Citizenship and Immigration Services
Processing of Orphan Petitions (I-600/I-600A) U.S. citizens contemplating an international adoption should become familiar with the information provided by the Department of State on International Adoptions and application filing procedures of the USCIS. USCIS has provided detailed information and guidelines on the immigration of adopted children in its Form M-249 [The Immigration of Adopted and Prospective Adoptive Children]. Form I-600A, Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition, is used by the prospective adoptive parent (PAP) and, if married, his or her spouse, to complete the part of the process relating to the PAP before a child is identified. The Form I-600A is also used by the PAP if the child has been identified and the PAP intends to travel abroad to adopt the child or to file a Form I-600, Petition to Classify Orphan as an Immediate Relative, at an overseas office while in the country of the child’s habitual residence. Form I-600, Petition to Classify Orphan as an Immediate Relative, is used once an orphan has been identified. If the Form I-600 is filed while there is a Form I- 600A pending or within 18 months of a favorable decision on a Form I-600A, no new filing fee is required for one child, or for more than one child if they are natural siblings. Residence Requirement: Special Note: Applicants whose Form I-600A was filed at and approved by a USCIS Office in the United States and the same has been received by this Office, can file Form I-600 without meeting any residence requirements. Physical presence of at least one U.S. citizen petitioner would be mandatory for such filing. Applicants who are required to be fingerprinted are processed at this Office at the time of initial filing of their application. The required fee must be paid in cash with the Embassy cashier in either U.S. or Indian currency. Mandatory Indian Requirement: India has signed the Hague Convention on Inter-country Adoption-1993 on January 9, 2003 and ratified the same on June 6, 2003 with a view to strengthening International Cooperation and Protection of Indian Children placed in Inter-country adoption. On October 1, 2003, India entered into force with the Hague Adoption Convention. For the purpose of implementation of the Convention in India, the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment is functioning as the Administrative Ministry and the Central Adoption Resource Agency (CARA) as the Central Authority. One of the functions of CARA is to issue a "No Objection Certificates" in inter-country adoption cases. A No Objection Certificate (NOC) is a Certificate issued by CARA permitting the child to be placed with prospective adoptive parents for Inter-country adoption. Therefore, all petitioners who are preparing to file their adoption petition with this Office must obtain and present the NOC from CARA. Please note that the No Objection Certificate (NOC) from CARA must be obtained before the court order granting adoption or legal custody.
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi accepts orphan applications [Form I-600A/I-600] on a walk-in basis from U.S. citizens who have resided in India for at least six months. We require such evidence in the form of “Residential Permit” [issued by the Government of India] indicating Petitioner’s residence status in India.