Part 1: Basis of filing
Two boxes: a U.S. citizen who plans to adopt or has adopted from a non-Hague country, or a prior Form I-600A filer whose marital status changed while that application was pending.
I-600A
Application for Advance Processing of an Orphan Petition
- Agency
- USCIS
- Revision
- Edition 01/20/25
- Fillable fields
- 308
- Pages
- 13
- Official source
- USCIS form page
- Checked
- October 20, 2026
Form I-600A: Application for Advance Processing of an Orphan Petition
Form I-600A, Application for Advance Processing of an Orphan Petition, is how a U.S. citizen asks USCIS to determine whether they (and their spouse, if married) are suitable and eligible to adopt a foreign-born child from a country that is not a party to the Hague Adoption Convention.
The instructions say Form I-600A is not a petition to classify an orphan as an immediate relative. That is Form I-600, Petition to Classify Orphan as an Immediate Relative, which is filed for a specific child once one is located or identified. Form I-600A may be filed even when no specific child has been identified.
The instructions say an approved Form I-600A is valid for 15 months. A home study is part of the application, and the instructions say it can be sent with the form or within one year of filing.
What's on Form I-600A
Part 2: You, your spouse and your household
Names, addresses, contact details, how you obtained U.S. citizenship, marital history, your current spouse's details, the number of adults 18 or older in the home, and children under 18 living there.
Part 2: Prior adoptions and duty of disclosure
Items 30 to 35 ask about earlier adoption filings, domestic adoptions, disrupted or dissolved adoptions and custody transfers. Items 36 and 37 ask about criminal and child welfare history for you and your spouse.
Part 3: Home study preparer and service provider
Whether the home study is attached (1.a.) or will follow (1.b.), the home study preparer, a reviewer and approver if one is needed, and your primary adoption service provider.
Part 4: Your intended adoption
The intended country if known, travel plans, whether the child will be seen before or during adoption proceedings, state pre-adoption requirements, where you wish to file Form I-600, and the number of children.
Parts 5 to 9: Signatures and extra space
Your certification and signature (Part 5), your spouse's (Part 6), the interpreter (Part 7), the preparer (Part 8) and additional information space (Part 9).
How to fill out Form I-600A
- 1
Use one edition and write clearly
Type or print in black ink. The USCIS page says the edition date and page numbers should be visible on every printed page, all from the same edition. Write N/A where a question does not apply and None for a zero.
- 2
Complete the fields USCIS checks first
The USCIS page says the form is rejected if the Part 2 family name, the U.S. mailing address, the applicant's signature in Part 5 or the spouse's signature in Part 6 is missing.
- 3
Mark the home study status in Part 3
Select 1.a. if the home study is attached or 1.b. if it is not. The instructions say a home study not received within one year leads to denial, and it cannot be more than six months old when submitted.
- 4
Answer Items 36 and 37 in full
The form says to answer Yes even if a record was expunged, sealed or pardoned. A Yes answer comes with certified final disposition records and a signed written statement with the details.
- 5
Add the supplements that apply
Supplement 1 for each adult household member, Supplement 2 if you want USCIS to share case details with your adoption service provider or home study preparer, and Supplement 3 for action on an approved application.
- 6
Sign Parts 5 and 6
The instructions say a stamped or typewritten name is not accepted in place of a signature. This page lets you fill the form online free, then print it for signature.
Why fill Form I-600A on indox
You get the real form, filled in a browser tab, with nothing standing between you and the finished PDF.
- Fill the form right in your browser, no software to install
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- The official blank straight from the USCIS, not a copy someone retyped
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Where to file, evidence and fees
Where to file
The USCIS page points to its Form I-600A filing instructions for where to file, and its filing tips refer to the Tips for Filing Forms by Mail page. The instructions say to check www.uscis.gov/I-600A for the most current information.
Fee
The fee for Form I-600A and its supplements is on the USCIS Fee Schedule page, and the instructions point to Form G-1055. Fees can change, so check it on the day you file.
Initial evidence
The USCIS checklist lists proof of U.S. citizenship, proof of your spouse's identity and status if applicable, the marriage certificate and proof prior marriages ended, proof of state pre-adoption requirements if applicable, and the home study with original signatures.
Home study rules
The instructions say the home study is prepared under 8 CFR 204.311 by a person authorized under 22 CFR 96. One not done by an accredited agency is reviewed and approved by one, unless a public domestic or foreign authority prepared it.
Biometrics and interviews
The instructions say USCIS may ask you, your spouse or any adult household member to give biometrics or attend an interview. Applicants overseas are told to contact a U.S. Embassy, Consulate or USCIS office abroad to schedule.
After approval
The instructions say approval is valid for 15 months and Form I-600 is filed once a child is identified, generally before the child turns 16. Supplement 3 requests an extension no more than 90 days before the approval expires.
Related forms
I-600
Petition to Classify Orphan as an Immediate Relative
436 fields, 16 pages
I-800A
Application for Determination of Suitability to Adopt a Child from a Convention Country
290 fields, 12 pages
I-800
Petition to Classify Convention Adoptee as an Immediate Relative
331 fields, 14 pages
G-1055
Fee Schedule
64 fields, 58 pages
G-28
Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or Accredited Representative
101 fields, 4 pages
G-28I
Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney in Matters Outside the Geographical Confines of the United States
83 fields, 4 pages
Who files Form I-600A?
Official sources and the blank
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Questions about Form I-600A
Is Form I-600A the same as Form I-600?
No. The instructions say Form I-600A is not a petition to classify an orphan as an immediate relative. Form I-600 is used for that, once a specific child is located or identified.
Can Form I-600A be filed before a child is identified?
Yes. The instructions say Form I-600A may be filed even if no specific child has been identified for adoption.
Can I file without the home study?
The form has box 1.b. for a home study that is not attached. The instructions say it has to be received within one year of filing or USCIS will deny the application.
How long is an approved Form I-600A valid?
The instructions say 15 months. An extension is requested with Supplement 3, before the approval expires but no more than 90 days before, along with an updated home study.
What if the child lives in a Hague Convention country?
The instructions point to Form I-800A for children habitually resident in a Hague Convention country, with listed exceptions. Evidence of the exception goes with Form I-600A.
Does my spouse have to be a U.S. citizen?
The instructions say no. If the spouse lives in the United States, the application includes proof the spouse is there lawfully, such as a Green Card, Form I-94 or proof of U.S. citizenship.
What is the Form I-600A filing fee?
USCIS fees change, so this page does not list one. The I-600A page points to the USCIS Fee Schedule, and the instructions point to Form G-1055.