USCIS Forms (I-800)Now that you have your LOA from the CCAA, you're ready to fill out USCIS Forms I800 (not to be confused with Form I-800A that you filed earlier in your process) and I-864W. Form I-800 is your Petition to Classify Convention Adoptee as an Immediate Relative. It's your approval from USCIS to adopt the child you were matched with specifically. Common Questions About The I800 Getting StartedLet's go over a quick summary of what you'll need to complete an I-800 application:
These last three items are called 'Article 16 Information'. Some agencies may require you to send additional documents besides the ones I have listed here. Please check with your agency to make sure they don't have any other requirements. Download First, you'll need to download Form I-800. You can fill the form out online, which is faster, easier, and neater than doing it by hand. Plus, you can easily erase mistakes. You'll also need to download Form I-864W.
In case your agency didn't give you samples, or if you want to compare your agency sample to something else, you can download detailed instructions on how to fill out Form I-800 and how to fill out Form I-864W.
Why Am I Filing Form I-864WThis form goes to USCIS along with your I-800 application. When a person is immigrating to the United States, USCIS wants to make sure that the new immigrant won't be a burden on the US welfare system. To do this, they require new immigrants to be 'sponsored' by an existing US citizen who will provide for them financially until the new immigrant can become a US citizen. However, with adoptive children, the situation is a bit different. They don't need to be sponsored they will be automatic US citizens. So Form I-864W is just saying that the immigrant that will be coming to the US is an adopted child under 18 and thus doesn't need a sponser. Important Note: If only one parent will be traveling to China, the adoption will be final in China your child will be a US citizen immediately upon landing in the USA for the first time. If you are a Hague I-800 family, your child will be an automatic US citizen REGARDLESS of whether both parents travel or not. Supporting DocumentsCall your agency and ask them to provide you with the Article 16 information I mentioned above.Filing Fee There is no fee to file USCIS Form I-800 and I-864W. You will also not need to be fingerprinted.
Mailing Your Application Congratulations! You have a completed your USCIS Form I-800 application! Run through the summary list at the beginning of this page and make sure you have everything, including an extras your agency asks you to submit. If everything is ready, then mail your paperwork to one of the following addresses: Courier and Express Mail Deliveries USCIS
Regular Mail Service
What Happens Next?Approximately one week after sending your USCIS Form I-800 and all supporting documents to the address listed above, you will receive a Notice of Receipt from the lockbox in Texas. This letter will simply state that your application was received! It will list the date it arrived at the lockbox as well as your case number.After that, your application will be forwarded to the National Benefits Center (NBC) where all I-800 applications are reviewed and approved!! Remember, you will not need to be fingerprinted for this application. Important! Keep a copy of all your USCIS correspondence for your records. You will need both originals and copies of these important documents when you travel to China. Never throw out, lose, or otherwise misplace any correspondence from USCIS. What Is A Lockbox? The lockbox is the location where USCIS reviews your Form I-800 application quickly to make sure there aren't any missing pages, unsigned sections of your application, etc.. They want to make sure everything is in order before they send the application to the National Benefits Center for approval. Approval Timeframes The current average approval timeframe is around 3 weeks. Checking Your Status NBC(National Benefits Center), Hague Unit (Missouri)
To check on the status of your case, contact the National Benefits Center (NBC) using the phone number or email address listed above. Ask to speak to the officer who is assigned to your case (usually the same officer who handled your I-800A application). Most USCIS officers are very willing to help and answer questions. When You Get Your USCIS Approval Check your approval notice carefully when you receive it. Make sure all your names are spelled correctly, birth dates are accurate, and that there are no mistakes on your form. If you find an error, contact your USCIS officer immediately.
Copyright 2010-2011
www.China-Adoption-Online.com All Rights Reserved  |
Immigration
USCIS deals with new immigrants to the United States. When you file form I800A, you are asking USCIS for approval to adopt a child from China in general. When you file Form I800, you are asking USCIS for approval to adopt your child specifically.
Visa Types for Hague Adoptions
IH-3 visas are for children who are adopted in a Hague Convention country. Children who are under 18 automatically acquire U.S. citizenship upon entry to the United States on an IH-3 visa. In such cases, USCIS automatically sends Certificates of Citizenship without requiring additional forms or fees. This also applies even if only one adoptive parent travels to China to adopt the child. You can read more about this topic under my Citizenship page.
Important
NEVER falsify your information when filing forms with USCIS and communicating about your child's immigrant visa. Under 8 CFR Part 204.311(d), you and your spouse have a duty to be completely honest and forth right with all information you provide to USCIS. You aren't doing yourself, your family, or the child you intend to adopt ANY favors by failing to be honest with USCIS.
You have a duty to:
- Give true and complete information to your social worker
- Disclose any health problems
- Disclose any arrest, convictions, or criminal history
- Disclose any history of sexual abuse or substance abuse
- Notify USCIS and your social worker if your circumstances change (i.e. you move to another location).
This duty of disclosure is ongoing until your Form I-800 has been completely approved, the adoption is complete, and your child is home as a United States citizen in your home.
USCIS has the right to deny your application to adopt if you fail to disclose criminal history or if you refuse to complete child abuse background checks.
If you have an arrest in your background, a financial problem, or a health problem, talk to your agency and social worker about it so they can find the best way to assist you in working around the difficulty so you can complete your adoption.