# Part A - Adoptions Overview

- Guidance
- Resources (30)
- Appendices (0)
- Updates (3)
- History (0)

## Resources

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

8 CFR 103.2 - Submission and adjudication of benefit requests

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

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

8 CFR 204.2(d) - Petition for a child or son or daughter

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

Convention of 29 May 1993 on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption

INA 101(b)(1) - Definition of child

INA 101(b)(1)(E) - Definition of a child adoptee for family-based process

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

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

INA 203(a) - Preference allocation for family-sponsored immigrants

INA 204, 8 CFR 204 - Procedure for granting immigrant status

Pub. L. 106-139                (PDF) - Immigration and Nationality Act of 1999

Pub. L. 106-279                (PDF) - Hague Adoption Convention and the Intercountry Adoption Act

Pub. L. 111-287                (PDF) - Intercountry Adoption Act

Pub. L. 112-276                (PDF) - Intercountry Adoption Universal Accreditation Act of 2012

Pub. L. 80-774 (PDF) - Displaced Persons Act of 1948

Pub. L. 87-301                (PDF) - The Act of September 26, 1961

Pub. L. 89-236                (PDF) - Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965

AR-11, Change of Address

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

I-130, Petition for Alien Relative

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

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

I-800, Petition to Classify Convention Adoptee as an Immediate Relative

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

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

## Appendices

No *appendices* available at this time.

## Updates

November 29, 2023

This technical update to Volume 5, Adoptions, incorporates information on USCIS country-specific adoption processing by adding a reference to the USCIS Country-Specific Processing webpage.

5 USCIS-PM A.1 - Chapter 1 - Purpose and Background

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

5 USCIS-PM - Volume 5 - Adoptions

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, 316.97 KB) between the AFM and the Policy Manual.

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
-                  Chapter 1 - Purpose and Background               
-                  Chapter 2 - Adoption Processes               
-                  Chapter 3 - U.S. Citizens Residing Outside the United States               
-                  Chapter 4 - Adoption Definition and Order Validity               
-                  Chapter 5 - Authorized Adoption Service Providers               

Current as of April 11, 2024

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