Extension and Validity Periods

Once you file your child’s Form I-600 or Form I-800 petition, you do not need to continue to extend or file new Form I-600As or Form I-800As. For the orphan process, you may choose to forgo filing Form I-600A, and instead, also request a suitability determination with your child’s Form I-600 (known as concurrent or combination filing).

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: 18 months from the date of approval Example: If we approved your Form I-600A Jan. 1, 2019, the approval would expire July 1, 2020.	How to Request an Extension: Submit the following to the USCIS National Benefits Center (NBC) before your Form I-600A approval expires, but no earlier than 90 days before it expires: A written request; Your updated home study; Your original home study; and Any other home study updates. There are no fees for an extension, or for your first biometrics update request. When possible, we will use the biometrics we collected with your initial Form I-600A when we update your biometrics. If we approve your extension, you will receive an approval notice. You may only request one extension. If you wish to have additional validity time after your first extension expires, you must file a new Form I-600A with filing and biometrics fees and an updated home study. 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: 18 months from the expiration date of the original Form I-600A. Example: If your Form I-600A was first approved Jan. 1, 2019, and you received an extension beginning July 1, 2020, your extension would expire Jan. 1, 2022. How to Request a One-Time Biometrics Reuse: Submit your request to: nbc.adoptions@uscis.dhs.gov.

Initial Approval

Approval Extension

Initial Approval Expires:

18 months from the date of approval

Example:

If we approved your Form I-600A Jan. 1, 2019, the approval would expire July 1, 2020.

How to Request an Extension:

Submit the following to the USCIS National Benefits Center (NBC) before your Form I-600A approval expires, but no earlier than 90 days before it expires:
- A written request;
- Your updated home study;
- Your original home study; and
- Any other home study updates.
There are no fees for an extension, or for your first biometrics update request.
When possible, we will use the biometrics we collected with your initial Form I-600A when we update your biometrics.
If we approve your extension, you will receive an approval notice.
You may only request one extension. If you wish to have additional validity time after your first extension expires, you must file a new Form I-600A with filing and biometrics fees and an updated home study.
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:

18 months from the expiration date of the original Form I-600A.

Example:

If your Form I-600A was first approved Jan. 1, 2019, and you received an extension beginning July 1, 2020, your extension would expire Jan. 1, 2022.

How to Request a One-Time Biometrics Reuse:

Submit your request to: nbc.adoptions@uscis.dhs.gov.

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 the biometrics results Example: If the date of your fingerprint results was Jan. 1, 2019, and we approved your Form I-800A March 1, 2019, your approval would expire April 1, 2020.	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 are no fees for your first extension. Each additional extension requires filing and biometrics fees. When possible, we will use the biometrics we collected with your initial Form I-800A when we extend your Form I-800A approval. If we approve your extension, you will receive an 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 the date of the updated fingerprint results. Example: If the date of your updated fingerprint results was April 1, 2021, and we approved your extension April 20, 2021, your extension would expire July 1, 2022.

Initial Approval

Approval Extension

Initial Approval Expires:

15 months from the date of the biometrics results

Example:

If the date of your fingerprint results was Jan. 1, 2019, and we approved your Form I-800A March 1, 2019, your approval would expire April 1, 2020.

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 are no fees for your first extension. Each additional extension requires filing and biometrics fees.
When possible, we will use the biometrics we collected with your initial Form I-800A when we extend your Form I-800A approval.
If we approve your extension, you will receive an 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 the date of the updated fingerprint results.

Example:

If the date of your updated fingerprint results was April 1, 2021, and we approved your extension April 20, 2021, your extension would expire July 1, 2022.

Last Reviewed/Updated:

02/01/2021