Visa Application

Once the I-600 petition for a particular orphan has been approved, the U.S. Embassy or Consulate’s consular section will review the child’s application for a visa. The purpose of this review is to ensure that all documentation required to produce the visa and demonstrate orphan status is present, and to ensure that there are no legal impediments to visa issuance. The U.S. Embassy or Consulate can provide specific information on specific application procedures, but the visa application generally includes:

1. Proof of an approved I-600 petition and evidence of orphan status;

2. Completed Immigrant Visa application, form DS-230, Parts I and II , signed by the parent or guardian on behalf of the child in the presence of a consular officer. Information on the form should pertain to the child, not the adopting parents. These forms can be downloaded from the U.S. Department of State’s web site;

3. Child’s birth certificate and passport (or other valid travel document);

4. Evidence of adoption or legal custody for purposes of emigration and adoption, as well as evidence of whether the adopting parents saw the child prior to or during adoption proceedings (if applicable);

5. Three (3) frontal photographs of the child;

6. Medical exams from the Embassy’s panel physician (please note that this exam is largely to ensure that children with communicable diseases do not enter the U.S.; parents should consult with other professionals for complete physical or mental evaluations of the orphan’s health). If significant health problems are uncovered, parents may be asked to sign an affidavit acknowledging their desire to continue with the case given the medical condition of the child. In addition, in some cases parents may be requested to sign an affidavit regarding their intent to obtain necessary vaccinations for the child upon entry to the United States;

7. For children not yet adopted, not seen by both adopting parents, or who will reside in states requiring re-adoption, the I-864 Affidavit of Support with accompanying documentation (job letter, tax returns, etc.); for children with a full and final adoption overseas where both adopting parents see the child prior to or during the adoption and where no state re-adoption requirements must be met, the I-864 is not required. Parents may wish to submit additional financial information on their ability to support the child, but will generally not be required to do so;

8. (Rare) For children over the age of 16 at the time the visa application (not the I-600A or I-600) is submitted, police, military or prison records may be required - consult with the Embassy or Consulate regarding such children.

If not previously paid, an immigrant visa processing fee of $335.00 (separate from I-600A or I-600 fees) must be paid at the time of visa application.

Parents should consult with the Embassy or Consulate regarding requirements that the child be present at the time of visa application - in many cases, the consular officer will need to see the child prior to approval of the visa. Consular officers do not generally require that adopting parents be present at the time of visa application, but parents may be required by local government authorities to be present for the adoption, to escort the child out of the country, or to provide documentation to escorts that will bring the child to the United States.

Please note that some documents submitted to the Embassy must be included in the immigrant visa packet and will not be returned. Therefore, adopting parents should obtain extra originals or certified copies of the adoption decree and the child’s new birth certificate for their personal use in the future, including for application for a U.S. passport and Social Security number.