|
| |
The I-600 form, officially known as the "Petition to Classify Orphan as an
Immediate Relative," is used in the adoption process by U.S. citizens who wish
to adopt a foreign-born child and bring them to the United States. This form is
submitted to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to
classify the child as an orphan under U.S. immigration law, making them eligible
for an immigrant visa and eventual U.S. citizenship. Here are the primary
purposes and uses of the I-600 form:
1. **Adoption of Orphan Children**: The I-600 form is used to classify a
foreign-born child as an orphan, which is a necessary step for U.S. citizens to
adopt the child and bring them to the United States. An orphan, in this context,
refers to a child who has no parents due to death or disappearance, abandonment,
desertion by, or separation or loss from both parents, or whose sole or
surviving parent is incapable of providing proper care and has, in writing,
irrevocably released the child for emigration and adoption.
2. **Immediate Relative Classification**: By filing the I-600, the petitioner
seeks to classify the orphan as an immediate relative, which allows the child to
bypass the usual immigration quotas and be eligible for an immigrant visa.
3. **Eligibility Requirements**: The form requires detailed information about
the petitioner (the adopting parent), the child, and the child’s birth parents
or legal guardians. The petitioner must be a U.S. citizen, and they must show
evidence of the child’s orphan status, as well as evidence of their intention to
adopt the child.
4. **Supporting Documentation**: The I-600 form must be accompanied by various
supporting documents, which can include:
- Proof of the child’s orphan status (e.g., death certificates of birth parents,
evidence of abandonment, or a final adoption decree).
- Proof of the petitioner’s U.S. citizenship.
- Evidence of the petitioner’s suitability to adopt (e.g., home study report).
- Evidence of the relationship between the petitioner and the child, if
applicable.
5. **Process and Approval**: Once the I-600 form and supporting documents are
submitted and reviewed, USCIS will determine if the child qualifies as an orphan
and if the adoption meets all necessary legal requirements. If the petition is
approved, the child will be eligible to apply for an immigrant visa to enter the
United States.
6. **Related Forms**: The I-600A form, “Application for Advance Processing of an
Orphan Petition,” can be filed prior to identifying an orphan to adopt. This
form allows USCIS to pre-approve the adoptive parents’ suitability and
eligibility, streamlining the adoption process once a specific child is
identified.
Filing the I-600 form is a key step in the international adoption process,
helping U.S. citizens bring adopted foreign-born children into their families
and providing these children with the opportunity to become U.S. citizens.
|
