Adoptive Family Relief Act
PL 114-70 (S.1300), enacted 10/16/2015

129 STAT. 561 
PUBLIC LAW 114–70—OCT. 16, 2015 
Public Law 114–70 
114th Congress 
An Act 
To amend the section 221 of the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide relief 
for adoptive families from immigrant visa fees in certain situations. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Adoptive Family Relief Act’’. 
SEC. 2. WAIVER OF FEES FOR RENEWAL OF IMMIGRANT VISA FOR 
ADOPTED CHILD IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS. 
Section 221(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
1201(c)) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(c) PERIOD OF VALIDITY; RENEWAL OR REPLACEMENT.— 
‘‘(1) IMMIGRANT VISAS.—An immigrant visa shall be valid 
for such period, not exceeding six months, as shall be by regula-
tions prescribed, except that any visa issued to a child lawfully 
adopted by a United States citizen and spouse while such 
citizen is serving abroad in the United States Armed Forces, 
or is employed abroad by the United States Government, or 
is temporarily abroad on business, shall be valid until such 
time, for a period not to exceed three years, as the adoptive 
citizen parent returns to the United States in due course of 
his service, employment, or business. 
‘‘(2) NONIMMIGRANT VISAS.—A nonimmigrant visa shall be 
valid for such periods as shall be by regulations prescribed. 
In prescribing the period of validity of a nonimmigrant visa 
in the case of nationals of any foreign country who are eligible 
for such visas, the Secretary of State shall, insofar as prac-
ticable, accord to such nationals the same treatment upon a 
reciprocal basis as such foreign country accords to nationals 
of the United States who are within a similar class; except 
that in the case of aliens who are nationals of a foreign country 
and who either are granted refugee status and firmly resettled 
in another foreign country or are granted permanent residence 
and residing in another foreign country, the Secretary of State 
may prescribe the period of validity of such a visa based upon 
the treatment granted by that other foreign country to alien 
refugees and permanent residents, respectively, in the United 
States. 
‘‘(3) VISA
REPLACEMENT.—An immigrant visa may be 
replaced under the original number during the fiscal year in 
which the original visa was issued for an immigrant who estab-
lishes to the satisfaction of the consular officer that the 
immigrant— 
Regulations. 
Adoptive Family 
Relief Act. 
8 USC 1101 note. 
Oct. 16, 2015 
[S. 1300] 
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129 STAT. 562 
PUBLIC LAW 114–70—OCT. 16, 2015 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 1300: 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 161 (2015): 
July 14, considered and passed Senate. 
Oct. 6, considered and passed House. 
‘‘(A) was unable to use the original immigrant visa 
during the period of its validity because of reasons beyond 
his control and for which he was not responsible; 
‘‘(B) is found by a consular officer to be eligible for 
an immigrant visa; and 
‘‘(C) pays again the statutory fees for an application 
and an immigrant visa. 
‘‘(4) FEE WAIVER.—If an immigrant visa was issued, on 
or after March 27, 2013, for a child who has been lawfully 
adopted, or who is coming to the United States to be adopted, 
by a United States citizen, any statutory immigrant visa fees 
relating to a renewal or replacement of such visa may be 
waived or, if already paid, may be refunded upon request, 
subject to such criteria as the Secretary of State may prescribe, 
if— 
‘‘(A) the immigrant child was unable to use the original 
immigrant visa during the period of its validity as a direct 
result of extraordinary circumstances, including the denial 
of an exit permit; and 
‘‘(B) if such inability was attributable to factors beyond 
the control of the adopting parent or parents and of the 
immigrant.’’. 
Approved October 16, 2015. 
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