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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
      • Part C - Child Eligibility Determinations (Orphan)
        • Chapter 1 - Purpose and Background
        • Chapter 2 - Eligibility
        • Chapter 3 - Identity and Age
        • Chapter 4 - Eligibility Requirements Specific to Orphans
        • Chapter 5 - Qualifying Adoptive or Custodial Relationship
        • Chapter 6 - Additional Requirements
        • Chapter 7 - Documentation and Evidence
        • Chapter 8 - Adjudication
        • Chapter 9 - Pre-Adoption Immigration Review Programs
      • 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
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  1. Home
  2. Policy Manual
  3. Volume 5 - Adoptions
  4. Part C - Child Eligibility Determinations (Orphan)

Part C - Child Eligibility Determinations (Orphan)

Content navigation tabs
  • Guidance
  • Resources (17)
  • Appendices (0)
  • Updates (2)
  • History (0)

Resources

Legal Authorities

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

8 CFR 204.1 - General information about immediate relative and family-sponsored petitions

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

8 CFR 204.311 - Convention adoption home study requirements

8 CFR 205.1 - Automatic revocation

8 CFR 205.2 - Revocation on notice

INA 101(b)(1) - Definition of child

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

INA 101(b)(2) - Definition of parent, father or mother

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

INA 201(b)(2)(A)(i) - Immediate relatives

INA 204(d) - Recommendation of valid home study

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

Other Materials

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

Appendices

No appendices available at this time.

Updates

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
  • Chapter 3 - Identity and Age
  • Chapter 4 - Eligibility Requirements Specific to Orphans
  • Chapter 5 - Qualifying Adoptive or Custodial Relationship
  • Chapter 6 - Additional Requirements
  • Chapter 7 - Documentation and Evidence
  • Chapter 8 - Adjudication
  • Chapter 9 - Pre-Adoption Immigration Review Programs
Current as of September 12, 2023
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