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Policy Manual
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Book outline for Policy Manual
  • Policy Manual
    • Search
    • Updates
    • Table of Contents
    • Volume 1 - General Policies and Procedures
    • Volume 2 - Nonimmigrants
    • Volume 3 - Humanitarian Protection and Parole
    • Volume 4 - Refugees and Asylees
    • Volume 5 - Adoptions
      • Part A - Adoptions Overview
      • Part B - Adoptive Parent Suitability Determinations
        • Chapter 1 - Purpose and Background
        • Chapter 2 - Eligibility, Documentation, and Evidence (Orphan Process)
        • Chapter 3 - Eligibility, Documentation, and Evidence (Hague Process)
        • Chapter 4 - Home Studies
        • Chapter 5 - Action on Pending or Approved Suitability Determinations
        • Chapter 6 - Adjudication
      • Part C - Child Eligibility Determinations (Orphan)
      • Part D - Child Eligibility Determinations (Hague)
      • Part E - Family-Based Adoption Petitions
      • Part F - Citizenship for Adopted Children
    • Volume 6 - Immigrants
    • Volume 7 - Adjustment of Status
    • Volume 8 - Admissibility
    • Volume 9 - Waivers and Other Forms of Relief
    • Volume 10 - Employment Authorization
    • Volume 11 - Travel and Identity Documents
    • Volume 12 - Citizenship and Naturalization
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. Policy Manual
  3. Volume 5 - Adoptions
  4. Part B - Adoptive Parent Suitability Determinations

Part B - Adoptive Parent Suitability Determinations

Content navigation tabs
  • Guidance
  • Resources (13)
  • Appendices (0)
  • Updates (3)
  • History (0)

Resources

Legal Authorities

22 CFR 96 - Intercountry adoption accreditation of agencies and approval of persons

8 CFR 204 Subpart C - Intercountry adoption of a Convention adoptee

8 CFR 204.3 - Orphan cases under section 101(b)(1)(F) of the Act (non-Convention cases)

INA 101(b)(1) - Definition of child

INA 101(b)(1)(F) - Definition of a child adoptee for orphan process

INA 101(b)(1)(G) - Definition of a child adoptee for Hague Adoption Convention process

INA 101(c) - Definition of child for citizenship and naturalization

Forms

AR-11, Change of Address

G-28, Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or Accredited Representative

I-600, Petition to Classify Orphan as an Immediate Relative

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

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

Other Materials

How to Use the USCIS Policy Manual Website (PDF, 2.99 MB)

Appendices

No appendices available at this time.

Updates

POLICY ALERT - Filing Periods and Response Timeframes Ending on Saturdays, Sundays, or Federal Holidays

March 29, 2023

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is updating guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual to address instances where the last day of filing a benefit request or response to a Request for Evidence or a Notice of Intent to Deny, Revoke, Rescind, or Terminate, falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or federal holiday.

Read More
Affected Sections

1 USCIS-PM B.6 - Chapter 6 - Submitting Requests

1 USCIS-PM E.6 - Chapter 6 - Evidence

1 USCIS-PM E.10 - Chapter 10 - Post-Decision Actions

5 USCIS-PM B.2 - Chapter 2 - Eligibility, Documentation, and Evidence (Orphan Process)

6 USCIS-PM B.3 - Chapter 3 - Filing

6 USCIS-PM E.6 - Chapter 6 - Permanent Labor Certification

POLICY ALERT - Adoptions

November 19, 2021

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is publishing a volume in the USCIS Policy Manual regarding adoptions. This guidance incorporates basic requirements for the submission of adoption-based applications and petitions to USCIS.

Read More
Affected Sections

5 USCIS-PM - Volume 5 - Adoptions

Technical Update - Moving the Adjudicator’s Field Manual Content into the USCIS Policy Manual

May 21, 2020

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is updating and incorporating relevant Adjudicator’s Field Manual (AFM) content into the USCIS Policy Manual. As that process is ongoing, USCIS has moved any remaining AFM content to its corresponding USCIS Policy Manual Part, in PDF format, until relevant AFM content has been properly incorporated into the USCIS Policy Manual. To the extent that a provision in the USCIS Policy Manual conflicts with remaining AFM content or Policy Memoranda, the updated information in the USCIS Policy Manual prevails. To find remaining AFM content, see the crosswalk (PDF, 332.97 KB) between the AFM and the Policy Manual.

Affected Sections

1 USCIS-PM - Volume 1 - General Policies and Procedures

2 USCIS-PM - Volume 2 - Nonimmigrants

3 USCIS-PM - Volume 3 - Humanitarian Protection and Parole

4 USCIS-PM - Volume 4 - Refugees and Asylees

5 USCIS-PM - Volume 5 - Adoptions

6 USCIS-PM - Volume 6 - Immigrants

7 USCIS-PM - Volume 7 - Adjustment of Status

8 USCIS-PM - Volume 8 - Admissibility

9 USCIS-PM - Volume 9 - Waivers and Other Forms of Relief

11 USCIS-PM - Volume 11 - Travel and Identity Documents

12 USCIS-PM - Volume 12 - Citizenship and Naturalization

Version History

No historical versions available.

0
Page sub tree links
  • Chapter 1 - Purpose and Background
  • Chapter 2 - Eligibility, Documentation, and Evidence (Orphan Process)
  • Chapter 3 - Eligibility, Documentation, and Evidence (Hague Process)
  • Chapter 4 - Home Studies
  • Chapter 5 - Action on Pending or Approved Suitability Determinations
  • Chapter 6 - Adjudication
Current as of September 12, 2023
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