Extension and Validity Periods

After you file your child’s Form I-600 or Form I-800 petition, you do not need to continue to extend your Form I-600A or Form I-800A approval or file a new Form I-600A s or Form I-800A application.

However, if you are approved to adopt more than one child, you have not filed Form I-600(s) or Form I-800(s) for the number of children you are approved to adopt, and you wish to continue to adopt based on your approved Form I-600A or Form I-800A, you will need to keep your Form I-600A or Form I-800A valid until you have filed a Form I-600 or Form I-800 for each child.

For the orphan process, you may choose not to file a separate Form I-600A application, and instead, you may request a suitability determination with your child’s Form I-600 (known as concurrent or combination filing), instead of filing Form I-600A. 

For more information on suitability approval extensions and validity periods for the orphan and Hague processes, see the tables below. For information on the ongoing duty of disclosure and suitability-related changes during the intercountry adoption process, see our Updated Home Studies and Significant Changes page.

Form I-600A, Application for Advance Processing of an Orphan Petition

Initial Approval	Approval Extension
Initial Approval Expires: 15 months from the date of approval Example: If we approved your Form I-600A on Apr. 1, 2024, your approval is valid through Jul. 1, 2025.	How to Request an Extension: You must file Form I-600A/I-600, Supplement 3 , with an updated home study before your Form I-600A approval expires, but no earlier than 90 days before it expires. There is no filing fee for Form I-600A/I-600, Supplement 3 to request a first or second extension of Form I-600A approval. Subsequent extension requests require a fee. You can find the filing fee for Form I-600A/I-600, Supplement 3 by visiting our Fee Schedule page. When possible, we will use the biometrics we collected with your initial Form I-600A to adjudicate your request to extend when we update your Form I-600A approval. If we approve your extension, you will receive an approval notice. If you do not request an extension before your Form I-600A approval expires, you must file a new Form I-600A with fee or a Form I-600 concurrent (or combination) filing if you wish to continue with the orphan adoption process. See the Form I-600A instructions for more information. Extension Expires: 15 months from the extension approval date. Example: Your initial Form I-600A approval is valid through Jul. 1, 2024. If you file Form I-600A/I-600, Supplement 3 , to request an extension on Jun. 15, 2024, and we approve your extension request on Aug. 15, 2024, your extension will be valid through Nov. 15, 2025.

Initial Approval

Approval Extension

Initial Approval Expires:

15 months from the date of approval

Example:

If we approved your Form I-600A on Apr. 1, 2024, your approval is valid through Jul. 1, 2025.

How to Request an Extension:

You must file Form I-600A/I-600, Supplement 3 , with an updated home study before your Form I-600A approval expires, but no earlier than 90 days before it expires.
There is no filing fee for Form I-600A/I-600, Supplement 3 to request a first or second extension of Form I-600A approval. Subsequent extension requests require a fee. You can find the filing fee for Form I-600A/I-600, Supplement 3 by visiting our Fee Schedule page.
When possible, we will use the biometrics we collected with your initial Form I-600A to adjudicate your request to extend when we update your Form I-600A approval.
If we approve your extension, you will receive an approval notice.
If you do not request an extension before your Form I-600A approval expires, you must file a new Form I-600A with fee or a Form I-600 concurrent (or combination) filing if you wish to continue with the orphan adoption process.

See the Form I-600A instructions for more information.

Extension Expires:

15 months from the extension approval date.

Example:

Your initial Form I-600A approval is valid through Jul. 1, 2024. If you file Form I-600A/I-600, Supplement 3 , to request an extension on Jun. 15, 2024, and we approve your extension request on Aug. 15, 2024, your extension will be valid through Nov. 15, 2025.

Form I-800A, Application for Determination of Suitability to Adopt a Child from a Convention Country.

Initial Approval	Approval Extension
Initial Approval Expires: 15 months from the date of approval. Example: If we approved your Form I-800A on Apr. 1, 2024, your approval is valid through on Jul. 1, 2025.	How to Request Extensions: You must file Form I-800A, Supplement 3 with an updated home study before your Form I-800A approval expires, but no earlier than 90 days before it expires. There is no filing fee for Form I-800A, Supplement 3, to request a first or second extension of your Form I-800A approval. Subsequent extension requests require a fee. You can find the filing fee for Form I-800A, Supplement 3, by visiting our Fee Schedule page. When possible, we will use the biometrics we collected with your initial Form I-800A to adjudicate your request to extend your Form I-800A approval. If we approve your extension, you will receive an updated approval notice. If you do not request an extension before your Form I-800A approval expires, you must file a new Form I-800A application with fee if you wish to continue with the Hague adoption process. See the Form I-800A instructions for more information. Extension Expiration: 15 months from extension approval date. Example: Your initial Form I-600A approval is valid through Jul. 1, 2024. If you file your Form I-800A, Supplement 3, to request an extension on Jun. 15, 2024, and we approve it on Aug. 15, 2024, your extension will be valid through Nov. 15, 2025.

Initial Approval

Approval Extension

Initial Approval Expires:

15 months from the date of approval.

Example:

If we approved your Form I-800A on Apr. 1, 2024, your approval is valid through on Jul. 1, 2025.

How to Request Extensions:

You must file Form I-800A, Supplement 3 with an updated home study before your Form I-800A approval expires, but no earlier than 90 days before it expires.
There is no filing fee for Form I-800A, Supplement 3, to request a first or second extension of your Form I-800A approval. Subsequent extension requests require a fee. You can find the filing fee for Form I-800A, Supplement 3, by visiting our Fee Schedule page.
When possible, we will use the biometrics we collected with your initial Form I-800A to adjudicate your request to extend your Form I-800A approval.
If we approve your extension, you will receive an updated approval notice.
If you do not request an extension before your Form I-800A approval expires, you must file a new Form I-800A application with fee if you wish to continue with the Hague adoption process.

See the Form I-800A instructions for more information.

Extension Expiration:

15 months from extension approval date.

Example:

Your initial Form I-600A approval is valid through Jul. 1, 2024. If you file your Form I-800A, Supplement 3, to request an extension on Jun. 15, 2024, and we approve it on Aug. 15, 2024, your extension will be valid through Nov. 15, 2025.

Last Reviewed/Updated:

08/27/2024

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Extension and Validity Periods