or petition is not
considered properly filed until accepted by USCIS.
To ensure you are using the latest version of this form, visit
the latest USCIS forms and immigration-related information.
If you do not have internet access, you may order USCIS
forms by calling the USCIS Contact Center at
1-800-375-5283. The USCIS Contact Center provides
information in English and Spanish. For TTY (deaf or hard of
hearing) call: 1-800-767-1833.
Initial processing. Once Form I-800 has been accepted, it
will be checked for completeness, including submission of the
required initial evidence. If you do not completely fill out the
form, or file it without required initial evidence, you will not
establish a basis for eligibility and we may deny your Form
I-800.
Instead of waiting in line for assistance at your local USCIS
office, you can schedule an appointment online at
Tools,” select “Appointments” and follow the screen prompts
to set up your appointment. Once you finish scheduling an
appointment, the system will generate an appointment notice
for you.
Requests for more information or interview. We may
request more information or evidence, or we may request that
you appear at a USCIS office for an interview. We may also
request that you submit the originals of any copy. We will
return these originals when they are no longer required.
Penalties
At the time of any interview or other appearance at a USCIS
office, USCIS may require that you provide biometric
information (e.g., photograph, fingerprints) to verify your
identity and update your background information.
If you knowingly and willfully falsify or conceal a material
fact or submit a false document with your Form I-800, we will
deny your Form I-800 and may deny any other immigration
benefit.
Decision. Upon receipt of your petition, the USCIS
adjudicating officer will consider whether the child qualifies
as a Convention adoptee. If so, the petition will be
provisionally approved. You will be informed in writing of
the decision on your Form I-800.
In addition, you will face severe penalties provided by law and
may be subject to criminal prosecution.
USCIS Privacy Act Statement
If your Form I-800 has been provisionally approved by
USCIS, and your child will apply for a visa, USCIS will notify
the U.S. Department of State of the provisional approval.
After Form I-800 has been provisionally approved, a visa
application must be submitted on behalf of the child to the
U.S. Department of State visa issuing post, in accordance with
U.S. Department of State requirements.
AUTHORITIES: The information requested on this benefit
request, and the associated evidence, is collected under the
Immigration and Nationality Act, section 101, et seq.
PURPOSE: The primary purpose for providing the requested
information on this benefit request is to determine if you have
established eligibility for the immigration benefit for which
you are filing. The information you provide will be used to
grant or deny the benefit sought.
If your Form I-800 has been provisionally approved by
USCIS, and the child is in the United States and eligible to
apply for adjustment of status, USCIS will notify you of the
steps you need to take to complete the adoption or custody
proceeding and obtain final approval of your Form I-800 and
of the child's adjustment application.
DISCLOSURE: The information you provide is voluntary.
However, failure to provide the requested information, and
any requested evidence, may delay a final decision or result in
denial of your benefit request.
If USCIS denies your Form I-800, either at the provisional
approval stage or the final approval stage, USCIS will notify
you in writing of the reasons for the denial and of your right to
appeal the denial.
Form I-800 Instructions 03/10/17 N Page 8
ROUTINE USES: The information you provide on this
benefit request may be shared with other Federal, State, local,
and foreign government agencies and authorized organizations
following approved routine uses described in the associated
published system of records notices [DHS/USCIS-007 -
Benefits Information System and DHS/USCIS-001 - Alien
File (A-File) and Central Index System (CIS)], which can be
made available, as appropriate, for law enforcement purposes
or in the interest of national security.
Form I-800 Instructions 03/10/17 N Page 9