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  • Adoption
    • Before You Start
    • Immigration Through Adoption
      • Hague Process
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    • Bringing Your Internationally Adopted Child to the United States
      • Before Your Child Immigrates to the United States
      • Your New Child's Immigrant Visa
      • With Your Child at the United States Port of Entry
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  4. With Your Child at the United States Port of Entry

With Your Child at the United States Port of Entry

Upon Arrival in the United States

When you and your child meet the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officers at the port-of-entry, you will give two immigration documents to the CBP Officer. 

  • The first document is the immigrant visa placed in your child's passport by the U.S. Embassy or consulate where the visa was processed
  • The second immigration document is the sealed Immigrant Data Summary packet.  You will give the packet to the Officer at the same time you present the passport. This packet MUST REMAIN SEALED until you have given it to the CBP Officer. It has a cover sheet that states "Immigrant Data Summary" at the top, lists basic information about your child, and has a photograph of your child toward the bottom
  • The Officer will keep the Immigrant Data Summary packet and forward it to USCIS to be included in your child's official records. The CBP officer will review these documents, and may ask some questions about your child's immigration. After completing the necessary processing steps, the CBP Officer will place a stamp on the visa and return the passport to you
  • Your child is "admitted" to the United States when your child leaves the inspections facility. The passport with the stamped visa is the proof of your child's lawful admission to the United States until either the permanent resident card or the Certificate of Citizenship arrives in the mail 

I Don't Know My Child's Immigrant Visa Classification

Your child's immigrant visa classification is printed on both the immigrant visa in his or her passport, as well as on the Immigrant Data Summary cover sheet.

  • On the immigrant visa, find the visa classification on the right side, under "IV Category"
  • On the cover sheet, find the classification next to "Issue Visa Classification"

I Don't Know My Child's "A-Number"

Your child's A-Number/Alien Registration Number/Alien Number (A-Number or A#) is printed on both the immigrant visa in his or her passport or other travel document, as well as on the Immigrant Data Summary cover sheet.

  • On the immigrant visa, find the A-Number on the right side, under "Registration Number"
  • On the cover sheet, find the A-Number next to "A-Number"
Last Reviewed/Updated:
01/03/2020
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