Immigrant Visas

Orphans

Who is eligible?

Those eligible are orphans adopted abroad by a U.S. citizen and orphans to be adopted in the U.S. by a U.S. citizen.

How do I apply?

Once the legal guardianship or adoption of the orphan has been finalized a U.S. citizen adoptive parent (petitioner) should file Form I-600, Petition to Classify Orphan as an Immediate Relative with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). A U.S. citizen with an approved Form I-600A, Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition may file the petition, Form I-600, with the USCIS office in New Delhi. U.S. citizens seeking to file the Form I-600A application, or the petition, Form I-600, without an approved Form I-600A application, at the USCIS office in New Delhi, must have resided in India or Bhutan at least six months. See the USCIS website for more details.