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Adoption

Alert: On Sept. 29, 2020, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California in Immigration Legal Resource Center et al. v. Wolf et al., 20-cv-05883-JWS, preliminarily enjoined DHS from implementing or enforcing any part of the USCIS Fee Schedule and Changes to Certain Other Immigration Benefit Request Requirements Rule.

While the rule is preliminarily enjoined, we will continue to:

  • Accept USCIS forms with the current editions and current fees; and
  • Use the regulations and guidance currently in place to adjudicate applications and petitions. This includes accepting and adjudicating fee waiver requests as provided under Adjudicator's Field Manual (AFM) Chapters 10.9 (PDF, 2.86 MB) and 10.10 (PDF, 2.86 MB).

For more information, please refer to the Federal Register notice, dated Jan. 29, 2021.

COVID-19 Impacts on Intercountry Adoptions

Because of the current (COVID-19) pandemic, USCIS has received inquiries from concerned parents who are at various stages of adopting children from abroad and bringing children to the United States. We are committed to working with prospective adoptive parents to assist them as much as we can.

For more information visit the Adoptions and COVID-19 section on our USCIS Response to COVID-19 webpage.

Each year, thousands of U.S. citizens adopt children from overseas. This is known as an intercountry adoption.

Adopting a child from another country is often a complicated journey, and the information on this site is designed to help you as you move forward.

USCIS is Responsible For:

  • Determining the suitability and eligibility of prospective adoptive parents looking to adopt.
  • Determining the eligibility of the child to immigrate to the United States.

Topics

Paper with text Adoption Request text on it with a pencil laying across it.

Before You Start
We play a key role in the intercountry adoption process. If you’re considering adopting a child born abroad, learn more about the adoption process before you get started.
Paper with the text Adoption Request, the paper is stamped with the word Approved and a stamp stilling on top of the paper

Suitability-Related Changes
Depending on which adoption process you chose, you may have additional requirements to complete your case.
Family walking through the forest in fall

Immigration Through Adoption
Immigration through adoption (commonly called intercountry adoption), is when you adopt a child born in a different country. Read more about U.S. immigration law and the role we play in the intercountry adoption process.
A child's hand resting on the palm of an adult hand

Bringing Your Internationally Adopted Child to the United States
The type of visa your child may receive will determine what steps you need to take for them to acquire U.S. citizenship.
map of word

Country Information
Adoption rules and procedures can vary greatly by country. Learn more about USCIS country-specific processing
image of naturalization certificate

After Your Child Enters the United States
Learn more about documenting or obtaining U.S. citizenship for your child
Paper with adoption Placement agreement text and a pair of glasses laying on the paper

Suitability and Home Study Information
Home studies helps us determine whether you are suitable and eligible to adopt a child born outside the U.S., based on the criteria that have been established by law.
Picture of a black Phone sitting on a table

Adoption Contact Information
Processing and adjudicating intercountry adoption applications and petitions is one of our top priorities. Find out more information on who to contact if you have questions.