To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide that an adopted alien who is less than 18 years of age may be considered a child under such Act if adopted with or after a sibling who is a child under such Act.
PL 106-139 (H.R.2886), enacted 12/07/1999

113 STAT. 1696 
PUBLIC LAW 106-139—DEC. 7, 1999 
Public Law 106-139 
106th Congress 
An Act 
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'^° amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide that an adopted alien 
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who is less than 18 years of age may be considered a child under such Act 
[H.R. 2886] 
if adopted with or after a sibling who is a child under such Act. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. PROVIDING THAT AN ADOPTED ALIEN WHO IS LESS THAN 
18 YEARS OF AGE MAY BE CONSIDERED A CHILD UNDER 
THE IMMIGRATION AND NATIONALITY ACT IF ADOPTED 
WITH OR AFTER A SIBLING WHO IS A CHILD UNDER SUCH 
ACT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 101(b)(1) of the Immigration and 
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(b)(1)) is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (E)— 
(A) by inserting "(i)" after "(E)"; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following: 
"(ii) subject to the same proviso as in clause (i), a child 
who: (I) is a natural sibling of a child described in clause 
(i) or subparagraph (F)(i); (II) was adopted by the adoptive 
parent or parents of the sibling described in such clause or 
subparagraph; and (III) is otherwise described in clause (i), 
except that the child v/as adopted while under the age of 
18 years; or"; and 
(2) in subparagraph (F)— 
(A) by inserting "(i)" after "(F)"; 
(B) by striking the period at the end and inserting 
"; or"; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
"(ii) subject to the same provisos as in clause (i), a child 
who: (I) is a natural sibling of a child described in clause 
(i) or subparagraph (E)(i); (II) has been adopted abroad, or 
is coming to the United States for adoption, by the adoptive 
parent (or prospective adoptive parent) or parents of the sibling 
described in such clause or subparagraph; and (III) is otherwise 
described in clause (i), except that the child is under the age 
of 18 at the time a petition is filed in his or her behalf to 
accord a classification as an immediate relative under section 
201(b).". 
(b) 
CONFORMING 
AMENDMENTS RELATING TO NATURALIZA-
TION.— 
(1) DEFINITION OF CHILD.—Section 101(c)(1) of the Immigra-
tion and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(c)) is amended by 
striking "sixteen years," and inserting "16 years (except to 
PUBLIC LAW 106-139—DEC. 7, 1999 
113 STAT. 1697 
the extent that the child is described in subparagraph (E)(ii) 
or (F)(ii) of subsection (b)(1)),". 
(2) CERTIFICATE OF CITIZENSHIP.—Section 322(a)(4) of the 
Immigration and NationaHty Act (8 U.S.C. 1433(a)(4)) is 
amended— 
(A) by striking "16 years" and inserting "16 years 
(except to the extent that the child is described in clause 
(ii) of subparagraph (E) or (F) of section 101(b)(1))"; and 
(B) by striking "subparagraph (E) or (F) of section 
101(b)(1)." and inserting "either of such subparagraphs.". 
Approved December 7, 1999. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 2886 (S. 1743): 
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 106-383 (Comm. on the Judiciary). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 145 (1999): 
Oct. 18, considered and passed House. 
Nov. 19, considered and passed Senate.